With all of its many olive trees and minerals, Catamarca’s astounding landscapes and beautiful handicrafts are worth seeing. A huge variety of religious and pagan celebrations are held in this Argentine province.
The province of Catamarca is located in Northwest Argentina, bordering with Salta to the north, Tucumán in the northeast, Santiago del Estero in the east, La Rioja to the Southwest, Córdoba in the south, and Chile to the West. Its capital city- which has an airport- is San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca.
The province is located in the semi-desert portion of Argentina. Annual medium temperature is 20º C in the east and centre, although temperatures of up to 45ºC are registered in the summer.
The archeological ruins sitting in different parts of the province are evidence of Catamarca´s deep native heritage. These strong aboriginal origins were influenced by Spanish culture, and the result was a diverse culture, which can be appreciated in its religious and pagan celebrations. An interesting mix of catholic practice and ancestral rituals –like the one honoring the Pachamama (Mother Earth) – can be appreciated in these celebrations. The misachicos are another common display which consists in religious processions where catholic liturgy meets the typical rituals of the high plane area. Those indigenous and colonial origins can also be appreciated in handicrafts, like ceramics, items made of wood, metal or semiprecious stones from the mines, and textiles made of sheep and vicuña wool.
Catamarca´s landscapes are overwhelming. Sprayed with high mountains, salt pans, volcanoes, valleys, forests and water mirrors, the area is ideal for practicing sports like trekking, canoeing, and mountain climbing. It is also good for resting and enjoying some leisure time in country houses, thermals, and wine cellars where one can enjoy the province´s gastronomy and wines.
Catamarca is part of a larger regional context conformed by the Argentine province of La Rioja and the Atacama region in Chile. Both governments maintain a complementary relationship.
Economy
Catamarca is the Argentine province with the largest amount of planted olive trees -about 25.000 hectares-, which makes it a very important production area for oils and olives.
According to official numbers from 2007, there has been a 783% increase in the olive production compared to 2004. A new record crop of 54 million kilos of olives was registered in 2007, beating Catamarca´s 2005 mark of 48 million and the whole country´s 50 million.
Grape vines, tobacco, nuts, alfalfa and corn are also grown in Catamarca. The growing of figs and prickly pears has expanded over the last years. Some traditional productive activities are the sheep and vicuña farming and the making of textiles such as blankets or ponchos.
Gold, copper and silver are the mining activities, which take place in clearly differenciated regions. In the Great Catamarca area –which includes the capital city and almost 50% of the province´s population- the industrial complex and farming projects stand out. The mountain belt around the capital city is ideal for tourist activities. In the Eastern Region there is an area dedicated to flat and dry land farming (tobacco, soy, and other extensive crops), and another one where cattle and goat farming are the main activities.
In the least populated Western area, camel and sheep wools are processed with hand-made techniques. Catamarca is the home of the huge Dead Man´s Salt Pan mining project for the extraction of lithium salts. It is one of the world´s biggest lithium deposits. In the large mountain area of the Calchaquí Zone there is also a wine, textile and regional jams industry.
Catamarca´s potential for mining depends on its beds of metal, non metal and construction rock minerals. One of the biggest projects of Argentine mining is Bajo de la Alumbrera, located in western Catamarca. One of the world´s main exterior metal deposits, its copper and gold production started off in 1997. The province also has the Farallón Negro and Minas Capillitas mines, with huge reserves of gold, silver, copper and tin. The Argentine national rock, the rhodochrosite (or “inca rose”) is extracted from the old mining bed of Capillitas (Andalgalá)
Paso de San Francisco International Corridor
Argentine and Chilean authorities are looking to consolidate the border´s Paso de San Francisco as a corridor for services, commerce and tourism. This international corridor starts in Tinogasta city in Catamarca and goes on for 250 km up to the Chilean border, 4750 meters above the sea level. The terrain is not abrupt, which helps tourist and cargo transport with easy access to alternate roads in the centre, north and littoral of Argentina.
This corridor represents an access to sea ports on the Pacific for Argentine provinces like Córdoba, Santa Fe, Tucumán, Santiago del Estero, Chaco, Misiones, as well as for Latin American countries like Brasil Paraguay and Uruguay.
ATACALAR Macro Region (Atacama-Catamarca-La Rioja)
The ATACALAR Macro Region was created by the initiative of the Argentine provinces of Catamarca and La Rioja together with the Chilean III Region of Atacama, and it was established in 1996.
