Payogasta: Inca Heritage, Wine and Pimentón

Payogasta is considered a quiet town in the Calchaquí Valley. Inca heritage, winegrowing and Pimentón production offer different points of interest; there are also hikes and excursions by quad or 4x4 vehicle.

Townscape and architecture

Narrow unpaved streets and several adobe buildings shape the townscape; the buildings bear witness to the passage of time. The historic center includes buildings with typical colonial and postcolonial architecture. A hydraulic mill and an old manor house opposite it provide specific architectural landmarks in the center. “Hydraulic” refers to the mill’s use of water power; the manor house represents a different type of building. On Finca Palermo Oeste in Payogasta, La Sala is the main building and the residence of the Zorrilla family.

Inca heritage around Payogasta

Near Payogasta is the Potrero de Payogasta archaeological site, built by the Incas around the middle of the 15th century. It includes a ceremonial plaza, an Ushnu altar shrine, and two large circular Kollkas, or silos. Thus, ceremonial structures and large round silos stand side by side within the same site. Together with Los Graneros Incaicos and Tastil, Potrero de Payogasta is part of the Qhapaq Ñan, or Camino del Inca, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Another historical landmark in Payogasta is a four-meter-wide Inca road dating from the Inca period. It leaves Payogasta northeast of Ruta Nacional 40 and north of the current cemetery. At first, the road overlaps the provincial road to Piul-Río Blanco. It then runs southeast toward the Inca road from Agua de los Loros to Palermo and continues via Agua de los Loros to TinTin. This sequence describes a route with several named sections and connections.

Wine, Pimentón and regional cuisine

Payogasta has artisanal and industrial wineries. Its vineyards are considered among the highest in the world and give the high-altitude wines produced there distinctive qualities. Winegrowing here therefore combines different forms of production with the vineyards’ pronounced high-altitude setting.

Payogasta is also known for producing Pimentón. During harvest season, the landscape turns an intense red; the Pimentón harvest thus also shapes the scenery seasonally. At the Fiesta Provincial del Pimiento, visitors can try locro, guaschalocro, grilled lamb, and goat cheese with cayote sweet, accompanied by local high-altitude wines. The Ruta del Queso de Cabra can also be explored. These offer distinct culinary points of interest, from specific festival dishes to a themed route.

The feast of the Virgen Inmaculada Concepción is also celebrated in Payogasta on December 8. Its fixed date gives the celebration a distinct place in the town’s annual calendar.

Activities and planning your visit

Visitors to Payogasta can go hiking or take excursions by quad or 4x4 vehicle. When planning, you can first choose between a hike on foot and a vehicle-based excursion. The Paseo del Río Calchaquí has artificial swimming pools, sports fields and picnic areas. If you plan to visit the Paseo, check the latest visitor information before you go.

In Cachi Department: Las Pailas

In Cachi Department, the Las Pailas archaeological site is considered one of the most important agricultural sites in the northern Calchaquí Valley. The site covers around 500 hectares of agricultural land, including fields that were cultivated in pre-Hispanic times. There is also a residential area where workers lived and processed the crops from the fields. The combination of cultivated land and a residential area offers insight into agricultural work and processing at the same site.

For the broader travel overview: Cachi Department.