Paclín Department: Casona, Tunnels and Nature

The Casona Histórica Wilfrido Figueroa in La Merced is a striking historical landmark in Paclín Department. Other highlights include an unfinished engineering project, natural attractions and landscapes with their own distinctive features. If you are looking for a hotel for a trip to Paclín Department, these differences can help you organize your interests for your stay.

La Merced: History and Regional Products

The Casona Histórica Wilfrido Figueroa is an iconic building dating from late 1884. After standing empty for more than 70 years, the house was restored in July 2024 and converted into the Centro Tecnológico y Cultural de Paclín. The center includes a science laboratory, a robotics classroom, a language room and a microcinema. It also has spaces for exhibitions and cultural activities. The Casona thus brings together architectural history and the building’s new cultural and technological uses.

Local production is also part of La Merced’s character: regional sweets and preserves, as well as homemade cheese and quesillo, are made there. Alongside its history and cultural activities, the production of regional foods offers another perspective on the town.

The Túneles de La Merced: An Unfinished Railway Project

The Túneles de La Merced are an unfinished engineering project in Paclín Department. They were part of a railway project intended to cross the Sierra del Gracián and connect Catamarca with Tucumán and Argentina’s Northwest via the Ferrocarril General Belgrano railway. The project gives the structure a broader historical context: the planned connection extended well beyond the tunnels themselves.

For reference, the Túneles are 56 km northeast of the capital city of Catamarca and 5 km northeast of La Merced. These distances may vary depending on how the route is measured, so check the route you plan to follow.

Laguna Escondida is a natural attraction in Paclín Department, a few kilometers from La Merced. Nature and landscape therefore complement the historic structures, offering another perspective on the region.

San Antonio: Valley, Yungas and Trails

San Antonio lies in a valley formed by Sierras, where two rivers meet and which encompasses the final expanse of the Yungas. The old road from San Antonio to Balcozna offers the chance to observe flora, fauna and historic estancias among the Sierras and valleys. Hiking along the trails is one of the activities available in San Antonio. If you plan to use the road or trails, check current conditions in advance.

For trip planning, the valley, river confluence and Yungas offer a different landscape focus from the historic structure in La Merced. The old road provides an opportunity to observe the area between the Sierras and valleys, while hiking is another of the activities mentioned for San Antonio. This makes nature observation and hiking distinct interests to consider when planning.

Paclín in the Wider Destination of Catamarca

The wider destination of Catamarca encompasses landscapes ranging from deserts and volcanoes to Yungas, forests and lagoons. Its historic sites also offer varied points of interest: El Shincal de Quimivil was built by the Incas between 1471 and 1536 at the foot of the Quimivil mountain range. It has an interpretation center, signposted trails and a guided-tour service. Confirm the operating conditions of these services locally before visiting.

Another example in the wider destination of Catamarca is the 50-kilometer-long Ruta del Adobe. It passes through villages that preserve their original adobe architecture. These examples illustrate Catamarca’s broader natural and cultural setting, while Paclín Department has its own points of interest: the Casona and food production in La Merced, the unfinished railway project of the Túneles, Laguna Escondida and the landscape around San Antonio.

When planning a hotel stay, you can consider these different highlights: La Merced combines architectural history, cultural uses and local production; the Túneles represent a planned but unfinished railway project; and San Antonio brings valley and trail experiences. Laguna Escondida rounds out the options as a natural attraction near La Merced.

Discover more destinations: Tinogasta Department, Capayán Department, El Alto Department, Valle Viejo Department, Ambato Department, Andalgalá Department, Ancasti Department, Santa María Department

For the broader travel overview: Catamarca.