The area will expand by incorporating the provinces of Cordoba and Santiago del Estero. Its original objective is to be a connecting zone for economic and commercial trade between Argentina and Chile, which itself also works as the link to the Asian countries on the Pacific. There is an Atacama, Catamarca and La Rioja Frontier Committee working since 1997.
This process is complemented by the participation of ZICO-SUR (South America´s Centre-West Integration Area) comprisied of northern Argentina and Chile, southern Bolivia and Paraguay and the Brazilian West. The Macro Region´s possibilities extend beyond its own provinces by working as an access to Pacific ports for Argentine provinces like Santa Fe, Córdoba, Santiago del Estero, Tucumán, Chaco and Misiones, as well as for other South American countries.
Gastronomic Route
Catamarca can brag about the fine gastronomy that can be tasted in its capital city, as well as in the rest of the towns. Visiting tours to production facilities can be organized, where visitors can learn about the making of jams, goat cheese, oils and wines.
Wines
Catamarca is one of the areas of Argentina´s wine production region, and is part of the famous Wine Route. The area´s good conditions for the making of fine wines depend on its soil, which is sandy, very rocky, with some clay, and with an average altitude of 1500 meters. The area also has a proper template continental climate, with a big temperature difference between day and night. The Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon are the vine varietals that have better adapted these conditions.
Tinogasta is one of the stops in the tour, due to its wine cellars and some boutiques that offer wine tasting and a tour into the wine making process. This department is famous for its patero wines, although fine wines have been growing in relevance over the last few years.
At Fiambalá Valley in Tinogasta, wine cellars produce the Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec and Chardonnay varietals, using the “Fiambala Valley” designation of origin. Those wines are sold in the international markets where they win awards. This area concentrates 80% of Catamarca´s wine production.
The Don Diego and Cabernet de los Andes wine cellars are located in the town of Fiambalá, and produce high altitude wines and raisins Regarded as the capital of the Calchaquí Valleys, Santa María is another one of Catamarca´s production center of high altitude wines. Textiles, jams, and goat cheeses are other interesting products of the area. One of the wine cellars that has established in the region is the Prelatura de Cafayate, which belongs to the Cafayate Diocese. As an active member, Catamarca recently joined the board of the Argentine Wine Corporation (COVIAR), which develops strategies to strengthen wine culture in Argentina.
Olives and oils
Big olive plantations and several oil making facilities (which are open to the general public) lie along the Route 38, starting off at Catamarca´s capital city. "Olivares del Sol" and "Olivares de Pomán" are some of these facilities. “Agrovite” is another one, located at the Huasan (Andalgalá) department, with a historic and old olive tree. Another option is the olive production facility “La Luna de Catamarca”, with hotel and restaurant service, located west of Tinogasta.
San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca
Founded in 1683 and located at 1.121 kilometers from Buenos Aires, the city still preserves vestiges of colonial architecture.
The city has a rich cultural and business life, and is the home of the National Poncho Festival in July. The Government House and the Nuestra Señora del Valle Cathedral are located just across the city´s main square. It is highly recommended to visit the San Francisco church and convent, as well as the Calchaquí Archeological museum. The circuit can be completed with the Carpet Factory, the Fine Arts Museum and the Folklore Museum. Close by, there are a few summer towns like El Rodeo and Las Juntas.
Salt pans and mines
Antofagasta de la Sierra
Antofagasta de la Sierra is a rural area of the Puna where the vestiges of native cultures and Spanish colonial times can be seen. Visitors are usually amazed by the salt pans, volcanoes, lakes with flamingos, and other animals like llamas and vicuñas, which provide the wool for making beautiful textiles.
Dead Man´s Salt Pan
It is located 75 km from Villa de Antofagasta and looks like a huge white spot. The salt pan produces lithium, which can be used for aluminum and magnesium alloys, as well as potassium, borax and sodium. Right next to it are the ruins of the Incauhasi Gold Mines, which were exploited by the Incas, and later by the Spanish.
Religious Tourism
Pagan rituals and catholic practice live together in Catamarca. The holidays stand as a perfect chance to taste the province´s typical foods and wines and to admire textiles and handicrafts made of wood, stone and metal.
