The Mystic Valleys Road

In this road, the borders between Tucumán and Catamarca blur along the legendary Route 40, forging a shared ancestral identity that invites visitors to enjoy a profound and authentic experience.

It is a journey where the imposing nature of the valleys and ravines coexists with the living history of the indigenous peoples. Where ancestral mysticism can be felt in every corner. Where the open, clear skies allow us to marvel at the immensity of the cosmos.

It is a path of flavors, where intense and aromatic wines combine with a cuisine that enhances every product of the land. A path of culture where artisan hands welcome us and reveal the creativity that inhabits each piece.

It is a journey of encounters: with rural communities that open their doors with pride and generosity, sharing their history, identity, and legacy with each visitor.

Visiting the Mystical Valleys Corridor is to live a multitude of experiences. It is to discover a history that continues to beat strongly in each village.

Mountains, ravines, vineyards, and picturesque villages shape its landscape.

Crafts, music, and popular festivals forge its cultural heritage.

Museums, archaeological sites, churches, and Jesuit remains contribute to its living history.

Regional cuisine, wineries, and wine tourism create its gastronomy.

Experiences

High-altitude Wine Route and gastronomic circuits: guided winery tours, tastings, tourist services, and local cooking workshops.

Active and Nature Tourism: hiking, horseback riding, cycling, and treks through unique landscapes.

Cultural and Mystical Tourism: ancestral rituals, craft fairs, and visits to archaeological sites.

Community-based Rural Tourism: participation in community activities, workshops in weaving, pottery, and agriculture, and accommodation in local families' homes.

Astronomical Tourism: observation of the night and day skies. It offers tourists a unique connection with the universe, linking science with the worldview of the indigenous peoples.

Tourist Services

Accommodation: The road offers hotels, inns, guesthouses, and rural lodging.

Gastronomy: Restaurants serving regional cuisine, gourmet experiences, and folk music venues.

Transportation: Access via national and provincial highways, transfer services, and vehicle rentals.

Specialized Guides: Adventure tourism, cultural tourism, wine tourism, sensory tourism, and community-based experiences.

High-Altitude Wine Route

The Mystic Valleys Corridor boasts the High-Altitude Wine Route, which connects Tucumán and Catamarca, as one of its main attractions. Just as the Calchaquí Valley in Tucumán is home to 11 wineries offering tourist services, wine production in the town of Santa María dates back to the 17th century, a result of the connection between viticulture and the evangelizing mission. In the 20th century, the small wineries of Santa María incorporated technology and became modern, although some still retain their traditional, artisanal character. The wineries are: Bodega Acialba, Prelatura y Parral de los Monjes, Gaucho Santamariano, Don Armando, Puesto del Marqués, Altos del Yokavil, Bodega La Marquesa, and Bodega La Rosa.

Astronomy

In line with the Ampimpa Astronomical Observatory, located in Tucumán's Calchaquí Valley, which offers visits for families and student camps interested in enjoying a day close to the cosmos, Catamarca is home to the Quilla Punco Inclusive Observatory, from where you can appreciate the clear skies of Santa María. It is located in the school in the town of Chañar Punco. Here, students reinforce their knowledge and learn science in an educational way. The Observatory houses a high-resolution, long-range telescope that allows visitors to observe the planets of the solar system. The site has differentiated access, a ramp with a slope that complies with regulations for people with reduced mobility and disabilities, as well as educational games in Braille.

Ancestral culture

The Corridor of Mystical Valleys is a land deeply connected to the beliefs and customs of the indigenous peoples who populated the region. Santa María is the first city in the world where a monument to Pachamama, Mother Earth, was erected. The complex is a cultural and tourist attraction linked to the identity of Santa María. It has a symbolic character that is expressed in its colors, shapes, and materials. It is a figure of a pregnant woman looking up at the cosmos. She stands on a mound of stones that is her altar, known as Apacheta. Her strong hands hold her bulging belly, protecting the richness of her womb.

Popular festivals

Just as the Calchaquí Valley is the cradle of ancient and ancestral celebrations such as the National Festival of Pachamama in Amaicha, the Yokavil Valley also invites visitors to enjoy its important dates. Every year, the Santa María de la Reina del Yokavil Folk Festival is celebrated, which is part of the festivities of the Patron Saint Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria. Likewise, since 2004, the Fiesta de la Capia has been celebrated, which was born out of a need to make visitors aware of and invite them to try this Santa María delicacy. During the festival, you can taste this product made from corn, as well as learn about its production process.