Santa María: Culture, Craft and Culinary Delights

Santa María brings together religious heritage, craftsmanship, cultural experiences that engage the senses, and a landscape shaped by geology. These different highlights can help you plan your stay, from a church and cultural tours to workshops, culinary experiences, and outdoor activities.

Culture, Faith and Craft

The Iglesia Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria is opposite Santa María’s central square and is a place of religious devotion. The Fiesta Nacional Santa María la Reina del Yokavil is also connected to the town’s history: it was conceived in 1967 and launched in the summer of 1968. These dates mark its origins and should be distinguished from the annual reenactment of the Inti Raymi tradition. Every year in Santa María, the last Inti Raymi before the Europeans arrived in these lands is reenacted.

At the Asociación Santamariana de Artesanos, you can take weaving and pottery workshops with local residents. These two crafts offer different insights into working with textiles and clay. The “Cantares de Luna y Tierra” tour offers a different cultural focus: this sensory experience explores local history and culture, as well as the legacy of the Acosta Villafañe brothers.

Landscape and Activities

At Cerro de Colores de Santa María, you can rappel and zip-line over multicolored rock formations, with panoramic views of the valley. If you plan to take part in these adventure activities, confirm the details with an authorized provider.

The Cerros de Colores de Santa María form a natural sanctuary rich in geological and paleontological evidence from the Valle Calchaquí. They are also a destination for a tour exploring the region’s paleontological past. The activities at the rocks and the tour therefore focus on different aspects: the descents and valley views on the one hand, and geological and paleontological history on the other.

Flavors and Sensory Experiences

The “Sentí Yokavil” experience also includes a visit to the centrally located Molino Herrero in Santa María. During this sensory visit, you can experience the texture and aroma of paprika and Capia flour, as well as the sound of the machinery. Confirm the format of the experience before booking.

Another part of “Sentí Yokavil” ends at the Off Road Moto Bar with the “Cosmovisión andina” menu. It includes a recipe featuring Capia corn by the artist Margarita Palacios. Current menu details may change; confirm them if this menu is important to your plans. The meal can be enjoyed as a distinct part of the experience, while the Molino visit focuses on the ingredients and the sounds of the machinery.

The Wider Destination: Departamento Santa María

In Departamento Santa María, the pre-Columbian village of Rincón Chico contains at least 365 structures spread across an area of about 39.6 hectares. The archaeological site is located on a mountain spur of the Sierra del Cajón. The Sierra del Cajón landscape is characterized by white quartz veins, pegmatite outcrops in a drainage channel, and dark phyllite and schist formations.

Markets also offer a glimpse of the region: various entrepreneurs’ markets are held on Fridays in Plaza Gral. Manuel Belgrano in Departamento Santa María. On Saturdays, local artisans and producers sell their goods there at the Feria Arcoiris. Check the dates locally before your trip.

Discover more destinations: Loro Huasi, El Volcán.

Go to the wider travel guide: Departamento Santa María.