La Rioja Province, Argentina

La Rioja, capital of the province.

Distances: 1.167 kilometers from Buenos Aires
460 kilometers from Córdoba
388 kilometers from San Miguel de Tucumán

The city Todos Los Santos from La Nueva Rioja was founded in 1591. To walk round the capital city is like traveling through the history of the country in the different times. It belongs to the group of the oldest cities of our country, founded on March 20, 1591 by Don Juan Ramirez de Velasco.

To know the city of La Rioja they propose walks downtown, visiting the most outstanding landmarks.

In La Rioja the biggest density and variety of hills, canyons, narrow passes and plains of red earth concentrate.

Places of interest to visit

· Convent of Santo Domingo
· San Francisco's Convent
· The Cathedral Basilica San Nicolás de Bari
· Inca Huasi Arqueology Museum
· Folkloric Museum
· Historical Museum of La Rioja
· Sacred Art Museum
· Handicraft Market
· Canyon of Talampaya
· Provincial Park Guasamayo

Attractive tourist places

Laguna Brava, located 448 kilometers from La Rioja is a Provincial reservation of Vicuñas and Protection of the Ecosystem Laguna Brava. On the route of Comecaballos you can find this place, inhabited by flamingos, with the volcanos in the background. It can be reached only with special cars. It also serves as entrance for the practice and development of mountain activities because of the imposing volcanos: Bonete of 6759 m.a.s.l., Veladero of 6436 m.a.s.l., and Pissis of 6882 m.a.s.l., the latter one is the second in height after the hill Aconcagua.

Guasamayo Natural Park, with an extension of 70.000 hectares, it covers a tract of the gulch of Guasamayo with surprising eroded formations.

Los Sauces Dike, located 15 kilometers from the city La Rioja is this magnificent mirror of water that calls out to the practice of nautical sports as well as enjoying a good fishing.

Cerro de la Cruz, located 680 m.a.s.l., from whose summit the city La Rioja can be seen. There is the launching lane for delta wings and paragliding.

Villa Sanagasta, a summer place with vineyards and typical cellars. It is located 30 kilometers from La Rioja. It has a wide municipal pool and places to camp. One will be able to taste the famous "patero" wine.

Anillaco, located 96 kilometers from La Rioja, is an immense rock that has been eroded in such form that it looks like Jesus Christ's profile. Annually during the days of the liturgy of Semana Santa a great number of faithful people arrive to this place.

Thermal baths of Santa Teresita, is located 124 kilometers from La Rioja. Well-known since long ago by the name of "Aguas Calientes", the area has a dry climate. Their sedative and thermal waters, with little mineral content, are recommended against the rheumatic affections.

Villa Unión, a town located 274 kilometers from La Rioja. It is an ideal center of operations for trips in the area.

La ruta de los caudillos, in Patquía the reddish lands begin. From Olta, where fossilized vegetables have been found, and after a halt in the Provincial Park Guasamayo, you arrive to Malanzán, where you can see the great rock known as El Elefante. From the summit of the hill Tama, the white panorama of summits of the Famatina can be contemplated.