Virgen del Valle and Catedral
Our Lady of the Valley (Nuestra Señora del Valle) is Catamarca’s own patron saint. The worship of the “Morena” virgin takes place in “La Gruta”, a place in the foothills of the Ambato Mountain, about seven kilometers from Catamarca´s capital city. Also, the Camarin de la Virgen, the San José altar and the baroque pulpit can be admired at the Basilical Cathedral, Catamarca’s main Catholic temple. The Patron Saint Virgin attracts many devoted people to the city of San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca.
Saint Francis Temple
Built in Italian style, it is located in the province´s capital city and belongs to the Franciscan order. The temple guards the heart of the holy bishop Brother Mamerto Esquiú and part of the colonial cloister and the cell where he used to study. The home where Brother Mamerto Esquiú was born is located in the town of Piedra Blanca. It is a shack with a gable roof, adobe walls and carob wood doors is the place where the Franciscan religious man was born on May 11th, 1826.
The “Madrecita of Alto del Rosario”
Every Holy Week and every day the Virgen del Rosario, the people of Catamarca gather in a chapel located close to the border of the Ancasti and La Paz departments, and worship a women regarded as a saint. Her name is María del Rosario Quiroga, and she lived in Los Altos del Rosario (Ancasti) during the second half of the 19th century and first years of the 20th. She was a psychic and a healer, and according to her “followers” she has kept on giving after her death.
Saint Roque
The patron of the infirmed holiday takes place in August. One of the many celebrations to honor this saint takes place in the town of San José on a 19th century temple, and it is what best represents the cultural syncretism. Devoted people from Catamarca´s Puna and Salta province attend. Handicraft makers, vendors and medicine men gather as well.
Saint Peter
Saint Peter is worshiped in a temple in Fiambalá every June 29th since the 18th century. Local handicraft men as well as some from Tinogasta and the entire western area show their pieces of wood and stone, ponchos, jams, pastries, and textiles.
Saint John the Baptist
The holiday of Saint John (San Juan) is celebrated with fire torches on June 24th in the town of Londres de Belén. The celebration includes horse riding parades and allegorical carriages. People can try typical foods, like empanadas, cheeses and patero wines, and buy textiles like ponchos, ruanas, blankets and shawls.
International Poncho Festival
One of the main handicraft holidays of Argentina and Latin America, it takes place in June in the capital city, San Fernando Valle de Catamarca. With thousands of visitors, it works as a display for handicraft men to show their artistic skills handling different materials. It is also a meeting point for singers and dancers. The poncho holiday was created, among other reasons, to vindicate Catamarca’s very own piece of clothing.
Other festivals
All through the year, Catamarca helds many celebrations related to local products, such as the Nut Festival, the Province’s Grape Harvest Festival, the Mining Festival, or the Olive and Home Made Jam Festival.
Carnival
The Brother Mamerto Esquiú department is a traditional venue for carnivals. The town of La Carrera is the home of many murgas and comparsas that come from different points in the province. Most of the Catamarca comparsas are made of 12 people. The main ones are the Huaschaschi (Andalgalá); the Londres (Belén); the dark nights (Santa María), and the Diaguitas and Calchaquíes Indians (Mutquín).
Handicrafts
The pre-Hispanic and colonial heritage expresses it self through the beautiful pieces made by handicraft artists, especially textiles, pottery, baskets, and items made of wood, stone and metal. A lot of handicrafts are made in the Santa María department.
Textiles
Textile production is one of the main activities in the region´s economy. Clothes are made of spun sheep wool, and the specially selected and spun hair of Andean camels like the alpaca, the vicuña, the llama and the guanaco. They are made using thousand year-old techniques.
Pottery
Pottery has a millenary tradition. The towns of Fiambalá, Londres, Andalgalá and San Fernando del Valle all have workshops where many items are made, among them, bowls, plates, animal and human shaped vases, earthenware jars and large sized urns.
Archeological tourism
Santa María, a main town of the Calchaquí Valleys, holds numerous archeological treasures. It was one of the main settlements of the millenary Yokaviles tribe. There are several touring circuits, like the historic town of Fuerte Quemado, Loma Rica, the Quebrada de Jujuil and the Eric Boman Museum. This museum is one of the most complete regarding the Yokavil indigenous cultures. It exhibits ceramic and metal objects from the farming and pottery cultures.
