Catamarca Tour : Puna

Day 1

Transfer from Catamarca Airport to Belén, traveling via La Cébila with a stop in Londres to visit the Shincal de Quimivil archaeological site. In the afternoon, visit Arañitas Hilanderas at the Cuna del Poncho. Overnight in Belén.

El Shincal de Quimivil – This archaeological site is located in Londres, in the Belén department, along Route 40. El Shincal was built and inhabited by the Incas—on territory previously occupied by Calchaquí groups—between 1457 and 1536. Due to its status as a provincial capital within the vast empire, it followed the urban layout of Cuzco and became the southernmost city of the Inca Empire.

The architectural complex includes more than a hundred structures, several of them grouped into monumental buildings. It was first recognized as an archaeological site in the early 20th century by Hilarión Furque (1900), later visited by Carlos Bruch (1913), and by Vladimir Weiser during the Muñiz Barreto expedition around 1920, when the first systematic excavations were carried out. Further research was later conducted by Alberto Rex González and, more recently, by Rodolfo Adelio Raffino and his team from the Universidad Nacional de La Plata, who also identified nearby remains of the ancient Capac Ñan (Inca Road). The site was named Shincal due to the abundance of a local shrub known as shinki.

Arañitas Hilanderas – Arañitas Hilanderas is a textile cooperative made up of women from Belén and Catamarca who began working informally as a group in 2001, during a time of deep social, political, and economic crisis in Argentina. Rosa Husqueda de Vega, president of the cooperative, brought the group together—mostly single mothers and heads of household—with the aim of providing social support and helping restore their self-esteem through handmade work.

The project was originally called “Volver a Hilar,” reflecting Rosa’s commitment to rescuing the ancestral spinning and weaving techniques of the Belén region—knowledge traditionally passed down orally within families and gradually lost over time. After eight years of work and skill development, the group officially formed the cooperative, acquired tools, and established their own workspace. Today, Arañitas Hilanderas is a national reference not only for its cooperative, solidarity-based management model, but also for its high-quality artisanal textile production. Throughout the year, students of Fashion Design from the Universidad de Buenos Aires and travelers from around the world visit the cooperative, drawn by its preservation of ancestral textile traditions and the inspiring story of dignity and empowerment of its women artisans.

Day 2

Departure from Belén to El Peñón, traveling through the Quebrada de Belén, Puerto Viejo, and Villa Vil, continuing to Barranca Larga with an ascent along the Cuesta de Randolfo, reaching the Médanos de Randolfo (optional walk on the dunes). The journey continues to the Campo de Piedra Pómez. Overnight in Antofagasta.

Quebrada de Belén – An 11-kilometer stretch featuring numerous mountain formations north of the city along Route 40. This gorge provides access to the northern area of the department and is home to the municipal reserve “Quebrada de Belén,” where sculptures of native animals such as the quirquincho, hare, and suri can be found throughout the landscape.

Villa Vil – Located 80 km from the city of Belén and 365 km from San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca, Villa Vil was historically inhabited by groups known as the Huillahuiles, a name that in the cacán language means “Hare’s Watering Place.” This district lies in a transition zone between the pre-Puna and the Puna and boasts a rich cultural and historical heritage reflected in its archaeological remains, museums, handicrafts, music, folklore, traditional cuisine, and customs. Just 15 km from the village are the Castillos de Villa Vil, a natural rock formation shaped over millions of years by wind and water erosion, creating elongated structures in varying tones that resemble the towers of Gothic castles.

Campo de Piedra Pómez – Its name perfectly describes the landscape, defined by a vast accumulation of pumice stone that, after thousands of years of erosion, has formed the striking terrain seen today. The area is characterized by extreme aridity, wide daily temperature variations, and very scarce rainfall. Low atmospheric pressure and reduced oxygen levels create the distinctive high-altitude Puna environment.

The closest settlement is the small village of El Peñón, while Antofagasta de la Sierra lies about 60 km to the north, serving as the departmental capital in the southwestern sector of the Puna de Atacama. The protected area covers 75,489 hectares, with elevations ranging from 3,050 to 4,850 meters above sea level. The region shows clear evidence of volcanic activity, and the Campo de Piedra Pómez is believed to have formed around 100,000 years ago due to eruptions from nearby volcanoes, particularly Volcán Blanco or Robledo, whose crater can be visited a short distance to the southwest. Scientific studies suggest that the basin may have formed through volcanic events spanning from 20 million to as recently as 10,000 years ago.

Day 3

Volcán Galán excursion, beginning the journey at the edge of the sand dune, visiting Laguna Cavi and Laguna Grande—one of the largest reserves of pink flamingos—reaching an average altitude of 4,300 meters above sea level. Overnight in Antofagasta.

Volcán Galán – Departing from Antofagasta de la Sierra and traveling partly along rugged tracks and gravel roads, you reach the impressive caldera of Volcán Galán. Undoubtedly one of Catamarca’s, Argentina’s, and the world’s great natural icons, it is considered one of the planet’s mega-volcanoes due to the enormous size of its crater, measuring approximately 23 by 46 kilometers.

The route continues to Laguna Grande, a vast body of water that during the summer months becomes one of the world’s largest reserves of pink flamingo species. It is estimated that between 18,000 and 25,000 flamingos arrive in the Puna to nest, creating an unforgettable pink-hued landscape. About 20 km further on, you reach the crater’s rim at an altitude of 4,740 meters above sea level, offering a sweeping view of the caldera and an inner lagoon known as Laguna Diamante, named for its striking color caused by a salinity level eight times higher than seawater. From this vantage point, you can also clearly see the crest of Volcán Galán, an inner peak rising to 5,912 meters above sea level, permanently capped with snow. Descending from the rim into the crater, you’ll encounter hot water springs with temperatures approaching 90°C, their rising steam revealing that volcanic activity still remains deep within Galán.

Day 4

Transfer to San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca. Free afternoon at leisure. Overnight in Catamarca.

Day 5

Transfer to Catamarca Airport.