Must-see attractions in Catamarca & La Rioja

  • Los Seismiles

    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…

  • Parque Nacional Talampaya

    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…

  • The Shincal Inca Ruins in Argentina.

    El Shincal

    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,…

  • Museo del Cablecarril

    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…

  • 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 –…

  • Museo Folklórico

    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…

  • Talampaya Canyon.

    Cañón de Talampaya

    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…

  • Duna Magicá

    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…

  • Ruta del Adobe

    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…

  • Museo de la Virgen del Valle

    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…

  • Termas de Fiambalá

    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…

  • La Riojana

    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…

  • Cristo del Portezuelo

    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…

  • Convento de San Francisco

    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…

  • Molino de San Francisco

    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…

  • Rua Chaky

    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…

  • Museo del Hombre

    Catamarca & La Rioja

    This interesting local museum has sections on geology and archaeology, including quality ceramics and two haunting Inca mummies with well-preserved…

  • Catedral

    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…

  • Convento de Santo Domingo

    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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • Museo Cóndor Huasi

    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.

  • Sendero Triásico

    Catamarca & La Rioja

    This 'Triassic' path takes you past life-size replicas of dinosaurs whose fossilized remains have been found in the Talampaya area.

  • Arañitas Hilanderas

    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.

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