I wasn’t sure we’d have time to stop for a night in Molinos, it’s only a short journey from Cachi and pushed for time it was tempting to continue on to Cafayate. In retrospect, that would have been a mistake. Molinos is a lovely village set in a beautiful landscape, with yet another colonial church adorning one side of the main square, but the real secret is that Molinos is home to a fabulous and historic hotel.
Directly opposite the Iglesia de San Pedro Nolasco is the eighteenth-century residence of the last Spanish governor of Salta, Nicolas Severo de Isasmendi. Thankfully for weary travellers this former Royalist residence has been transformed into a superb hotel, the Hostal Provincial de Molinos. Just what the doctor ordered after driving on the bumpy and dusty Ruta 40.
Only the most jaded traveller would find the journey between Cachi and Molinos dull…
From a distance Molinos looked like a picture postcard perfect village nestling below a mountain range. Even better than the view, we arrived at the Hostal Provincial de Molinos just in time for lunch – and freshly made, just out of the oven saltenas (completely delicious concoctions not unlike small Cornish Pasties).
After a delicious lunch and a bit of a lounge by the pool, we ventured out onto the streets of Cachi and were rewarded with some late afternoon shadows.
That night we were even treated to a full moon…
The early morning light in this part of Argentina is so beautiful that after a deep and peaceful sleep, I dragged myself out of bed to take some photos in the morning light. It was spectacular.
Notes from Camelid Country 
It sure is a dry country!
Luckily, there’s plenty of good wine to wash the dust away!
😀
Reblogged this on bearspawprint.
Thanks for the reblog.
Love the picture with the gate and the door with the tree.
It is a really beautiful place, especially when the light is right. Very peaceful as well.
Reblogged this on Oyia Brown.