The vestiges of aborigenous culture can be admired in other places of Catamarca like the Pucará de La Alumbrera, the Ruins of Coyparcito, the petroglifs of the Valley of Antofagasta de la Sierra, the ruins of Laguna Blanca and the El Toro and El Potrero quebradas.
Archeological tourist sites
Fuerte Quemado
The Fuerte Quemado archeological site is located in the Santa María Department. There are ruins on the mountain as well as on the planes. They are houses and isolated rectangular and circular constructions, stair-shaped defense walls and circular towers.
The history of Fuerte Quemado is quite long and goes from the San José Culture up to the time of the Incan expansion
Loma Rica de Shiquimil
The site is located at 12 kilometers from the town of San José. The remains of a town extend along the top of the hill, including two empty spaces, probably squares or gathering areas. The precincts are grouped together, and the groups are divided by streets and pathways. There are San José and Santa María urns and red and white Yocavil ceramics.
Loma Rica de Jujuil
Located in the Santa María department, this site shows rectangular precincts, circular structures and defense walls. The remains found are mostly of the Santa María Two-colour and Tri-color types.
Pucará de Aconquija
The Pucará de Aconquija archeological site is located in the Andalgalá department. There are defense walls, circular shelters and constructions that used to be living quarters.
Shincal de Quimivil
It is located next to the town of Londres. Inhabited by the Incas, it was build between 1470 and 1536 following Cuzco´s urban layout, in a beautiful nature area, and comprises over one hundred halls, grouped in monumental buildings. The artifacts discovered correspond to the Belén Culture with Inca influence. It’s one of the finest settlements in the Southern Andes, or the Kollasuyo region.
Lost Town of the Quebrada
It´s located in the Capital Department, next to the Municipal Beach. It´s comprised of rectangular halls scattered around the high portion of the hill. There are double stone walls, filled with gravel. There are also ceramic remains.
Thermals
Catamarca has many medicinal fountains of thermal mineral water. There are hyper thermal waters, due to the wide temperature range, between 38ºC and 53ºC to 70ºC. Thermal fountains soothe rheumatic problems, detoxify the organism and reduce stress.
Some of these thermals are:
-Thermals of la Quebrada, Los Nacimientos and Pozo Verde (in Hualfin)
-Thermals of Cura Fierro or Baños Grandes
-Thermals of Villa Vil
-Thermals of Fiambalá
-Thermals of La Aguadita
Adventure Tourism
Some of the sports that are commonly practiced in Catamarca are: mountain climbing, canoeing, kayak, paragliding, hang gliding, rappel, zip line, hiking, horse riding, sand board and mountain bike.
Due to its high mountains, Catamarca is a popular destination for climbers. It can be done on hills, in the Puna or in the Andes Mountains, which has peaks of over 6000 meters. In this area –called “Los Seismiles”, the sixthousands - stands out the Pissis, the world´s highest inactive volcano and America’s second highest mountain, with 6.882 meters. Whereas the Ojos del Salado (6.864 m) is the world´s highest active volcano with permanent show and glaciers.
Rural Tourism
Tourist can enjoy nature and the regional foods and wines at the rural resorts, the perfect place for adventure sports as well as more relaxed activities.
Located in different regions, Rural Tourism resorts can be typical country houses, ranches or farms. In these places, it´s not unusual to participate in some traditional country chores, like the yerra
Some lodging places are:
-La Casita Alpatauca
-El Rodeo Inn
-La casa de Chicha Inn
-Las Dalias- La Trucha and Cóndor Huasi
-Los Timones Farm Stay
-El Bolsón Inn
-El Puesto de López
-Concepción Inn
-La Casona Farm Stay
Green tourism
Catamarca´s diverse landscapes –deserts, salt pans, lakes, big forests and jungles- offer the chance to engage in activities like animal watching, trekking, horse riding, fishing and photo safaris. The Biosphere Reserve is an ideal place for getting in touch with nature.
Biosphere Reserve
The “Laguna Blanca Natural Wild Life Provincial Reserve” was incorporated in 1982 to UNESCO´s Man and the Biosphere Program, when it received its present Biosphere Reserve category. It represents the transition between the salted Puna and the semi-desert or “dry puna”, with the high pampas, divided by small mountain chains, wide plains crossed by small rivers, and high lowlands. It is a good place for photo safaris, trekking, horse riding and trout fishing. The towns of Laguna Blanca, Corral Blanco, Aguas Calientes and La Angostura are located in the Reserve.
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