The Cuesta de El Portezuelo lies in the wider surrounding region; several cultural and scenic attractions are located in the Ancasti Department. For planning, it helps to keep these different scales in mind: the wider area offers a mountain road and far-reaching views, while the rock art, Seda del coyoyo and Dique de Ipizca are located in the Ancasti Department.
Cuesta de El Portezuelo: Mountain Road and Views in the Wider Surrounding Area
The Cuesta de El Portezuelo is a winding mountain road in the wider surrounding region that climbs through mountainous scenery. Its viewpoint is 1,070 meters above sea level and offers panoramic views of the Valle Central. The rising road and the view across the valley define the landscape of the Cuesta.
From the summit of the Cuesta, you can watch condors flying over the valley. The views and wildlife watching are two distinct aspects of the same mountain landscape: the viewpoint looks out over the Valle Central, while the condors soaring above the valley are the focus at the summit.
Rock Art in the Ancasti Department
Parque Arqueológico La Tunita protects important rock paintings and the surrounding 2,000-hectare forest. Most of the paintings belong to the iconography of the La Aguada culture. They include big cats, hybrid beings and anthropozoomorphic figures—figures with human and animal forms. The paintings reach their greatest expressive power at the La Sixtina rock shelter.
La Sixtina also features large, dynamic figures carrying large knives, trophy heads and spear-throwers. In Ancasti, El Hornero offers a different picture of rock art: the front chamber is well lit and contains motifs attributed to La Aguada. In the rear chamber, which has subdued lighting, there are white zoomorphic and geometric pictographs that may be of more recent origin.
Cueva de La Candelaria, also known as Cueva de la Salamanca, is located in the Ancasti Department and contains an important group of rock paintings. These are stylistically attributed to the La Aguada culture; their functions are interpreted as ritual and ideological. A free, interactive and immersive virtual tour of the cave has also been developed.
As part of improvements to Parque Arqueológico La Tunita, a small protective building and an interpretation room were built, paths were laid out, information boards were installed and a park ranger was assigned. Before visiting, check which facilities are currently in operation.
Seda del coyoyo: A Textile Tradition
Wild silk has been gathered, spun and woven in the village of Ancasti since pre-Hispanic times. The tradition is known as Seda del coyoyo. Processing it involves collecting wild cocoons. They are boiled with ash, separated, dried and cleaned. The material is then spun with a small spindle, wound onto a reel and woven on a loom.
Textiles made from native coyoyo silk are also produced in Santa Gertrudis. The village is five kilometers from Villa de Ancasti; the textiles are made for the local tourism market. The tradition thus links several stages of work—from collecting the cocoon to weaving the material—with production in the Ancasti Department.
Church History and Ruins
The ruins of Iglesia de San Roque de Ancastillo are located in Ancastillo, in the Ancasti Department. The church is considered one of the oldest in Catamarca Province. Jesuits who came from Santiago del Estero built it between 1606 and 1748. The ruins are more than 40 kilometers from Villa de Ancasti. A report published in 2021 noted that they had neither been preserved nor restored.
Dique de Ipizca and Road Information
Dique de Ipizca lies on the eastern slope of the Sierra de Ancasti. Its reservoir is 1,000 meters above sea level on the Río Las Beatas. Fishing and boating in small boats are practiced on the water. If you plan to take part in these activities, check the current conditions beforehand.
Ruta Provincial No. 2 passes through the center of Anquincila and continues toward Villa de Ancasti. The road from Ruta Provincial No. 2 to Dique de Ipizca is unpaved, but can be driven by car with care. Check its condition locally before setting out.
Discover more destinations: Las Juntas, Ancasti, Anquincila
Back to the main travel overview: Ancasti Department.
