Patios de Cafayate Hotel & Spa

There are 32 bedrooms and three suites at Patios de Cafayate, the latter with views over the pool and vineyards beyond. The rooms pay homage to the local culture, with tapestries designed by renowned Calchaquí artist Héctor Cruz and original features still in tact such as loom woven carpets and oven baked clay tiles.

The restaurant serves delicious local food - llama and goat feature highly on the menu - which is of course washed down with some seriously good wine. Located near the El Esteco winery, guests at Patios de Cafayate have an abundance of some of the best Argentine wine on their doorstep. The hotel can also arrange tours of the winery as well as others in the region - at 1,700 metres above sea level and near to mountain water, the area is ideal for growing grapevine.

Aside from just coiffing wine, which we have to admit is one of our favourite pastimes, you can do it whilst getting fit (well kind of). Tour the vineyards on foot or by bike while taking in the spectacular scenery. When over-wined, ride through the dunes or head to the 18-hole golf course in Cafayate which is just 5 minutes from the hotel. Cafayate itself has a lot to offer - wander around the Cathedral, visit the Rodolfo Bravo museum and the Museum of Vine and Wine, and stroll around the artisan shops.

Back at the hotel, there is a Winespa (a developing theme here) which offers an array of treatments inspired by the culture of the Calchaquíes Valleys and uses ingredients from the cactus, the carob tree and grape skins. There is also an outdoor swimming pool; walk around the extensive grounds soaking in the atmosphere; and pay a visit to the original chapel which is adorned with hand painted images, the Cross and the Via Crucis which was made in Cusco.