Tinogasta

Tinogasta - Photo: Pablo Etchevers

Located on the right bank of the Abaucán River, 1,500 m.a.s.l. and 279 kilometers from the capital of Catamarca, this is the westernmost area in the province.

Tinogasta may be accessed by air reaching the City of San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca and then continuing by land along National Routes 38 and 60. From Chile, San Francisco Pass may be crossed through the Bioceanic corridor, which lies 250 kilometers away. This is a very interesting area due to its particular attractive landscape.

This region is called “los seismiles” (the Six Thousands) as it features over 20 volcanoes reaching heights above 6,000 m.a.s.l. Some of them are the Pissis and the Ojos del Salado, two of the highest volcanoes on Earth. It borders on the Falso Azufre Rock and the Buenaventura Mountain Range to the North; on the Salado River bed to the South and it includes sites such as Morro de la Cañada and Portillo del Calvario.

Temperatures in this region of the country are mild: maximum summer temperatures reach 33º C and minimum, 19º C, whereas in the winter, they range between 2 and 21º C.

Tinogasta is a settlement of Diaguita origin. In the Kakana tongue, “tino” means “meeting” and “gasta” means “town”, thus “town meeting” is formed. At present, this is one of the most important urban centers in Western Catamarca.

In the surroundings of the settlement there are vast vineyards, olive tree plantations, farms and alfalfa fields which sustain the regional economy. These areas may be visited on agricultural tours. There are several boutique wineries that produce wine of excellent quality, mostly for export, which have been awarded gold medals in several countries. The most popular varietals are syrah, malbec and cabernet.

Due to its geographical and climatic features, Tinogasta offers the most varied possibilities for adventure travel, photographic safaris or mountain relax. Activities such as hiking, horseback riding, rappelling, sandboarding, mining tourism and fly casting (rainbow trout above 3,400 m.a.s.l.) are some of the options in this region.

The "Dr. Guillermo Rafael Alanis" and “Tulio Robaudi” archeological museums, which house pieces praised worldwide, the house of craftsmen, the Route of Adobe, the Zapata Slope, Viejo Molino (the Old Mill) and over thirty churches and family chapels are also worth visiting.

In the outskirts of Tinogasta, La Aguadita and Fiambalá hot spring venues delight visitors with natural pools whose water temperatures range between 38 and 70ºC.