The North-western and the Cuyo are regions of high peaks - here is the Aconcagua, "stone sentinel" - snow-capped volcanoes, plateaux, ravines and deserts. Under clear blue sky, small villages let the seasons pass by quietly, only interrupted by the carnivals, Indian markets and the worship of "Pachamama" or Mother Earth who provides maize and the pastures where the llamas and guanacos graze. Deep dry gorges climb up to the Puna (heights) via dusty routes to lost villages and ruins from Pre-Hispanic times in the land of the Incas or "Sons of the Sun". This is why they say that here South America touches the sky.

The National Wine Harvest Fiesta in Mendoza at the end of February and the Carnivals of Humahuaca. Folklore groups are quite typical, with regional meals accompanied with music played on the guitar.

There are casinos in La Rioja, Mendoza, Potrero de los Funes (San Luis), Salta, San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca, San Juan, San Miguel de Tucumán, Termas de Río Hondo and Valle de Las Leñas.

There are interesting visits to wine cellars

There are spas in Termas de Río Hondo (Santiago del Estero), Termas de Reyes (Jujuy), Rosario de la Frontera (Salta), Pismanta (San Juan), Cacheuta, El Challao and Los Molles (Mendoza).

The regional cooking is somewhat spicy but exquisite, with ingredients such as choclo or tender maize, ajíes - spicy chillis - and charqui meat (beef, lamb, or pork) with the fat removed and dried in the sun.

When prepared with salt it is called tasajo. Locro, tamales, empanadas (meat pies), chanfaina, quinua soup and for desserts mazamorra, dulce de cayote, chancaca and quesillo.

Chicha (made of maize flour and water fermented in earthenware pots), aloja (obtained from the fermentation of carob pods) and the excellent wines of Mendoza, San Juan and La Rioja, the Torrontés white wine of Cafayate and cider of Calingasta (San Juan).

Establishments with a northen atmosphere. In Jujuy, the Estancia Los Lapachos where sugar cane is grown (19 Km away from El Carmen) and Hostal Villar del Ala (Tilcara). In Salta, El Bordo de las Lanzas and San Luis de Quisto (Siancas Valley), Iturrieta (San Lorenzo); Arnaga, El Manantial, Los Los and San Antonio (Lerma Valley); Ampascachi (Dique Cabra Corral), Casa del Molino (Cachi); Hostal de Molinos, built in a colonial-style manor (Molinos); Finca La Industria and Bodega La Rosa (Cafayate). In Tucumán, Parador Quilmes (Ruins of Quilmes), El Mirador and Las Carreras (Tafí del Valle), Villa Nougués (25 Km away from San Miguel de Tucumán) for golf-lovers.

Textiles. Tapestries of Catamarca and La Rioja, fabrics from Mendoza with Huarpe or Araucano designs, randa (a type of fine linen) in Tucumán, ponchos made from sheep and llama wool, garments woven from the wool of alpacas. Semi-precious stones.

Catamarca for the manganese spar (rodocrosita) or the "Rose of the Inca", the national gem of Argentina.

Silver work.. From Cafayate, San Salvador de Jujuy, La Quiaca and some villages of the Quebrada de Humahuaca. Silver mate vessels from San Francisco del Monte de Oro and La Rioja. Pottery. Black in Cafayate and red in San Lorenzo.

Woodwork. Carvings made of palo santo (Guaiacum) and from cardon (a type of cactus) in Jujuy.

Leatherwork. Braided leather harnesses in Valle Fértil, San Juan.

And also... wines of the region; green onyx pieces and basketwork (San Luis).

Indian musical instruments from Tucumán, Jujuy and Santiago del Estero. In most village, markets of handcrafted products may be found.