Catamarca & La Rioja
West of Fiambalá, the paved road winds through the high desert, past picturesque red rock escarpments known as the Quebrada Angosturas, and into some…
Must-see attractions in Catamarca & La Rioja
Catamarca & La Rioja
The spectacular rock formations and canyons of this dusty desert national park are evidence of the erosive creativity of water. The sandstone cliffs are…
Catamarca & La Rioja
The Inca ruins of El Shincal are located 7km west of Londres. Founded in 1471, the town occupied a commanding position in the foothills of the mountains,…
Catedral Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Valle
Catamarca & La Rioja
This 19th-century cathedral shelters the Virgen del Valle, patron saint of Catamarca and one of northern Argentina’s most venerated images. Her back is to…
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Catamarca & La Rioja
This old cable-car station documents the extraordinary engineering and mining project that created modern Chilecito at the beginning of the 20th century…
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Museo Arqueológico Adán Quiroga
Catamarca & La Rioja
This fine archaeological museum displays a superb collection of pre-Columbian ceramics from several different cultures and eras. Some pieces –…
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Catamarca & La Rioja
This worthwhile museum is set in a wonderful early 17th-century adobe building, and has fine regional cultural displays. Themes include chaya (local La…
Catamarca & La Rioja
The focus of a visit to Parque Nacional Talampaya is this spectacular, (usually) dry watercourse bounded by sheer sandstone cliffs. Condors soar on…
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Catamarca & La Rioja
A network of stunning, red and white sand dunes rises from the desert floor 15km north of Fiambalá. It's best to arrive in the early morning before the…
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Catamarca & La Rioja
The road between Tinogasta and Fiambalá is designated the 'adobe route' for its ensemble of fantastic historic buildings. These are built with thick walls…
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Catamarca & La Rioja
Quirky, strange and sanctimonious, this relatively new museum is free and stocked with sculpture, paintings and even digital and photographic art, all of…
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Catamarca & La Rioja
Lying 15km east into the mountains from Fiambalá, these thermal springs emerge from rock and cascade down the mountainside in a series of pools: the…
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Catamarca & La Rioja
La Riojana is the area’s main wine producer, and a sizable concern; some 30 million liters a year are produced here thanks to fruit sourced from vineyards…
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Catamarca & La Rioja
Head down Maestro from Chilecito's plaza to reach this relatively recent addition to the town: a huge statue of Christ on a platform accessed by a 203…
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Catamarca & La Rioja
The order of St Francis was on the scene very early and began building here in the late 16th century. Bad luck with construction and then an earthquake…
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Catamarca & La Rioja
Chilecito founder Don Domingo de Castro y Bazán owned this 300-year-old flour mill, which houses an eclectic assemblage of archaeological tools, antique…
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Catamarca & La Rioja
Drop by any time to this family home in a pretty barrio to watch shawls and ponchos being made on the loom in the traditional manner. They've been weaving…
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Catamarca & La Rioja
This interesting local museum has sections on geology and archaeology, including quality ceramics and two haunting Inca mummies with well-preserved…
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Catamarca & La Rioja
The enormous, sober-toned, 1899 neo-Byzantine (and a few other 'neos') cathedral contains the image of patron saint Nicolás de Bari. He's an object of…
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Catamarca & La Rioja
Built in 1623 by the Diaguita under the direction of Dominican friars, this is Argentina’s oldest monastery. The date appears in the carved algarrobo door…
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Museo de la Ciudad/Museo de Bellas Artes
Catamarca & La Rioja
The city of La Rioja makes a big effort rehabilitating old buildings for cultural ends. This complex houses the art gallery, which rotates temporary…
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Ciudad Perdida & Cañón Arco Iris
Catamarca & La Rioja
In Parque Nacional Talampaya, accessed from the road 14km before reaching the main park entrance, these impressive formations are visited via guided 4WD…
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Catamarca & La Rioja
Upstairs at the end of a shopping arcade, this museum has a terrific collection of ceramics representing different eras of settlement in the region.
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Catamarca & La Rioja
This 'Triassic' path takes you past life-size replicas of dinosaurs whose fossilized remains have been found in the Talampaya area.
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Catamarca & La Rioja
This cooperative is a good place to watch weavers at work, and buy their goods. Follow Belgrano past the Hotel Belén to find it.
