Chilecito

Chilecito - Photos: Marcelo Sola

Chilecito is the second Department in importance in La Rioja Province. it is situated at the bottom of the imposing Fatima Mountain ( 6,250 m high ) on Velasco Mountains at 4,250 meters above sea level and near the small hills of Paimán .
It is 196 km away from the Capital City of the province . One can get through Nº 38 National Route till Patquía Town ( 70 km away ) and through Nº 74 National Rute from there to Chilecito which is 126 km away.
The climate of this region is mild with a tendency to the hot dry climate of the mountains. Winters are mild since there are only a few cold days and Summers are hot and long with high temperatures.
The architecture of Chilecito is the joint of houses from the late XIX Century with modern buildings.
The main square shows autochthonous vevegetable species like cardón (American Giant Cactus), carob trees, acaciaes, hawthorns, birdlime, chañar tree, hackberry tree and brooms.
Chilecito is very relevant in the country because it is the most important mining zone. The name of the city comes from the great influence of miners that came from Chile by the end of the XIX Century to work in the auriferous riches of the region.
Due to the fact that it is settled in a big valley, it offers many attractions to enjoy one´s stay in contact with nature.
Some of the activities one can enjoy include agrotourism, ecotourism, photo safaries, mountain bike rides, paragliding, hicking, horse-riding, climbing and fourtrax excursions.
Among the most outstanding excursions the tourist finds a lift that runs 35 kilometers and a railway station that goes from the city to La Mexicana mine , Portezuelo Vantage Point on Fatima Hill and Tambería Inca Ruins.
One can also visit small and picturesque towns that surround the city only a few kilometres away where the warmth and hospitality of the people invite the tourist to stay longer.