The province of Catamarca is 1.153 Kms far from Buenos Aires and it may be reached by land or by air. Its capital is San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca, a possible starting point for visiting its amazing geography.

Land of beautiful landscapes, it is a permanent invitation to enjoy its fascinating nature and prolific history. Its Puna is spread along hundreds of kilometers hosting arid territories, salt pans, flamingo lagoons, extinguished volcanoes, fertile valleys and archaeological fields.

Adventure tourism is a remarkable activity, offering many choices as trekking, climbing of Andean snow covered peaks (some of them with altitudes higher than 6.000 mts) or Horse Riding along the Andes Mountain Range.

Cultural tourism is a big attraction too: the important archaeological findings in the region left thousands of pieces testimony of the pre-Columbian past and the strong influence of the Incas.

The wine routes, its thermal spas, mines tourism and the path of the craftsmen (with their “ponchos” and rhodochrosite pieces), the Adobe Mud routes and its exquisite cuisine complement the many proposals of this beautiful province. 

Web Site: www.turismocatamarca.gov.ar
 

Jujuy is located at Argentina’s northwest extreme; 1.643 Kms far from Buenos Aires. It may be reached either by land - by National Roads 34 and 66 - or by air taking a flight to its capital, San Salvador de Jujuy.

Land of multiple colors, it is comprised by four regions of unique attractions, amazing landscapes and a huge variety of activities that may be performed throughout the year.

The Puna stages desolated but spectacular natural sceneries that include its famous and huge salt pans; the Quebrada de Humahuaca (Patrimony of Mankind) land of Tilcara, Purmamarca and Humahuaca towns, where the past is kept almost intact and the pre-Columbian art is present at its entire extension; the Valleys, with exuberant vegetation and crystalline rivers; and finally the Yungas, a highland jungle that offers many adventure activities.

At the time of considering Jujuy as a travel option, there are many other attractions to have in mind: its popular festivities like Carnivals, Pachamama, Inti Raymi and Casabindo, its exquisite typically Andean regional dishes and its fabrics knitted with the finest llama wools.

Web Site: www.turismo.jujuy.gov.ar
 

1.167 Kms far from Buenos Aires, the province of La Rioja gives color to the Cuyan Region.

Its past, rich in native culture, came out in a worthy load of archaeological findings, traditions and customs, expressed in many popular festivities. Among them, we have to remark the Riojan Carnivals which became famous for providing vitality to the whole region.

Besides, vineyards and olive groves complement the ocher shades of the desert with its green crops, with enhance the natural beauty of the productive valleys. Between impressive down and up hills and an incredibly beautiful landscape, appears the Tampalaya National Park with strange shapes molded by the passing of time and imposing red walls of great altitude; a marvelous nature work declared Universal Patrimony by the UNESCO.

The whole province is a place full of charm: the right destination for those seeking adventure. Horse Ridings in the Andes Mountain Range and visits to the precious ecosystems of Laguna Brava, where pink flamingos live, are tours that no visitor should miss!

Salta, which in quechua language means “The Very Beautiful” offers the tourist innumerable options for visiting its landscapes, the vivid colors of its arid soils, extended salt pans, jungles with exuberant vegetation and the legacy of its native inhabitants.

It may be reached mostly by land - taking National Road N° 9 - or by air. Its capital city having the same name, is 1,605 Kms far from Buenos Aires.

In this province, adventure finds an oasis to challenge any expectation: trekking, horse riding, tyrolean crossing, rappel or bungee-jumping over the Cabra Corral Dam, rafting, paragliding at the Cuesta del Obispo, are just a few of the many available options.

At the enchanting Puna with villages like Tolar Grande with a valuable cultural heritage, or San Antonio de los Cobres where the time seems to have stopped until the Train to the Clouds passes by, visitors may exchange smiles with local inhabitants, people that adapted themselves to the inclemency of a dry and cold weather, at an altitude of more than 4.000 mts.

Salta is a beautiful active city, of a well preserved colonial style, hosting folk parties, the High Mountain Museum (where tourists are told about the famous expedition that found the mummified Inca children at Llulliallaco volcano) and the new gastronomic circuits for those loving the Creole and Andean cuisine.

Visitors should not miss either the culture of the Salta's Gaucho, its estancias (cattle farms), its extremely beautiful national parks or the Calchaquíes Valleys (Cachi, Molinos, Seclantás or Cafayate, the latter being the local reference for the Wine Route) framed by gorges of mysterious shapes and colors perpetrated in the infinite.

This region is acknowledged by the defined characteristics of their highland wines, born among the highest vineyards in the world (1.700 to 3.000 meters above sea level). Wineries, Andean gastronomy, boutique lodging and wine therapy are good reasons for not missing a trip to Salta.

Web Site: www.turismosalta.gov.ar

Famous for its thermal waters, the province of Santiago del Estero is 1.150 Kms far from Buenos Aires and it may be reached by National Road Nº 34 or by air. One of its principal attractions is Termas de Río Hondo, a traditional destination for health tourism.

This province has extended plains only interrupted in the south and in the east by very low hills, forests combined with savannas and a historical land where the mystery of its legends coexists with hundreds of churches, sanctuaries and convents spread along its land of devoted Christian inhabitants. It is also birthplace of traditions, myths and legends transmitted from generation to generation and captured by folk songs and poetry.

Another attraction is the Copo National Park, one of the few places in the country with species in threatened extinction like the yaguareté or tiger of the Pampas, the big ant bear, the tatú carreta (the biggest armadillo in the world) and the Quimilean Pig.

Finally, Santiago del Estero is also famous for its handicrafts made of different materials (its high quality drums can be mentioned among the most remarkable objects), for its exquisite gastronomic dishes - mainly the empanada -, and its authentic live folk dance and music. Its capital city - having the same name - is also called “Mother of Cities” , because is the oldest city founded by the Spaniards (1553) and it was in the past a very important historic region for Argentina.

History is told by various testimonies exhibited at museums and old colonial houses, which can be visited in different zones of the province.

Web Site: www.turismosantiago.gov.ar

The province of Tucumán is 1.310 Kms far from Buenos Aires. It may be reached by domestic flights or by land, National Road N° 9 being its main connector. Also known as the “Garden of the Republic” due to its exuberant natural beauty, Tucumán is the entrance door to the Argentine North and the country's smallest province.

Owner of a natural charm, it offers plains and mountains, dry and humid weathers, dense jungles and arid soils, modern cities and quiet villages, native ruins, high lands, basins, rivers and valleys.

Merging with the activities of the rural areas is an encounter with its plentiful nature. Its estancias (cattle farms) also offer services that allow visitors to discover and share the way of life of the villagers and taste their exquisite gastronomy.

Archaeological Tourism is very well developed provided the Calchaquíes Valleys were the preferred scenery for the primitive races and populations that inhabited these lands (Ruins of Quilmes are among the most important relics of those times).

Tucumán is not only known by its splendid landscapes, like Tafí del Valle or Amaicha del Valle, but also for its historical background. In order to find its roots, it is necessary to go back to the legacy of remote native people, to the liberating action of the Creoles, to the first sugar cane producers and the intellectuals that turned this province into the center of the cultural movement of the Argentine North.

Web Site: www.tucumanturismo.gov.ar