The Sierras de Catamarca in the north-west Argentina include the east of the Catamarca Province and are the northernmost of the Sierras Pampeanas.
Regions
The mountain ranges in the area all run in a north-south direction. The following regions can be distinguished from east to west:
- the Valles in the east of Catamarca, an alternation of incredibly straight valleys and mountain ranges
- the Ambato-Region in the central Catamarca, a lovely to rough, touristic well-developed mountain area
- the Campo de Belén in the central Catamarca, a salt desert surrounded by mountain ranges
The north of Catamarca already belongs to the Puna region and is in the travel region Northwest Argentina described.
places
- San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca, 180,000 inhabitants, largest city in the region with lots of colonial architecture and attractive surroundings
- Andalgalá, 15,000 inhabitants, city located on the border between subtropical rainforest and steppe at the foot of the Nevados de Aconquija
- Belén, 15,000 inhabitants, at the northern end of Campo de Belén, town planted in bizarre mountains, known for its weaving mills
- Londres, 4.000 inhabitants, second oldest city in Argentina, impressively situated near Belén.
- El Rodeo, 2,000 inhabitants, popular small resort near Catamarca
Other goals
- Las Estancias, Farming area in the north of Catamarca
background
Despite their scenic beauty, the sierren of Catamarca have not yet been discovered by mass tourism. In many regions you are still completely on your own as a tourist.
The area is characterized by rugged, bare mountain ranges and narrow, often surprisingly green valleys with rivers that swell in summer and invite you to swim. The west of the region in particular has impressive landscapes to offer with its multicolored mountain ranges.
language
The local dialect is similar to the Spanish spoken in the northwest. The hybrid R ("rsch") and a stretching of the penultimate syllable are typical, as is the pronunciation of "y" and "ll" as in high Spanish (as "j").
getting there
Starting points for a trip to the region are the provincial capital Catamarca and Belén. Catamarca has an airport that is served by Buenos Aires and is also well connected to the rest of Argentina by bus. But there are also direct connections to Belén from Buenos Aires and Córdoba.
mobility
The only public transport in the region is the bus. However, the frequencies are often very low in remote areas, where you are mostly dependent on minibuses ("traffic").
Many places cannot be reached by public transport at all and you have to rely on a car, motorcycle or mountain bike. It should be noted that many roads are unpaved gravel roads and you should therefore prefer a reasonably off-road vehicle with a lot of ground clearance.
Tourist Attractions
- In San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca there is a multitude of colonial buildings.
- Ancient Inca ruins of Shinkal at Belén.
- Colonial churches in Londres
activities
The hiking and mountain climbing opportunities in the region are practically unlimited. You should always have a compass or a map with you in remote areas, as the paths are never marked or do not even exist. Advice from locals is mandatory for longer tours. The local farmers and shepherds are often more helpful than the tourist information, which only knows the standard tours.
kitchen
nightlife
There is a modest nightlife in cities with more than 5,000 inhabitants. The provincial capital offers the best opportunities for going out, as well as some tourist-oriented places such as El Rodeo during the season.
security
In this sparsely populated area, crime is still a foreign word, apart from the provincial capital, where there is no need to be overly afraid.
There is a moderate earthquake hazard throughout the region. However, there were only seldom deaths, as the population has now adjusted to this risk.
climate
In the valleys of the region, the summers are very hot and relatively humid: San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca has an average of 36 ° C during the day and 20 ° C at night. No wonder that most of the tourist places in the higher valleys are over 1,000 m high. Spring and autumn are pleasant with temperatures around 25 ° C-30 ° C and little rain, even in dust-dry winter the average temperature is still above 20 ° C.
trips
The region is the springboard for the Andean regions in the Cuyo (especially the Talampaya National Park) and for the Andean northwest. It is relatively easy to get to and from the Puna high desert via Catamarca Valle Calchaquí.
