Guardia Vieja brings together railway and school history with another nearby highlight: Laguna La Chanchera. The school took its name from the local railway station; the lagoon offers a different perspective on the landscape and its former recreational uses. If you are looking for a holiday rental, this distinction can help you decide whether your stay will focus mainly on local history or also on nature and lake destinations within the wider destination.

Railway Station and School History

Estación Guardia Vieja is the railway station serving the town of the same name in the Departamento de Presidente Roque Sáenz Peña. The Buenos Aires al Pacífico railway company opened it in 1886. On 8 October of that year, the Guardia Vieja and Riobamba stations entered service as the Villa Mercedes section opened to public operation. The station is on the San Martín line between Laboulaye and Curapaligüe. Important for your journey: Estación Guardia Vieja has no passenger service; freight trains operated by the state-owned company Trenes Argentinos Cargas run on the tracks. As operating information can change, check it again before setting out.

The Escuela Fiscal de Guardia Vieja took its name from the local railway station. The appointment of the first teacher by the Province of Córdoba in 1933 formalised the school’s operation. The school also used a hall that served as both a chapel and a dance hall. One local interpretation of the railway history links the station’s name to the battle of 4 February 1817, associated with General Gregorio Las Heras and José de San Martín. The town’s history thus brings together different periods: military history and remembrance, the later railway line, and the development of the school.

Laguna La Chanchera in the Surrounding Area

Near Guardia Vieja lies Laguna La Chanchera, designated as a nature reserve in the Departamento de Presidente Roque Sáenz Peña. It covers approximately 600 hectares and is surrounded by vegetation and ecologically valuable flora and fauna. The lagoon has been used for water sports and recreational fishing, though it has also experienced periods of neglect. Before visiting, check which activities are currently available. This lets you include the area’s natural attractions in your plans without assuming that any particular use is available on site.

Additions within the Wider Destination of Presidente Roque Sáenz Peña

In Laboulaye, a historic walking tour takes visitors through the city’s architectural heritage. The Museo del Centro de Veteranos reopened in 2026; at the reopening, recovered military equipment was on display, including a half-track troop carrier, two 120 mm mortars and two 80 mm mortars. These sites offer a different focus from Guardia Vieja’s local history and broaden the cultural perspective within the wider destination of Presidente Roque Sáenz Peña.

General Levalle is also part of the Fortines, Lagos y Lagunas tourist itinerary. There, Lago San Agustín serves as a natural swimming area on warm summer days. Water sports, walks around the lake and cycling trips through the town’s streets add to what is on offer. The Department’s natural vegetation is also shaped by the Pampas steppe, where trees are almost entirely absent. The Bañados de La Amarga form a notable landscape area in the southwest of the Department. Travel planning can therefore bring together several themes: railway and school history in Guardia Vieja, the nearby protected lagoon, and cultural and natural attractions within the wider destination.

When looking for a holiday rental, start by deciding which of these highlights you want to shape your stay. Then choose a specific accommodation based on the places you actually plan to visit, and check that its location suits your plans.

Discover more destinations: Laboulaye.

Return to the wider travel overview: Presidente Roque Sáenz Peña.