Unknown Argentina: Touring the Northwestern Treasures

Argentina has as many different landscapes as its vast territory is capable of hosting. Destinations that may not be as well known as the classic El Calafate, Iguazu Falls or Ushuaia, but that also have a lot to tell and that will amaze you. 

We propose you to start a tour to know the unknown treasures that Argentina has and in this series we are going to focus on the northwest of the country, that is, in the region that includes the provinces of Catamarca, Jujuy, Salta, Santiago del Estero, Tucumán and La Rioja.

We kick off this trip in the province of Jujuy, which borders Bolivia and Chile to the west. There we find the Termas del Río Jordán, an oasis in the middle of nature. The carousel of colors that is drawn thanks to the contrast between the greens and browns of the forest and the turquoise blue of its waters - due to the great mineralization in its composition - creates an idyllic atmosphere. Although the journey to get there is quite demanding, the tranquility and the natural environment that you breathe there makes it totally worth it. In addition, the temperature of the waters, which on average reaches 30 degrees, makes them beneficial to health, since they favor the circulation of blood and oxygen and reduce muscle tension.  

We continue in the province to embark on an adventure of "cave tourism" - tourism in caves, grottoes or caverns -, specifically in the Wayra Caves, about three kilometers from Tilcara, in the middle of the Quebrada de Humahuaca. There you can enjoy routes and other activities such as hiking, trekking or observation of flora and fauna and an incredible natural environment. Again, we are talking about a destination oriented to the more adventurous, since it is an ascending route.

And since we mentioned the Quebrada de Humahuaca, it is worth mentioning that it also has a great attraction for nature lovers. The reddish colors are a hallmark of this valley in northwestern Argentina, where canyons and high mountain ranges complete a spectacular landscape of about 155 kilometers, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2003. Also, you can visit the picturesque surrounding villages, characterized by history and traditions of ancestral roots with historic houses and chapels. 

We cannot forget in this province the Calilegua National Park, which protects part of the Yungas jungle ecoregion. This natural reserve is home to a great biodiversity, so much so that, for example, you can find about 120 species of mammals and 350 species of birds, as well as a great variety of trees and ferns.

We go down a little bit to enter the province of Salta, where the town of Cachi is located, a small colonial town of great charm. In this charming town you can visit the San José Church - declared a National Historic Monument in 1945 -, the Pío Pablo Díaz Archaeological Museum, archaeological sites and high altitude wineries, or go hiking and discover incredible landscapes. It is also worth extending the tour to Cafayate to do wine tourism, visit the Museum of the Vine and Wine and taste the typical gastronomy in some peña.  

If you travel further afield, a must is to go to the surroundings of the town of Tolar Grande to discover the Cono de Arita, a curious formation that emerges over the Salar de Arizaro Lake. 

But perhaps one of the star activities in the province of Salta is the Tren a las Nubes (Train to the Clouds), a railroad ride through the Andean slopes at an altitude of 4,220 meters above sea level at its highest point, making it the third highest train in the world. 

On our southbound journey we cross the province of Tucumán, which although it is mainly known for the spectacular nature of the Calchaquí Valleys, the area also has other tourist attractions worth visiting. One of them is the Sacred City of Quilmes -also known as Quilmes Ruins-, a journey into the culture of this indigenous people that inhabited the valleys around 800 AD. There are perfectly preserved remains of these ruins, and there is also an interpretation center to explain the history of these indigenous people. 

As we are sure that after so much traveling you have become hungry, you can make a stop in Famaillá, a town in the province of Tucumán, known for its great regional gastronomic culture. In fact, the city is nationally known for its passion for empanadas, and it is in this town that the Fiesta de la Empanada is celebrated, where the best empanada in Argentina is chosen. 

To the east of Tucumán is the province of Santiago del Estero, where we recommend a visit to the city of the same name, known as "The mother of cities" for being the oldest city in the country - it was founded in 1553 - and has several monuments and museums of interest. For those less "urban", we recommend visiting the Tara Inti Natural Reserve, a natural refuge between the waters of the Dulce River where you can see an infinite number of bird species from the long walkways that are installed in the natural park.   

We continue traveling, now we move closer to the mountain range, to get into the province of Catamarca, where there are also several routes of great interest, in a region that can be visited throughout the year. One of these routes is the Adobe Route, a journey through the different towns of the province that have constructions made of this material. Among those monuments built with adobe we highlight the railroad station in Copacabana, the Oratorio de los Orquera in El Puesto, Casa Grande in Tinogasta or the Church of San Pedro in Fiambalá. It is also worth spending some time in this town, where the Fiambalá Hot Springs are located, a thermal complex in the middle of nature.  

This trip through the northwest of Argentina ends in the province of La Rioja, located south of Catamarca. One of the main attractions of this area is the Talampaya National Park, whose reddish formations receive tourists every year, partly because it also houses remains of dinosaurs and mammal ancestors, so it is considered one of the most complete sets of fossils in the world. 

Also in La Rioja is the Quebrada de los Cóndores, located in the south of the province. The tour, which lasts about four hours, goes through the most unspoiled nature of the area. The end of the trip is at "El Balcón", a spectacular viewpoint where you can contemplate the majesty of the surroundings.