Eastern San Luis
Villa Mercedes
Founded in 1856 as a fortress, Villa Mercedes is an important route centre and an alternative transport hub, though of little of interest to the tourist. It lies on Route 7, 100 km southeast of San Luis. Accommodation is mainly found along Avenida Mitre (six blocks east of the bus terminal). The bus terminalIT02657-428035, and tourist office are both at Avenida 25 de Mayo 1500. Villa Mercedes is also the gateway to the southern plains with dozens of small lakes, attractive for anglers. Pejerrey is the main catch and the fishing season runs from November to August. Accommodation is available offered at local estancias (ask at the tourist office).
Conlara Valley
Lying east of the Sierra de San Luis and west of the Sierra de Comechingones, this broad valley runs into the Traslasierra Valley to the north, with a number of attractive places to visit and stay. San José del Morro has an 18th-century chapel in its blissful traditional village. Nearby, the Sierra del Morro (1639 m) is the remains of a collapsed volcano; inside its crater are small volcanic cones, and lots of rose-quartz can be found here. On 3 May, at tiny Renca, one of the most popular religious festivities in the region, El Señor de Renca, is celebrated. Santa Rosa del Conlara is a pleasant small town by a river, a good alternative for accommodation when Merlo is packed (reached by bus or combi from San Luis). A more scenic journey is via Provincial Route 1, which runs parallel to the east of Route 148 along the base of the Sierra de Comechingones through a string of pretty villages:Papagayos, surrounded by natural palm tree groves of Trithrinax campestris; Villa Larca, where the waterfall Chorro de San Ignacio and upper natural pools offer lovely walks; Cortaderas; Carpintería and up to the well-promoted Merlo.
Merlo
Situated almost at the San Luis-Córdoba border, Merlo is a popular holiday centre on the steep western slopes of the Sierra de Comechingones. It has lost much of its charm in recent years, due to mass tourism which has made it busy and overpriced. It claims to have a special microclimate, and sunny days can certainly be enjoyed throughout the year. The town was founded in 1797, but the church on the plaza, said to be of Jesuit origin, dates from the early 18th-century, and is soon to be replaced by the huge new redbrick church behind. There's a brand new airport and bus terminal and two tourist offices www.lavillademerlo.com.ar, www.turismo-merlo.com.ar.
Merlo's surroundings are still pleasant for walking at the foot of the mountains or to their summits (the Circuito de Damiana Vega takes three to four hours). The slopes are covered with woods and scrub and there are numerous refreshing streams with falls. Higher up there are some are excellent sites for paragliding; an experienced pilot recently reached heights of 5000 m. A paved road (15 km long) leads to the top of the sierras at Mirador del Sol, where there are wonderful panoramic views, best at sunrise or sunset. The mirador is accessible by bus and is the starting point for a rough track leading across 82 km of pampas and sierras de Córdoba to Embalse del Río Tercero.
Founded in 1856 as a fortress, Villa Mercedes is an important route centre and an alternative transport hub, though of little of interest to the tourist. It lies on Route 7, 100 km southeast of San Luis. Accommodation is mainly found along Avenida Mitre (six blocks east of the bus terminal). The bus terminalIT02657-428035, and tourist office are both at Avenida 25 de Mayo 1500. Villa Mercedes is also the gateway to the southern plains with dozens of small lakes, attractive for anglers. Pejerrey is the main catch and the fishing season runs from November to August. Accommodation is available offered at local estancias (ask at the tourist office).
Conlara Valley
Lying east of the Sierra de San Luis and west of the Sierra de Comechingones, this broad valley runs into the Traslasierra Valley to the north, with a number of attractive places to visit and stay. San José del Morro has an 18th-century chapel in its blissful traditional village. Nearby, the Sierra del Morro (1639 m) is the remains of a collapsed volcano; inside its crater are small volcanic cones, and lots of rose-quartz can be found here. On 3 May, at tiny Renca, one of the most popular religious festivities in the region, El Señor de Renca, is celebrated. Santa Rosa del Conlara is a pleasant small town by a river, a good alternative for accommodation when Merlo is packed (reached by bus or combi from San Luis). A more scenic journey is via Provincial Route 1, which runs parallel to the east of Route 148 along the base of the Sierra de Comechingones through a string of pretty villages:Papagayos, surrounded by natural palm tree groves of Trithrinax campestris; Villa Larca, where the waterfall Chorro de San Ignacio and upper natural pools offer lovely walks; Cortaderas; Carpintería and up to the well-promoted Merlo.
Merlo
Situated almost at the San Luis-Córdoba border, Merlo is a popular holiday centre on the steep western slopes of the Sierra de Comechingones. It has lost much of its charm in recent years, due to mass tourism which has made it busy and overpriced. It claims to have a special microclimate, and sunny days can certainly be enjoyed throughout the year. The town was founded in 1797, but the church on the plaza, said to be of Jesuit origin, dates from the early 18th-century, and is soon to be replaced by the huge new redbrick church behind. There's a brand new airport and bus terminal and two tourist offices www.lavillademerlo.com.ar, www.turismo-merlo.com.ar.
Merlo's surroundings are still pleasant for walking at the foot of the mountains or to their summits (the Circuito de Damiana Vega takes three to four hours). The slopes are covered with woods and scrub and there are numerous refreshing streams with falls. Higher up there are some are excellent sites for paragliding; an experienced pilot recently reached heights of 5000 m. A paved road (15 km long) leads to the top of the sierras at Mirador del Sol, where there are wonderful panoramic views, best at sunrise or sunset. The mirador is accessible by bus and is the starting point for a rough track leading across 82 km of pampas and sierras de Córdoba to Embalse del Río Tercero.
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This is edited copy from Footprint Handbooks. For comprehensive details (incl address, tel no, directions, opening times and prices) please refer to book or individual chapter PDF
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