Catamarca awaits summer tourism with its "thousand tones of green" - impulse
Los “mil distintos tonos de verdes”, como enuncia el poema de Polo Giménez devenido en zamba, son sólo parte de la propuesta de verano de Catamarca, que además ofrece a los turistas una diversidad de paisajes con muchos más colores, en combinación con su riqueza cultural e histórica.
These attractions are found in all corners of the province, divided into tourist in regions such as The puna, the West, the capital (San Fernando del Valle) and the East, according to its Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
The puna
In the Puna, well to the north, is Antofagasta de la Sierra, with its desert and rustic landscapes that house volcanoes, salt white salt flats, black lava fields and one of the most outstanding attractions of the province: the stone field pumice.
It is a wide surface that resembles a sea of white rock with pink ridges, carved by the Andean winds, who create runners or avenues and all kinds of natural sculptures.
In that region there is also the Galán volcano, a phenomenon of geology, with one of the largest craters in the world, where you can see the diamond lagoon, whose transparent waters coexist parinas and flamenco.
Operators describe it as a surrealist show, in which activities such as birds, fauna and flora, photographic safaris and trekking can be developed, at no cost.
West
The west region, considered “La Joya” tourist of the province, combines in its landscapes the ocher of adobe and dunes, the greens of the Calchaquí valleys, the pink of the rhodocrosite and the highest hills of America, with glaciers, lagoonsand hot springs.
In that area is National Route 60, which in its 55 kilometers between Tinogasta and Ciambalá houses the Adobe Route, with old buildings built with the millenary technique Diaguita based on land, water and manure, sometimes with reed structure.
On the way you can see new homes built with that material and also some adobe churches with more than 300 years of history, which are the oldest standing in the province, and they are preserved thanks to the dry climate that preserves firm the materials.
Route 60 reaches the international limit with Chile, in the passage of San Francisco, where visitors find the famous six thousand route, for being the highest peak area of the Andes mountain range, with about 20 peaks thatThey exceed 6.000 meters above sea level (msnm), including those of the pissis and eyes of the salty.
In this region, one of the forced visits is to the dunes of Tatón, neighbors to the people of the same name, where the highest dune in the world is located, with 1.230 meters high, called "Federico Kirbus" in honor of its discoverer, with the base to 1.615 meters above sea level.
In that area, visitors can also relax in the waters of the Fiambalá Termas complex, which emerge at 1.750 meters above sea.
The same region is crossed by National Route 40, which takes visitors to attractions such as the Archaeological Site of Shincal de Quimivil, declared a National Historic Monument, where the most important administrative center of the south of the Inca Empire worked.
The archaeological site, which was recently restored and reopened, has a visitor reception cabin, a permanent interpretation and guide service center.
About 15 kilometers to the north, along the same mythical road 40, is the city of Bethlehem, known as the "Cradle of the Poncho", which offers numerous attractions, among which the loom route stands out, where international artisans show howPonchos and blankets of vicuña or other animals are made.
In Bethlehem, tourists can find foods, drinks and lecture typical of the area, including the most distinctive dish of the place, called Gigote, in addition to regional wines and typical desserts, such as confined nut and Cayote.
Further north, 40 reaches the capital of the Calchaquí Valleys, Santa María del Yokavil, a city high, with colorful landscapes and hills, and an important reservoir of archaeological sites of ancient Diaguitas and Calchaquíes cities.
Another must of the region is the city of Andalgalá, called "La Perla del Oeste", where the national stone abounds, which is the Rodocrosita or Rosa del Inca.
San Fernando del Valle
In the capital area, the historical religious tour of the Virgen del Valle stands out, with the grotto of the Virgin, where its image was found, to the Basilica Cathedral Our Lady of the Valley, in the esplanade of the central square of the province.
There, every December 8 hundreds of thousands of faithful from all the country gather to honor and go out in procession next to the image of the Virgin through the streets of San Fernando del Valle.
On a radius of 60 kilometers from the provincial capital there are several tourist villas, such as the rodeo, the joints, the door and the angels, all with rivers of meek and clear waters, where tourists can take refuge from the overwhelming heat of the summer season.
Hiking, horseback riding, mountain bike walks and photographic safaris with both fauna and flora softening are common activities in the area.
The lodging price ranges in the province are varied, with double -based averages ranging from the 2.000 at 7.000 pesos, in establishments of 2, 3 or 4 stars, provincial tourism authorities told Téla.
For the summer season, visitors are advised to use sunscreen, windbenar clothing, hats and stay hydrated, to enjoy without inconveniences the varied range of tourist possibilities Catamarqueñas.
Source: Télam