Arauco Department: Olive Culture, Pilgrimage Tradition and Nature

Arauco Department is known as the “Cuna de la Olivicultura” (Cradle of Olive Growing). The Señor de la Peña and destinations for outdoor activities also shape the character of the department.

Olive Culture and Regional Products

Several olive-processing businesses offer tourist visits. They produce olives, olive oil, stuffed olives, olive paste and raisins preserved in brine. At Don Salim in Villa Mazán, you can learn about the production of extra virgin olive oil and Arauco table olives and sample a wide selection of regional products. The offerings also include pickled chilies, jojoba oil, regional sweets, wines from La Rioja and leather goods. At Hilal, you can learn more about olive oil production and sample regional products. Both experiences showcase olive culture but have different focuses: one centers on the olive products mentioned above, while the other complements insights into the production process with regional tastings.

The story of a single tree also reflects the importance of olive growing: the Olivo Cuatricentenario in Aimogasta survived the large-scale felling of olive trees toward the end of the 18th century. It is a historical point of reference for a culture that remains visible throughout the department in its products and tourist visits.

Señor de la Peña and Semana Santa

The Señor de la Peña is a massive boulder with the profile of Christ and holds deep spiritual significance, particularly during Semana Santa (Holy Week). Every year during this period, it attracts between 50,000 and 80,000 pilgrims. They travel on foot, on horseback or by vehicle, motivated by faith and devotion. This religious pilgrimage is therefore quite different from visits focused on olive processing and tastings. If you want to plan your trip around Semana Santa, this annual tradition is an important consideration.

Water, Dunes and Sand Yachting

At Parque de Los Nacimientos, water emerges from the ground and flows through a river. Large trees provide shade for a family day outdoors. Check current local conditions before visiting. The dunes of Arauco offer a different kind of experience: you can explore them in 4x4 vehicles, motorcycles and ATVs on visits with licensed travel agencies. Being accompanied by a licensed agency is part of the stated conditions for visiting.

At Barreal de Arauco, clay soil and steady winds create ideal conditions for sand yachting. When choosing activities for your trip, you can distinguish among three different options: spending time by the water in the shade, exploring the dunes with a licensed agency, or sand yachting at the Barreal. The names of the places and activities help you keep these interests distinct when planning, rather than combining them into a single excursion.

More Experiences in La Rioja

La Rioja Province also offers its own natural and cultural attractions. Talampaya National Park is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site; its red sandstone cliffs reach heights of up to 200 meters. The Laguna Brava Provincial Reserve is a Ramsar wetland in the Andes near the Chilean border. A 114-kilometer stretch of Ruta 40 runs along the Cuesta de Miranda, connecting Chilecito with General Felipe Varela. Viewpoints along the route are used to observe geological features, flora and fauna. These examples represent different travel interests in La Rioja and are distinct from Arauco Department’s olive, pilgrimage and nature themes.

Discover more destinations: Aimogasta, Chilecito Department, Independencia, Capital Department, General Juan Facundo Quiroga Department, Coronel Felipe Varela, General Lamadrid Department, Coronel Felipe Varela

See the overview of the wider region: La Rioja.