Choya Department: Landscapes, Trails and Traditions

In Choya Department, Villa La Punta lies on the eastern slope of the Sierras de Guasayán. Lush greenery, clear streams and gently rolling sierras shape the landscape. The area within a five-kilometre radius of Villa La Punta was declared a provincial nature reserve. In the wider region, the Sierras de Guasayán are known for their rich flora and fauna.

Trails and nature around Villa La Punta

The provincial nature reserve associated with Villa La Punta offers walks and horseback rides. Long walks follow narrow roads and trails through lush vegetation. From Villa La Punta, walking and riding trails lead to nearby ravines and locations, including Quebrada de La Chilca and Pozo de Leiva. Trekking and adventure activities are a focus at Cerro de La Cruz in Villa La Punta. The options described range from walking and riding trails to named destinations to trekking at the Cerro.

These different landscape features can help with travel planning: if you are interested in trails leading to ravines, Quebrada de La Chilca and Pozo de Leiva are named destinations. Cerro de La Cruz, by contrast, is associated with trekking and adventure activities. To reach Villa La Punta, travel from Santiago del Estero via Ruta Nacional 64, then Ruta Provincial 24.

Religious history and festivals

Quebrada de La Chilca is also a place of religious devotion: at the site known as “la piedra que llora” stands an image of the Virgen del Carmen, the town’s patron saint. The parish of Villa La Punta, dedicated to the Virgen, was founded in 1859. A stone chapel built in 1860 in honour of the Virgen del Carmen was later replaced by a new church in 1944.

During Holy Week, residents climb Cerro de La Cruz with torches, commemorating Jesus’ Way of the Cross to Calvary. Another date in the religious festival calendar is 16 July, the feast day of the Virgen del Carmen and the date of the popular festival in her honour in Villa La Punta. The festival includes a procession on foot or horseback, a meal featuring regional dishes, music and folk dancing. Check the date and current programme before making specific plans to attend the festival.

Festival culture in Frías

In Frías, the capital of Choya Department, the Fiesta Nacional del Bombo offers a different cultural focus. The festival includes music classes led by nationally recognised artists; the artists and schedules may vary. Tamales, traditional empanadas santiagueñas and Patay are available to sample at the Fiesta. Travel planning can therefore bring together different themes: the landscapes and trails of Villa La Punta, and the music and regional dishes at the festival in Frías. Check the festival dates and programme when planning your trip.

Putting it in context: Santiago Del Estero

The wider destination of Santiago Del Estero offers a broader view of the province: chacarera is a popular dance and musical form in Santiago del Estero Province and part of its cultural heritage. Also at the provincial level, Parque Nacional Copo protects more than 118,000 hectares of the Dry Chaco ecoregion. These themes belong to the wider regional context and should be distinguished from the places described in Choya Department.

When searching for hotels in Choya Department, you can first decide what you want to focus on: will your trip centre mainly on the landscapes and trails of Villa La Punta, or on the Fiesta Nacional del Bombo in Frías? This can help you tailor your search to the place whose attractions suit your reason for travelling.

Discover more destinations: Frías, La Punta, Capital Department, Río Hondo, La Banda, Robles, Moreno Department, Guasayán Department.

For the broader travel overview: Santiago Del Estero.