Famatina Valley

One of the richest areas of the province and only a few hours west of the capital, this immense valley is attractively flanked to the west by the magnificent Famatina Mountains, 6000 m high, and to the east by the Sierra de Velasco, rising to 4000 m. Once an important mining area, it's now famous for its tasty wines, olives and walnuts. You can combine the most challenging treks in the region with a relaxing stay in a calm, rural

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The second biggest town in the province and certainly the most attractive, Chilecito lies at the foot of the snow-capped Famatina Mountains in an area of vineyards and olive groves, and is the best base for exploring the hills and nearby villages. Founded in 1715, its name derives from the influx of Chilean miners in the 19th century. The town centre,

with lots of cafés and a modern church, is centred around Plaza de los Caudillos, beautifully

shaded with mature pine and red gum trees, and two pergolas covered with grapevines. Each February the plaza is the focus of the

celebrations and the anniversary of the town's foundation. The bus station can be found on Avenida Perón (on the south access to town).

There is good local wine to sample at the

, you can watch local grapes being processed to make a wide variety

of red and white wines, including organic products, many of which are exported to

Europe under the labels Inti, 7 Days, Pircas Negras or Santa Florentina. For an easy five-minute walk from the plaza, head along El Maestro, past the pleasant Parque Municipal and up to the

where there are splendid panoramic views of the town and

the Velasco and Famatina mountains. Another delightful nearby attraction is the botanical

garden at

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The beautiful private garden has an incredibly rich collection of over 1500 cacti and succulent plants (native and non-native species) growing on terraces on the rocky slopes,

and using the same techniques ancient Andes people used for cultivation. Not to be missed. For further information contact the

. A useful website is www.chilecitotour.com.

One of the pleasures of Northwestern Argentina is a visit to a

, or farm.

, is an attractive place to come and relax for a day, or stay overnight. The estate was once

the summer residence of Joaquín V González, founder of La Plata University, who designed

the gardens using native trees, and strange stone monoliths expressing his love of ancient cultures. There's also a small natural history museum.

While the Famatina Mountains are best explored on a guided tour, you can amble to the villages around Chilecito quite easily, with their old adobe houses and historical chapels. In

, Good Friday and Christmas Day are celebrated with fabulous processions, and there's also a good site for paragliding. At

(8 km northwest of Chilecito), the impressive remains of a huge early 20th-century foundry can be reached from Chilecito and La Mejicana mine by cable car. A few kilometres west of Sañogasta, Ruta 40 leads to the eroded red sandstone rocks of

, one of the most spectacular routes in the province. Winding its way between Sierra de Famatina and Sierra de Sañogasta, it rises to 2020 m and drops again, passing through 320 bends in 11,500 m.