Finca Valentina

And if that’s what you choose, you won’t have to because the elegant country house has everything you could need to enjoy an Argentinian holiday. It’s owned by an Italian couple, Valentina and Fabrizio, who moved here in 2006 and redesigned the terracotta-roofed and white-washed ranch-style building using traditional furniture and architecture. But its humble and down-to-earth façade immediately lets guests know that the homestay is family-oriented, so much so that by the end of your stay, you’ll feel as if this place is your own and the staff are your family.

Attention to detail is key here, focusing on celebrating and highlighting the beauty of the Argentinian landscape and culture. Rich colours, textiles, artefacts and fabrics from local artisans, like cowhide rugs, woven ponchos, and old furniture, embody the spirit of Argentina’s history. But that’s not all; comfort and unique experiences are also important to the team at Finca Valentina, from a lounge stocked with bookshelves and a cosy couch, an in-room spa and beauty treatments, and a large outdoor pool to cooking classes and long horseback riding sessions.

And after all this excitement and activity, you’ll need a soft pillow to lay your head upon. Thankfully, Finca Valentina offers so much more than that. There are only a handful of rooms and two suites. Still, all are spacious with light and earthy tones, featuring furniture selected by the owners during their travels across the globe, giving each bedroom a unique and distinctive character. The Suite Deluxe is the only room on the top floor, ideal for couples looking for privacy, and it has a large terrace overlooking the Andes and starry nights.

On the other hand, families will find the Family Room convenient as its suite has two connecting rooms, a bathroom with a bathtub, and a private patio overlooking the quietest part of the garden so children can run around as loudly as they like. It’s little wonder Finca Valentina has won awards for being an excellent family-friendly establishment! Larger groups will opt for the family room or book the Villa Deluxe, a house with three bedrooms, a kitchen, a lounge, and a dining area, all fitting up to six guests.

Fabrizio runs a tour operator called Socompa, offering excursions in the desert and Salta City. The latter is overflowing with colonial architecture and the soft tunes of folk music. And that’s not all; the cloud forests of Reserva del Huaico surround the city, which showcases the area’s phenomenal landscape, while its museums and walking tours offer an intimate insight into Salta’s ancient history, all of which might just be worth leaving the peaceful haven of Finca Valentina.