Northeastern La Rioja (La Costa)

If you have time and want a tranquil place to hang out or retreat to for a few days, with no distractions, head for the long narrow strip of land known as La Costa, lying at the edge of the plains at the foot of the Sierra de Velasco mountains. There are delightful small villages dotted about, green oases with old chapels, surrounded by vineyards, orchards and olive groves. Two roads head north from La Rioja. Route 75 to Aimogasta, is the more interesting of the two, passing through Villa Sanagasta, Aminga and Anillaco and all the small towns of La Costa. Alternatively, Route 38 runs northeast to Catamarca and you could take a detour to visit thermal baths at

. The termas are some 7 km north and there's a budget

, which has an open-air thermal pool, thermal baths in all rooms and breakfast included.

The first town you'll come across on the way to La Costa, is

, nicely set among orchards and where, on the last Friday in September, there is a big religious procession to La Rioja. A few kilometres further, at

, there is a lovely Alpine- style cabin,

where good meals are served.

There are a few curious sights near Anillaco: a house which looks like a fairy tale or horror story (depending on your mood), called

at Santa Vera Cruz, built on a rock and surrounded by cacti; the massive

, a naturally shaped rock and very popular religious sanctuary during Holy Week, lying in a desert plain 30 km east of Anillaco; and the 18th-century

. The largest town in the area, at the heart of the olive production, is

, which serves as a good transport with links to several towns in the province of Catamarca.