A pre-Columbian settlement, a cemetery more than 150 years old and festivals featuring regional foods offer different ways to explore history and culture in Rosario de Lerma Department. There are also routes for trekking, horseback riding and mountain biking. When planning your stay, you can focus on what interests you most: historical landmarks, a particular festival or outdoor activities.
Layers of history
The pre-Columbian settlement of Santa Rosa de Tastil dates from the 14th to 15th centuries and is located in Rosario de Lerma Department. The Museo de sitio Tastil displays items and objects from the nearby Tastil archaeological site. Here, you can encounter both the settlement’s place in history and objects from the archaeological site.
In Rosario de Lerma, the Cementerio del Pueblo is more than 150 years old. The town’s church was built in the 18th century; its present-day appearance began to take shape around 1940. These dates highlight two different points in time: the age of the cemetery and the gap between the church’s construction and the development of its current appearance.
Festivals and their different forms
“Rosario le Canta a la Patria” takes place annually on the eve of May 25 and is free of charge. Rosario de Lerma’s summer Corsos feature Comparsas, Murgas, floats and costumes. The summer Carpas combine carnival dancing with regional food and drinks from the surrounding area. You can distinguish between an annual occasion with a set date, Corsos with their groups and floats, and Carpas with dancing and food.
The Fiestas also have different focuses. The annual Fiesta de la Papa Andina takes place in El Alfarcito in the second week of July; the date may vary from one edition to another. The Fiesta del Choclo Capia is celebrated in March in Gobernador Manuel Solá and brings together local small-scale producers and families from the community. Here, too, the dates may vary from one edition to another. If you would like to plan your trip around one of these festivals, check the dates for the relevant edition.
Experience regional cuisine
At weekends, the food tour in Rosario de Lerma includes live preparation and baking of empanadas and tamales. Another option is a country breakfast, offered in the department with local products made by communities in the surrounding area. At the Carpas, regional food and drinks are part of the summer carnival dances; breakfast, by contrast, puts local products at the center. These offer different culinary experiences that are not limited to a single type of festival.
Routes on foot, horseback and by bike
The country roads between Carabajal and El Corralito are suitable for trekking; route conditions may vary by season. Take current conditions into account when planning. From Rosario de Lerma, Cerro Negro can be reached on horseback or by mule via an old mule or cattle-driving trail. Access to the mountain depends on local conditions.
Another option is the MTB Quebrada del Toro mountain bike trail in Campo Quijano. It runs through natural landscapes within the Quebrada del Toro and is intended for people with some experience in cycling tourism. The options differ mainly in how you travel and in the conditions that apply: trekking on country roads, reaching Cerro Negro on horseback or by mule, and a mountain bike route with an explicitly stated experience requirement.
Campo Quijano and the railway
On the Tren a las Nubes excursion, Campo Quijano is the first stop where passengers disembark; there is a historical introduction to the C-14 railway line. In the current bus-train-bus service, Campo Quijano is a photo stop. Local artisans welcome visitors at the town’s train station and at the viaduct. As operational details of the service may change, check them before planning your trip.
Discover more destinations: Rosario de Lerma, La Silleta, La Caldera Department, Capital Department, Rosario de Lerma Department, Rosario de la Frontera Department, Libertador General San MartĂn Department, Anta Department.
For the broader travel overview: Salta.
