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Regarded as the cradle of famous chieftains, La Rioja currently attracts visitors due to its olives and wines flavours. As a matter of fact, this Northern Argentine province stands a the hosting venue for a great deal of festivals and takes pride in being
It is located in Argentina´s northwest region. It shares borders with Chile in the Northeastern area, with the Province of San Juan in the west and with San Luis in the South. It is also bounded by Cordoba in the East and by Catamarca in the Northern area. Its capital city, La Rioja, lies at 1,167 kilometers from Buenos Aires. As to is climate, it features semi-arid climatic conditions and low lands recording very hot summers and very short winters.
With respect to its landscape, this province, featuring valleys, mountains, rivers and deep ravines (quebradas), entices tourists to take up adventure tourism and wander around its wineries and olive groves. Some of its major tourist attractions comprise Chilecito, which is located at the bottom of Famatina Mountain, Nonogasta and Villa Unión where visitors can access the Talampaya National Park, declared National Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 1981.
La Rioja´s landscape encompasses a great deal of hills, canyons, valleys and red plains with condors flying by.
It is a land where amusing celebrations take place and the Catholic religion blends with native indians´ ancient history as evidenced by signficant archeological remains. Similarly, La Rioja has witnessed the active lives led by the XIX century´s Argentine chieftains such as Juan Facundo Quiroga or Ángel Peñaloza.
Economy
Winemaking stands as La Rioja´s main industry. Olive manufacturing, especially that of the Arauco variety stands out. In light of the harvests ahead, olive manufacturing is expected to grow from the currently manufactured 20 thousand tons to a 200 thousand ton production in 10 years´ time.
Nuts, jojoba, and different types of fruits and vegetables are also grown in this province. With respect to other industries, La Rioja is also engaged in beef and goat leather manufacturing, primarily addressed at exports. Since it is a traditionally mining oriented province, a policy targeted at developing this sector has therefore been adopted.
Production Incentives
The government of La Rioja has launched an R&D endeavour aiming at the olive-growing sector. This undertaking intends to enhance pruning techniques and pests handling, among other goals to be achieved.
Authorities are also promoting the "FERYA 2008" program so that agrofarming products and crafts may be sold on a regular basis in several of La Rioja´s points of sale. This program actually aims at strengthening local economies.
The City of La Rioja
Standing at the bottom of Velasco Sierra, it is the capital city of its namesake province. It was founded back in 1591 at the time of the Spanish conquest headed by Juan Ramírez de Velasco.
La Rioja capital city is endowed with a mix of both ancient and modern features Tourists are advised to visit the Cathedral San Nicolas de Bari, the Temple and Convent of Santo Domingo, La Merced Church, the Church of San Francisco and the Inca Huasi Regional Archeological Museum.
In the nearby area, there stands Las Padercitas, a national historical monument where Saint Fransciso Solano is traditionally believed to have converted the diaguitas indians into the Gospel religion. Another outstanding point of attraction for tourists not to miss is Los Sauces Dam, where visitors can go fishing and practise water sports.
Popular Festivals
El Tinkunaco
The Festival of Tinkunaco (a quechua term meaning Meeting) is held in the city of La Rioja on an annual basis It is regarded as La Rioja´s major religious ceremony epitomizing the meeting point of the following two worlds: the Spanish one and that of the Indians. It similarly symbolizes the endeavors targeted at overcoming the gaps dividing them as evidenced in San Nicolás de Bari´s images portraying the Spanish population, and that of the Niño Jesús Alcalde depicting the Diaguitas indian tribe.
La Chaya
This festival is held in several districts in February. Attendants thank Mother Teresa for the gifts they have been endowed with by sprinkling one another with water and powdering each other with corn meal.
The La Rioja Chaya Festival is closely linked to the Carnival. Streets become the stage for "topamientos", which are celebrations hosted by La Rioja´s citizens.
Agrotourism
Visitors may tour provincial crop producing facilities, above all those featuring vineyards (such as Chilecito, Famatina and Anillaco), jojoba (located in Bañado de los Pantanos, Arauco Department) and olive groves, and olive oil processing plants (located in Aimogasta and Capital). With respect to walnut tree plantations, Famatina stands as the largest producing sector, also engaged in fruit production aimed at sweets manufacturing.
Wines
The Chilecito Valley is regarded as La Rioja´s major winemaking region. The most frequently grown variety is known as Bonarda, closely followed by Torrontés, also standing as major variety in this region. Additionally, new grapevines such as Cabernet Sauvignon,Syrah, and Chardonnay are beginning to be grown.
As to the winemaking process, it definitely arouses tourists´ interest. Among the wineries encompassing the winemaking array, there lies Bodega and Cooperativa La Riojana, located in Chilecito itself.
On the other hand, the Motegay company, headquartered in Malligasta, is engaged in multiprized wines manufacturing.
As to other winemaking facilities, Santa María winery is also located in this area and Anguinán S.A lies in the Anguinán region. Furthermore, Nonogasta hosts international prize winning wineries such as Nacarí, La Rioja S.A and El Águila. Other winemaking regions comprise Famatina, where there stands the Chañarmuyo Estate Winery – lying at some 80 kilometers from Chilecito. In the proximity of this winery there is an inn overlooking Aminga and Anillaco vineyards.
