A high-altitude village on a hill, an archaeological settlement with at least 365 structures, and a calendar of markets and festivals: there are many ways to get to know Santa María Department in Catamarca. Archaeology, culture and regional products offer different starting points for choosing what to experience on your trip.
Archaeological Sites and Their Landscape
The village of Cerro Pintado de Las Mojarras lies on a 100-meter-high hill next to National Route 40. The Inca road is believed to have once passed through here. This cautious historical interpretation is part of the character of the site: the route is described as probable, not certain.
Rincón Chico offers a different scale for looking into the past. The pre-Columbian village comprises at least 365 structures across an area of about 39.6 hectares. It lies on a mountain spur of the Sierra del Cajón. White quartz veins, pegmatite outcrops in a drainage channel, and dark formations of phyllite and schist shape this landscape. At Rincón Chico, the size of the settlement and its geological setting are both in focus; Cerro Pintado, in turn, connects the village site with its hilltop location and the historical possibility that a road passed through it.
The Museo Arte Sacro Ntra Sra Candelaria also adds its own cultural dimension. It displays Christian sacred art and focuses on tangible and intangible cultural heritage alongside the heritage of pre-Columbian cultures. For those interested in different historical and cultural perspectives, it offers another subject to explore alongside the archaeological sites in the department.
Crafts, Markets and Festivals
Various markets run by local entrepreneurs are held on Plaza Gral. Manuel Belgrano on Fridays. On Saturdays, the Feria Arcoiris joins them, with local artisans and producers offering their products. The two market days offer different perspectives on local goods: Friday features several markets, while Saturday also includes the Feria Arcoiris.
The festival calendar also includes a range of events. The Fiesta Nacional Santa María la Reina del Yokavil was conceived in 1967 and began in the summer of 1968. The Festival del Cabrito takes place every year during Holy Week in El Cerrito. The Fiesta de la Capia is celebrated in Santa María during the winter. Every year on February 2, Santa María celebrates Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria as the city's patron saint; the city's founding is also celebrated on this day. For exact market and festival dates, it is advisable to check the information before your trip.
Regional Cuisine and Production Processes
The Ruta de la Capia introduces an alfajor from Santa María made with Capia corn and homemade dulce de leche. Its name draws attention to a specific regional product and its ingredients. The Dulces y Licores offering includes visits and tastings of sweets and liqueurs made in Santa María from fruit grown in the valley. As visiting hours for individual producers may change, check visiting options in advance.
Nuestras Especias shows where spices from the Calchaquí Valley are ground, including cumin, oregano, rosemary and sweet paprika. The described visits at Vinos de Altura include wineries where high-altitude wines are made; here, too, access details for individual wineries may change.
Craft production processes add to these culinary insights. Cestería en Simbol shows how unique baskets are made from Simbol; basket weaving is a tradition in Santa María. Textiles del Valle follows the process from turning fibers into yarn to weaving garments from different types of wool. Each experience focuses on different materials and stages of production.
More Experiences and Practical Information
Trekking is one way to reach some of the most interesting places in Santa María. The Quilla Punco astronomical school complex includes an area with information about all the constellations, an observatory with a high-resolution telescope, a planetarium and an interpretation center. There, students from School No. 220 and children from nearby places observe constellations and planets.
As you plan your itinerary, you can combine archaeological themes with markets, festivals, regional products or traditional craft-making processes. Which ones you focus on depends on whether you are more interested in settlement history, culture, food or traditional crafts. For experiences with individual visiting hours, it is worth confirming details in advance.
Discover more destinations: El Volcán, Loro Huasi, Santa María, Ambato Department, Paclín Department, El Alto Department, Valle Viejo Department, Antofagasta De La Sierra Department.
For the broader travel overview: Catamarca.
