Foodies and those looking for a breath of fresh air in a little-visited region.
Cachi, two and a half hours drive from Salta, Argentina and en route to the up and coming wine region of Cafayate.
The 14 rooms have attractive rustic décor, with carved wooden or iron bedsteads, whitewashed walls, high ceilings and terracotta floors accentuated with local art and textiles. They all have central heating and six have panoramic view of the hills.
The restaurant at La Merced del Alto serves gourmet Andean food - think trout caught in local streams and served with perfumed quinoa, and llama tenderloin with Inca maize. Nestled into the brick walls of the wine cellar are drops from the Calchaquí Valleys, some of the highest vineyards in the world. The hotel also has a cosy living room which mixes colourful local textiles and handicrafts with handcrafted furniture. There is an outdoor pool (open during summer) and a simple spa with an open air Jacuzzi with 360 degree views.
Horse riding and trekking in the surrounding hills, visiting the charming local town of Cachi with its colonial architecture and relaxed café scene, birdwatching in the 8 hectares of gardens that surround the hotel, or simply digesting your latest vast meal whilst admiring the view from the terrace deckchairs.
Take a trip to the nearby "Valle Encantado" (Enchanted Valley), with its astounding erosion-sculpted rock formations.