Argentina - Quebrada de las Conchas

The Quebrada de las Conchas (Shell’s Gorge) - also called Quebrada de Cafayate - is located between Salta city and the town of Cafayate. The gorge is well known for its reddish coloured carved rock formations and curious shapes, caused by natural erosion during millions of years.

Through the ravine runs the Conchas River with its sometimes remarkable green banks. Following Ruta Nacional 68 one passes landscapes of very varied colours rock formations of great variety. Some of them have fancy names like ‘Toad’, ‘Obelisk’, ‘Monk’ or ‘Devil’s Dragon’.

One of the most famous and visited is the so called El Anfiteatro (PiP 5). This ‘amphitheater’ owes its name to the acoustics of the place, thanks to the deep cleft in the mountain; its rock walls rise about 50 meters high.