The Department of Río Hondo offers a wide variety of things to see and do: thermal waters and museums in Las Termas de Río Hondo, nature around the Embalse Río Hondo and Río Dulce, and historic places such as Vinará and Sotelo. When choosing a holiday apartment, it helps to first prioritise the places and themes you want to shape your stay. This turns the department’s variety into a selection that suits your travel interests.
Thermal waters and waterfront areas
Las Termas de Río Hondo lies above an extensive artesian basin. Meteoric waters rise to the surface there as springs and natural upwellings. The city is known as an open-air spa; visitors can use water with different mineral compositions, sometimes even within the same establishment. The hyperthermal waters are approximately between 30 °C and 70 °C. Individual springs and facilities may differ.
The dimensions of the Costanera also give an idea of how it is laid out: it is 3,400 metres long in total and includes a two-metre-wide cycle lane and a three-metre-wide pedestrian area. For a different view of the surroundings, visit the Reserva Isla Tara Inti in the municipality of Las Termas de Río Hondo. The protected area covers approximately 24 hectares and is home to diverse flora and fauna, palaeontological remains and a lagoon fed by natural thermal springs.
Nature and viewpoints
At the Reserva Isla Tara Inti, a signposted elevated walkway made of Quebracho Colorado wood passes through the area. Four viewpoints offer views of flora, fauna, palaeontological remains and the Río Dulce landscape. An estimated 100 bird species are recorded there. The walkway, viewpoints, lagoon and fossil finds make the reserve a distinct focus for both nature and landscape enthusiasts.
A different type of landscape is preserved at the Reserva Natural Privada Pozo del Arbolito: 60 hectares of semi-arid Chaco forest, which is considered to have significant ecotourism value. Isla de los Castillos, in turn, is a locality in the Department of Río Hondo on the Embalse Río Hondo. Thermal waters, native species and the lakeside landscape define the character of the place. These different natural settings can be considered distinct themes of the department without combining them into a single excursion destination.
Museums, history and crafts
The Museo Rincón de Athacama displays archaeological materials about the Tonocote, who lived in the Department of Río Hondo in the past. It also exhibits bone remains of Quaternary animals from the Americas, found in the department and in the bed of the Río Dulce. Vinará was established at the beginning of the 18th century as a Posta del Camino Real on the border between Santiago del Estero and Tucumán. The Pacto de Vinará was signed there in 1821; the museum and the Río Dulce can be visited.
Sotelo also developed as a Posta del Camino Real. The Capilla Nuestra Señora del Rosario can be visited; it is considered one of the oldest chapels in the country and is located in the centre of the local cemetery. In Las Termas de Río Hondo, the Museo del Automóvil’s permanent exhibition covers important moments in Argentine and international motor racing and motorcycle racing history across six areas. The collection includes vehicles, among them loans or vehicles from the Fangio, La Plata and Arturo Scalise museums, as well as a particularly large number of antique motorcycles.
The Museo de Artes y Artesanías Regionales is housed in the oldest railway station of Ferrocarriles Argentinos. The building dates from 1929 and has largely retained its original design. In its garden stands a German locomotive made by the Richard Hartman company; it is one of only two locomotives of this type currently preserved in Argentina. Cestería (basketry) is a traditional craft and part of the regional identity of Santiago del Estero. In the Department of Río Hondo, artisans work with plant fibres. Along Caseros and parts of Rivadavia and Ruta Nacional 9, the Paseo Manos Laboriosas invites visitors to discover basketry. As a permanent craft exhibition, the specific display there may change.
More topics for planning your trip
Those interested in bodies of water and their use can take part in guided tours at the Instituto de Hidrobiología. These cover current and historical conditions at the Embalse and its importance in regulating water outflows. In Las Termas de Río Hondo, the facilities of the Centro Cultural General San Martín can be used for congresses, seminars, business meetings, workshops, press conferences, fairs and exhibitions; the specific events programme may vary.
The Circuito Termas de Río Hondo is six kilometres from the city it is named after, on a 150-hectare site along the shore of the Dique Frontal. The international MotoGP Grand Prix takes place at the Autódromo Internacional de Termas de Río Hondo. The Fiesta Nacional del Canasto is an event associated with Termas de Río Hondo. Folklore and typical regional dishes are shared there; the specific food offerings may vary from one edition to another. Check the dates before including the Fiesta in your plans. Empanadas santiagueñas are recommended as a regional speciality to try.
First choose a suitable theme to focus on, then use it to guide your other travel decisions.
Discover more destinations: Pérez de Zurita, Department of Moreno, Robles, Department of Guasayán, La Banda, Department of Capital, Department of Choya.
For the overview of the wider region: Santiago Del Estero.
