 If you head south from the Capital, you can visit
several places related to the history of the country and
the traditions of General Güemes and his gauchos, like
Finca La Cruz, Quebrada de la Horqueta, Fuerte de
Cobos and Posta de Yatasto. Land of gauchos and
strong traditions, to its cultural richness the geography
is added: dense vegetation in the “montes”, rivers with
fishes and thermal baths.After leaving the Lerma Valley, one enters the mountains again with their typical flora and fauna. However, altitude slowly descends and the Chaco plain begins. This is a very rich area, where beans, soya and other legumes are grown. The most important cities in this circuit are Güemes, Metán and Rosario de la Frontera. Some tourist activities are ecotourism, hunting in Las Lajitas, fishing in El Tunal, rural tourism and health tourism. Special historic sites and museums commemorate the independence war and the gauchos fights. Taking part in rural life. Huge bean, soya, fodder and cattle ranches host tourists willing to experience country life. Among the activities offered, you can go horse-riding and visit dairies. Further ahead on RN 34 and RP 5 and 20, one gets to National Park El Rey. This is an area of wide biological diversity, a water basin and a nature reserve known as Yungas.  Well–being, health and relax in Rosario de la FronteraIn Rosario de la Frontera, one finds the Hotel Termas, famous for its thermal waters with great healing properties. The hotel has been turned into a beauty center and spa and its grounds are ideal for relaxing, walking and cycling. The thermal waters come from 9 different springs. Some of them are the hottest in the world (40º grades centigrade). A spa run by specialists provides anti-stress and beauty treatments in a soothing natural atmosphere. Apart from thermal baths, one can enjoy radioactive baths. The gaucho traditionToday’s gauchos treasured the values of honour, courage and loyalty and joined the caudillos in their fight for freedom and keep many of the customs and traditions of the past. Salteñan gauchos are renowned for their typical attire: red and black poncho, leather boots and sombrero, “bombachas” (loose trousers) and jacket embroidered by hand. This formal suit is adorned with a “rastra” –a belt made of silver-where gauchos keep their “facon” –a knife. Also, gauchos have in their horses the most loyal companion. Their life depends on this animal, which helps the gaucho in the country and lets him travel long distances. That is why the saddlery is also striking: gauchos protect their bodies and the horse’s legs from thorns with “guardamontes” –a kind of leather shield attached to the saddle or “apero”. |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|