Huerta Grande: Discover Nature and Landscapes

Huerta Grande brings together botanical diversity, striking rocky landscapes, places by the water, and trails with valley views. When planning your trip, it helps to focus on what interests you most: botanical collections, rock formations, water, or scenery.

Botanical Diversity at the Jardín Botánico

The private “Dr. Miguel Culaciati” botanical garden covers an area of 24,000 m². More than 200 species have been classified, and about 100 additional species are under study. The garden includes a reference library, a herbarium, a nursery, a stereo microscope, and a collection of fossils and minerals. The area gives a sense of the garden’s size; the separate species figures distinguish between classified and studied species. The various facilities and collections add natural history points of interest to the botanical theme. As a result, the focus extends beyond plants alone.

Rocky Landscapes, Water, and Valley Views

The route along the Río Grande de Punilla offers natural pools, old willows, and the imposing Peñón del Águila, which towers over the landscape. The Camino del Dragón has different features: a winding, unpaved road at the foot of the Sierras, with constant views of the valley. The two landscapes are distinguished by water and old willows on the one hand, and the route and valley views on the other.

Cascada de Olmos lies at an altitude of 1,107 meters in the middle of the Sierras Chicas. Piedras Grandes is a natural area with large rocks in very diverse and unusual shapes. The surroundings of the “Naguán Tica” Natural, Forest, and Archaeological Reserve have been preserved in an almost untouched state. Each of these places has its own defining feature: elevation, striking rock formations, or almost untouched surroundings.

Relaxation and Nature Watching

Balneario Municipal La Escondida is a place to relax and enjoy leisure time beneath large trees. Las Muyunas is near Piedras Grandes. This protected natural area includes a riverside swimming spot, various services, and opportunities to observe native flora and fauna. The focus differs at each place: La Escondida offers relaxation beneath trees, while Las Muyunas combines a riverside swimming spot with the character of a protected area and opportunities to observe nature.

Punilla Department: Regional Overview

In the wider Punilla Department, Cerro Uritorco, at 1,979 meters, is the highest point in northern Punilla. The department is also home to, among other places, Quebrada del Condorito National Park. The gorge is V-shaped, 800 meters high, and 1,500 meters wide at its broadest point; Andean condors can be observed from its upper rims.

There are five major reservoirs in the Punilla Department where visitors can fish. Sailing and motorized water sports are also possible at the reservoirs. The Camino de los Artesanos connects Villa Giardino and La Cumbre along a nine-kilometer route. These regional points of interest add landscapes, water activities, and a stated route length at the department level to the overview of Huerta Grande.

Discover more destinations: Tanti, Cavalango, Santa María de Punilla, Villa Giardino, Villa Garcia, Villa Parque Síquiman, Cosquín, Villa Bustos

For the broader travel overview: Punilla Department.