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Postcards of the Argentinean northwest
Tucumán, Salta, Jujuy and Catamarca are one of the richest and most surprising regions of the country because they have wonderful landscapes, colonial architectural richness, archaeological paradises, nap afternoons, beautiful regional handcrafts, and tradition. The four provinces are worthy to be traveled deeply.

TUCUMAN
The Rebublic's Garden
http://www.tucuman-ar.com

It is the smallest province of the Argentinean north west. Its capital city is San Miguel, a mixture of history and modernity. It has large colonial houses from the last century, and modern buildings, it is a city full of movement, but it hasn't lost the nap habit. It is one of the oldest cities of the country: there, it stands out the "Tucumán House" where the Argentinean Independence was declared in 1816, and the property of Colombres Bishop, a religious man who introduced the sugar industry in the XVIII century. Today it has become a sugar museum. In downtown you can go along pedestrian streets, full of shops and night life.

Inside the province, there are a lot of tourist attractions. You can arrive at Tafí del Valle, going along a road skirted by sugar cane plantations passing next to the La Angostura Lake, The landscape becomes a typical postcard of the Argentinean northwest. One of the most interesting places is the "de los Menhires" Park, where there are a lot of carved stones found in the region.

Later on, the old Tafí del Valle can be found. There, the history goes back to the same conquest time, where there were several Jesuit missions. Tafí keeps its rural aspect, but it has an interesting hotel infrastructure and all the conditions for adventure tourism: you can go along the hills, on foot, by horse or by bicycle. A few Km to the north of San Miguel the El Cadillal dike is located, there you can practice: ski, sailing or windsurf. Another interesting place is Villa Nogués a group of attractive, large, elegant houses belonging to traditional families.

SALTA
The paradise among clouds
http://www.turismosalta.com

It is one of the most beautiful provinces due to its richness and the versatility of its landscapes. It is also famous because of its wines, its typical forests, its eternal snows, its incredible Calchaquies Valleys, the "Tren de las nubes", etc.

The Capital City keeps part of the Hispanic past in its old large houses with tiles roofs, a lot of wrought balconies and wide colonial doors. It has interesting historical monuments such as: the Town Council, the Cathedral, San Francisco's church, San Bernardo's convent, the Fine Arts Museum, the Handmade Market, and the beautiful 9 de Julio Square. You can ascend to San Bernardo Hill summit by a cable car from its base located in San Martín Park. You can also go by car along a pebble way, or on foot departing from the Archaeological Museum.

The "Tren de las Nubes" (Train of the Clouds) is one of the biggest attractiveness of the province, and it is one of the most audacious works of rail engineering in the world. The railroad joins Argentina with Antofagasta, a Chilean Province, and it travels along 587 Km along the country. It reaches 4186 meters height, passing along some towns such as San Antonioo de los Cobres, and Talar Grande, located in the border of Arizaro. It crosses through 21 tunnels, two "rulos", 31 bridges and it goes along 1.279 bends, everything is built amid an incredible beauty.

Another tourist attractiveness are the Calchaquíes Valleys. Cafayate, the second important city from Salta, is located to 1660 meters over the sea level. Its wines are very famous especially the Torrontés one. The landscape is wonderful: millennial rocks that with the passing of time and the winds action got several shapes such as: El Fraile, El Castillo, El Obelisco, El Sapo or La Gargata del Diablo. (The Friar, The castle, the Obelisk, the frog or the Devil's throat). Cafayate is also famous for its pottery shops, where you can find many objects made of clay from the area. It is the archeologist's paradise because near Cafayate there are wonderful places such as: The Gruta del Surí, The Guanacos, the painted grotto "Santa Bárbara or the "petroglifos" and San Isidro Caves. All of them are very interesting from the scientific point of view. Finally, Iruya town is worthy to be mentioned, because it is located among beautiful mountains to 3800 meters over the sea level. It is one of the most picturesque towns of the province.

JUJUY
The thousands colors' land
http://www.turismojujuy.bizland.com

In Jujuy City there are some places that are worth while to visit: the cathedral, with its gold pulpit, Belgrano Square with its high palm trees, or the government House that keeps the first Argentinean flag. You can also visit, San Francisco's Church, with a walled atrium, and a main aisle that ends up in an splendid dome. The Exodo Jujeño Obelisk remembers the moment in which, in 1824 Belgrano and his troops left a razed land to the Spanish Army.

An interesting option is Calilegua National Park, full of wild landscapes. Some other important places to visit are: the Pozuelos Lagoon, the UNESCO's Biosphere Reserve, and La Quiaca. The "Quebrada de Humauaca" is a changing landscape, it has enormous hills among which the Grande River flows. There are a lot of small towns such as: Humahuca, Tres Cruces, Alma Pampa, Tilcara, Maimará, Purmamarca or Tumbaya, etc.

In Tumbaya you can visit the church, that was built in 1796 and it keeps valuable paintings of the "Cuzqueña school" besides interesting gold work pieces.

Purmamarca is a small population, placed to the foot of imposing multicolored hills, it seems to be detaned in the XVII century. Its church "Santa Rosa de Lima" dates from 1648. It has mud walls and a peculiar carpentry. It is a National Historical Monument. The hills, that have surprising colors along the whole depression, acquire more surprising tonalities near Maimará. Very near Tilcara is one of the several pucarás fortified bastions, it is partially rebuilt according to its orignal design. The Botanical Garden is a complete sample of the cultivation and autochthonous vegetable species. Tilcará's church was built about 1797, but it was inaugurated in 1865.

Humahuaca was a very important center during the colonial times. It was originated in the old Onaguaca town, from the Incan times. It still keep its historical physiognomy in its constructions and in its narrow paved streets. The Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria Church dates from 1641. In the Town Council there is a San Francisco Solano's image that is moved by a clock every midday to give its blessing to the visitors gathered in the square.

CATAMARCA
An astonishing invitation
http://www.catamarca.com

Catamarca province is well known due to its old mining locations, its volcanoes, and its legends and mysteries form old indigenous civilizations. It is an ideal place for adventure tourism lovers because of its Andean heights, its rivers and lagoons Catamarca is a true window to the astonishment.

From the El Portezuelo Hill, onwards it is impossible not to be moved by the landscape. All the roads and tourist circuits taking into the heart of nature, begin there, going along roads that overcome rivers and depressions.

One of the most well known towns is Antofagasta de la Sierra, a village inhabited by no more than 400 people. It is the head and supplying center of an enormous departamental territory, and also the town of the biggest natural beauties from the highland. This is a suitable place to rest and, then, to travel along the whole "Catamarqueña puna". You can also visit some other places such as: the Blanca Lagoon, recognized as "Reserva de la Biosfera" by the United Nations; and one of the towns dedicated to the "llamas" breeding. In the "del Peñon" zone, you can visit "Carachi Pampa", an immense plain of aluvional material towards the north, and stone to the south, where there is a solitary volcano. El Peñon, is a picturesque village, where there are a lot of trees..

Before departing from this region, it is worthy to visit the "Caldera del Volcán Galán", the biggest of the world (35 Km), in which center there is a defiant chimney. You can arrive at this place by 4x4 vehicles or by horse, you must be accompanied by a "baqueano". Another interesting place is the "Diamante Lagoon", an oasis full of pink flamingos, and to the north there is a very important thermal waters source.

Catamarca has a lot of hidden treasures such as; Ambato, Zapata, Culampajá, Aconquija and Chango Real Hills, full of streams, rivers and depressions, we can also mention Chilca, Indalecio and Minas Capillitas Hill, the last one is located to 3100 meters over the sea level. Being there, it is possible to believe that at night you can touch the sky.