Las Mojarras highlights two themes: archaeological history and cycling tourism. The Cerro Pintado de Las Mojarras settlement dates to the Regional Developments period, beginning around 900 AD. A project to fully pave the 21 kilometers of National Route 40 from Las Mojarras to the level of the Quilmes ruins was intended to promote tourism in the Calchaquí Valleys. The cycling tourism route also connects historic sites with other regional themes.

Archaeology at Cerro Pintado

The Pukará is located on Cerro Pintado. Hikers can reach it, and it is attributed to the time of the Diaguita. The settlement’s dating to around 900 AD and the Pukará’s attribution to the Diaguita are distinct historical classifications of the archaeological area. Visitors interested in these places will find a focus that takes both the settlement and the Pukará into account.

Cycling tourism and other stops

A cycling tourism route leads to Las Mojarras. It also includes the historic village of Fuerte Quemado, wineries, producers of regional baked goods, and historic sites. The route therefore offers a mix of history, wine, and regional pastries. Another activity is hiking to the Pukará on Cerro Pintado. The cycling tourism route includes several stops, while the hike focuses on the archaeological site at Cerro Pintado.

Accommodation in Las Mojarras

A tourism report from January 2024 describes a rural campsite in Las Mojarras with a swimming pool, native woodland, and space for camping or parking motorhomes. Check current availability before you travel. When looking for accommodation, you can first check whether this camping option suits your plans.

Santa María Department: regional perspectives

In the Santa María Department, Cerro Pintado de Las Mojarras is a high-altitude village on a 100-meter-high hill beside National Route 40. The Inca road is thought to have once passed through the area. The pre-Columbian village of Rincón Chico is also in the Santa María Department and has at least 365 structures across an area of about 39.6 hectares. It is located on a spur of the Sierra del Cajón. White quartz veins, pegmatite outcrops in a drainage channel, and dark formations of phyllite and schist characterize this landscape.

Various entrepreneurs’ markets are held in Santa María on Fridays at Plaza Gral. Manuel Belgrano; the Feria Arcoiris is also held there on Saturdays, where local artisans and producers offer their products. Check the dates locally before your trip. The cultural offerings in the Santa María Department also include the Museo Arte Sacro Ntra Sra Candelaria, with Christian sacred art and tangible and intangible cultural heritage alongside the heritage of pre-Columbian cultures. Handicraft experiences range from making baskets from Simbol to processing different types of wool into yarn and woven garments.

Regional cuisine and visitor experiences

The Ruta de la Capia introduces an alfajor from Santa María made with capia corn and homemade dulce de leche. The Fiesta de la Capia takes place in Santa María in winter. Dulces y Licores offers visits and tastings of sweets and liqueurs made from fruit grown in the valley. Nuestras Especias shows where spices from the Calchaquí Valley are ground, including cumin, oregano, rosemary, and sweet paprika. Vinos de Altura offers visits to wineries producing high-altitude wines. As individual providers’ visitor arrangements can change, it is advisable to inquire before traveling.

Discover more destinations: Cerro Negro, Tinogasta, La Merced, Coneta, San Fernando Del Valle De Catamarca

Return to the main travel overview: Catamarca.