Between 1471 and 1536, the Incas built El Shincal de Quimivil at the foot of the Quimivil mountain range. An interpretation center, signposted trails, and a guided tour service complement the archaeological site. Local operating conditions apply to the center, trails, and guided tour service; check the latest information before your visit.
Archaeological Traces and Building History
A section between La Ciudacita de Arriba and La Ciudacita de Abajo is part of the Qhapaq Ă‘an, the Andean road system that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Sendero La Ciudacita is a challenging hike lasting five to seven days. It can be accessed from the town of El Tesoro in the Santa MarĂa Department of Catamarca. The duration and difficulty make this tour a different way to explore than visiting archaeological sites.
Elsewhere, too, the remains tell of different periods and projects. Parque Arqueológico La Tunita preserves significant rock paintings representative of Argentina’s Northwest, found in rock shelters; a Cebil forest surrounds the site. Pueblo Perdido de la Quebrada is evidence of the early phase of the La Aguada culture. More than 40 stone-built structures are grouped around a shared plaza.
The Túneles de la Merced are an unfinished engineering project from a railway scheme. The plan was to cross the Sierra del Gracián and connect Catamarca with Tucumán and Argentina’s Northwest via the Ferrocarril General Belgrano railway. The tunnels combine railway history with jungle landscapes, trekking, and photography tours. The 50-kilometer-long Ruta del Adobe offers a different perspective on building history, passing through towns that preserve their original adobe architecture.
In San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca, museums, monuments, and religious, historical, and archaeological tours are among the offerings. In Fiambalá, the Iglesia de San Pedro is a National Historic Monument with colonial architecture. Minas Capillitas has been developed to provide access to former mining areas. There, visitors can see old smelting furnaces, chimneys, slag heaps, sections of a 33-kilometer-long material cableway, an old chapel, and other structures.
Landscapes, Wildlife, and Trails
Catamarca’s landscapes range from deserts and volcanoes to Yungas, forests, and lagoons. Campo de Piedra Pómez is a chalk-white rocky landscape at an elevation of 3,000 meters above sea level. The Tatón dunes consist of sand and are the highest dunes in the world. You can sandboard on their sandy slopes; quad bike and off-road vehicle tours are also offered there.
The Diamante and Grande lagoons lie in the crater of Volcán Galán. The area is home to flamingo-like parinas, vicuñas, and foxes, as well as fumaroles with a temperature of 86°C. The Salar de Antofalla includes Laguna Verde, other colorful lagoons, and waterholes. Its ravines are home to large numbers of vicuñas and rheas. The two landscapes offer different impressions: lagoons and hot fumaroles in the volcanic crater contrast with colorful waters and wildlife in the ravines.
Laguna Blanca is part of the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves and is an important habitat for migratory birds, including flamingos. The lagoon is ideal for birdwatching and photography and can be explored on horseback or on foot. The Museo Integral de la Reserva de Biosfera de Laguna Blanca offers archaeological tours, rock art tours, workshops, and projects. Check the specific visitor programs locally.
El Rodeo’s landscape is also characterized by forests and hills, as well as rivers and mountain streams. Activities offered there include trekking, mountaineering, horseback riding, and cycling. At Dique Las Pirquitas, activities include rowing, kayaking, jet skiing, motorboat rides, and fishing; the surrounding area also has hiking and cycling routes. The options therefore differ: water activities are offered at the reservoir, while El Rodeo offers trekking and mountaineering in addition to cycling and horseback riding.
Local Cuisine, Wine, and Annual Events
The local menu in Laguna Blanca features Andean crops such as fava beans and potatoes, as well as quinoa and charqui made from llama or lamb. Wine tourism in Catamarca includes visits to wineries and vineyards in Tinogasta, Fiambalá, and Santa MarĂa, along with tastings of Malbec, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and TorrontĂ©s. Confirm visitor offerings and participating wineries before your trip.
The Chaku, the traditional shearing of vicuñas, takes place every November in Laguna Blanca and other towns in the north of the Belén and Antofagasta de la Sierra departments. Check the annual dates in advance. Catamarca also hosts the Fiesta Nacional e Internacional del Poncho every July; confirm the specific event dates before planning your trip.
To reach San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca, you can fly via Coronel Felipe Varela International Airport, take Ruta Nacional 60, or travel by long-distance bus. Check flight and bus connections before your trip.
Discover More Destinations
Discover more destinations: San Fernando Del Valle De Catamarca, Tinogasta, La Merced, Coneta, Ancasti Department, Antofagasta De La Sierra Department, Las Mojarras, Cerro Negro, Tinogasta Department, Ambato Department, Andalgalá Department, Santa MarĂa Department, Capayán Department, El Alto Department, BelĂ©n Department, Valle Viejo Department, PaclĂn Department.
For the broader travel overview: Argentina.
