Adobe Route in Catamarca

Rather than a route, this is traveling through time. Fifty kilometers of villages that preserve their original architecture. Constructions made by hand with adobe: a hand-shaped, sun-dried mix of mud, straw and manure. Take a close look at coarse and warm, beautiful and long-lasting dwellings. Walk around large stylish houses and ranches, chapels and churches, colonial buildings and even an Inca archeological site. Discover the buildings that have been declared National Historical Monuments. 

Visit locations where adobe and culture will captivate you. In Copacabana, the railway station and the Cerro Negro villages. In Tinogasta, the mansion in La Puntilla and Casa Grande. In La Falda, the Orqueras’ prayer house. In Andacollo, El Puesto and the Church. In Anillaco, the Watungasta ruins and the Mayorazgo Provincial Historical Monument. In Fiambalá, St. Peter’s Church [Iglesia de San Pedro] and the Comandancia de Armas. Live an experience that dates back to old times.

Geographic location: Province of Catamarca, North region of Argentina.

How to get there: The Adobe Route is in the district of Tinogasta, Catamarca, on Ruta Nacional 60. The stretch of Ruta 40 that leads to the Adobe Route goes from Alpasinche to Santa María. When leaving Alpasinche, go westbound along the overlapping Rutas 40 and 60, cross Los Sauces River and drive into the arid region. The province of Catamarca can be reached by bus or by air to San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca airport.

Altitude: 4,278 meters above sea level (average altitude).

Climate: arid. During the year, the temperature usually ranges from 6°C to 31°C and it rarely drops below 2°C or rises over 35°C. Summer is the rain season.

Recommended length of stay: 1 to 3 days.

Recommended clothing: it is advisable to dress in layers, to adapt to the temperature changes caused by the altitude. 

Tips: bear in mind that the store opening hours may vary. Be prepared for possible changes.