Olive Growing
The Arauco Department is famous for its oils and olives quality and tourists may visit some of these product manufacturing plants. The Aimogasta district is regarded as Argentina´s olive growing cradle. Lying at a three-kilometer distance from this area, there stands the country´s oldest olive plantation brought in by the Spanish back in the XVIII century. Furthermore, Arauco olives, considered as a unique variety of large and fleshy olives, are grown in this area.
In fact, olive grove plantations lie nearly throughout all of La Rioja province and are grown in San Blas de los Sauces, General Ocampo, Chilecito, Sanogasta and La Costa respectively.
Talampaya National Park
This 215, 000 hectare park, declared Heritage of Humanity, is regarded as one of La Rioja´s major tourist attractions due to its geological, paleontological and archeological wealth. It is framed amidst a unique setting resulting from erosion processes giving in turn rise to long streams and high walls. Water and wind have, in fact, shaped figures over rocks, thus causing visitors to be taken aback by the sight.
Talampaya preserves a great deal of the history witnessing the geological changes that took place in this land. Furthermore, it is endowed with a major archeological wealth and it is regarded as a renowned paleontolgoical field. Among its most precious items, there is the Lagosuchus talampayensis, one of the first dinosaurs inhabiting the planet Earth over 250 million years ago.
Guacamayo Provincial Park
Lying in La Rioja´s Southeastern region, it encompasses one of Guacamayo Ravine´s (quebrada) portions unfolding astonishing forms of erosion.
Brava Lagoon
Standing at a 4,200 meter height in the Northeastern area, this lagoon rises as a brackish water mirror inhabited by flamencos and surrounded by volcanos rising at the back. It serves as the leading scenario waking visitors into the practice of High Mountain activities.
Mogotes Colorados (Red Hillocks)
They stand as red sandstone formations as if they were natural sculptures. As a matter of fact, they served a tactical purpose during Angel Peñaloza´s battles in the last century. As far as recreation is concerned, the region thermal waters lie in the vicinity of this area.
Famatina. The indian footprint
Archeological evidence found in Famatina Department account for settlements existing from the "Pre-ceramic" period up until the one denoting an “Incan” domination.
The influence of the Diaguita indian tribe may be perceived in Camino del Inca, in The Indian Tumb located in Los Morteritos, in the Petroglyphs lying at Cuesta del Inca (Inca Slope) and in the Archeological Remains lying in Plaza Vieja.
This region welcomes large crowds of visitors attending Holy Week celebrations and pilgrimages. Furthermore, travellers may buy local weavings such as large shawls, ponchos and blankets.
Chilecito
The cable car connecting this district railroad station with La Mejicana mine along a 35 kilometer distance stands as one of the tourist attractions characterizing this district.
Other settings that may also be toured are Portezuelo, a Famantina mountain watchtower, and la Tambería del Inca, regarded both as native indian population´s ruins.
The property where the founder of La Plata University, Joaquín V. Gonzalez, used to live has been turned into the "Mis Montañas" Museum where some Argentine artists´ paintings are currently on display.
Additionally, the Sarmientos district still preserves a chapel being built back in 1764, which currently serves as a National Historical Museum.
Heading towards Villa Unión district, there appears the Cuesta Miranda (Miranda Slope) a mountainous road actually portraying one of Northern Argentine most spectacular tourist landcaspes.
Villa Unión
It is a thrusting city lying between the Famatina Mountain and the Pre-Andean Mountain Ranges. This region displays a predominance for grapevine and fruit crops. As to the Bermejo River valley, it may actually be appreciated as from its natural watchtower. The Villa Unión Dam is suitable for fishing and water sports.
San Blas de los Sauces
It is a region endowed with a special microclimate where the Andolucas Tourist Complex provided with natural swimming pools undoubtedly stands out.
The San Blas de los Sauces temple´s thousands of pilgrims meet here every February 3rd. Apart from this religious celebration, folk and carnival festivals also take place in this region. Furthermore, another site being worth visiting is the Inca ruins rising at the top of Quebrada de Hualco.
Cultural Tourism- El Camino de los Caudillos (the Chieftains Road)
Chepes
The Los Caudillos Museum (Chieftains´ Museum) standing in the district of Chepes currently preserves Pre-incan culture household goods, fire arms used in the Argentine federal struggles and personal items belonging to chieftains born in La Rioja.
As for Quiroga´s House the inner part, still preserves furniture used by the chieftain Juan Facundo Quiroga.
Chamical
This Department of La Rioja, also referred to as the Chieftains land is famous for its delicious wines, cheese, and sweets and for its silver, leather and weaving crafts.
The picturesque towns known as Polco, La Aguadita, Santa Lucía and Santa Bárbara are definitely worth visiting.
General Juan Facundo Quiroga
This region hosts the major point of attraction known as “Anajuacio”, the famous property belonging to chieftain Juan Facundo Quiroga, as well as its homeland located in San Antonio district.
Mining Geological Tourism
Mining has given rise to a priceless heritage visitors may tour in La Rioja: the Cable car, and metallifer casting furnaces and fields.
The most renowned mines are: El Oro Mine located in Chilecito, and La Mejicana Mine lying in Famatina. The La Georgette Mine as well as others located in Vichigasta, and Miranda regions and in El Tigre district may be visited, as well.
