Valle Grande Department: Culture, History and Nature
Accommodation in Valle Grande Department
In Valle Grande Department, you’ll encounter UNESCO heritage, archaeological sites, churches, crafts and nature excursions. The attractions are spread across several places, from Caspalá and San Francisco to Valle Colorado and the town of Valle Grande. To plan your trip, you can start by choosing the topics that interest you most.
Qhapaq Ă‘an and Historic Sites
The section of Qhapaq Ă‘an between Santa Ana and Valle Colorado is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is considered a route that predates the Incas. Its construction features include flat stone structures laid across the path. They diverted rainwater to the sides to prevent damage to the route.
The section of Provincial Route 73 between Santa Ana and Valle Colorado is 24 kilometers long.
In Caspalá, Iglesia Santa Rosa de Lima is a chapel built by Don Tomás Coronel in the 1840s. Antigüito comprises old adobe and stone buildings; Pueblo Viejo is an archaeological site of great significance. Caspalá was selected for the “Best Tourism Villages” initiative as one of the world’s particularly beautiful and sustainable rural villages.
In San Francisco, Iglesia San Francisco stands among the town’s houses. The Monumento a la Pachamama can be reached by a staircase.
Crafts and Landscapes
Valle Colorado is surrounded by mountains, rivers and waterfalls, and offers opportunities for hiking and horseback riding. Women in the town embroider multicolored rebozos inspired by the landscape. At the Centro de InterpretaciĂłn, visitors can view and purchase handicrafts made by the women.
Excursion destinations around Valle Colorado include Cascada El Tornito, Puente Colgante and Mirador El Churqui. At Arroyo Loza in the town of Valle Grande, you can see several waterfalls along the stream.
Excursions and Getting Around
Natural attractions around San Francisco include Termas del Jordán. Other attractions near the town include Mirador la Cruz Mayor and Cascada La Toma. An excursion from San Francisco takes you on a climb to Alto Calilegua. Such activities should be undertaken with experienced local guides.
The town of Valle Grande can be reached via Provincial Route 83. It runs from L.G.S.M. through Parque Nacional Calilegua and the town of San Francisco.
The towns have different highlights: Caspalá brings together a chapel and archaeological sites, while Valle Colorado combines crafts with hiking and horseback riding. Waterfall destinations can be found both at Arroyo Loza near Valle Grande and in the landscape around Valle Colorado. This comparison can help you decide what to focus on during your trip.
A.TU.CO.QUE brings together tourism service providers in Valle Grande Department, including providers from San Francisco, Valle Grande, Valle Colorado and Santa Ana. The organization aims to promote community-based tourism through direct contact with residents and nature.
Jujuy as a Broader Travel Destination
Across the broader travel destination of Jujuy, Parque Nacional Calilegua preserves more than 76,000 hectares of the Yungas ecoregion.
Discover more destinations: Valle Grande, Susques Department, Doctor Manuel Belgrano Department, Santa Catalina Department, Tumbaya Department, Ledesma Department, Palpalá, San Antonio.
For the broader travel overview: Jujuy.
