San Antonio: Quesillo, Church and Trails Through Nature

Get to know San Antonio through several very tangible aspects: the Inmaculada Concepción Church, its long Quesillo tradition and trails leading to a waterfall in a forested landscape. Culture, cuisine and hiking offer different ways to experience the town. As you plan your trip, consider how much time you want to devote to local history and how much to a longer hike.

Church and interpretive trail

The façade of the Inmaculada Concepción Church in San Antonio has one door, four windows and four round windows. These openings divide the church front and give it a distinctive architectural feature. Anyone interested in architectural styles and local culture will find a tangible point of interest here in town.

In 2022, the municipality of San Antonio opened the Sala de Interpretación and the San Antonio Natural interpretive tourist trail. Both present the archaeological, historical, cultural and natural value of the surrounding area. The trail is designed for walking and has information panels, as well as trained guides and local informants. If you plan to visit the Sala or the trail, check in advance whether and how a visit is currently possible.

Quesillo and regional cuisine

San Antonio is the provincial capital of Quesillo. The Chávez and Ciares families have been making the product since the beginning of the 20th century. Regional and traditional dishes, whose recipes have been passed down through generations, are also part of the culinary tradition. Producers in San Antonio offer products including Dulce de Cayote, Tamales, Empanadas, artisan wines and Chicha de Maíz. Quesillo can thus be seen as one part of a broader local food culture.

The Festival del Quesillo takes place every year in late November or early December. The program includes performances by well-known folk groups and a fair featuring regional foods. The event therefore brings together music and regional cuisine. Check the dates and program for your travel year before adding the festival to your plans.

Hiking trails and waterfall

A trekking trail leads from the bridge over the Arroyo Los Paños to the Cascada de Los Paños. The waterfall is about 15 metres high and lies in a forest of walnut and alder trees. Allow about five hours for the round trip. The hike is considered moderately difficult; the final 200 metres are particularly challenging. Take this rating into account when planning and check trail conditions locally.

The stated duration and difficulty provide a concrete measure of the hike: it takes up a larger part of the day than a short walk. The rating of the final section also makes clear that the last stretch requires particular consideration. The trail thus combines a more challenging hike with a clearly identified destination in a forested landscape.

Viewpoints and surroundings

Cristo de la Hermandad is about three kilometres from the town of San Antonio. Access is via a trail that branches off the RP 42 near Embalse El Tipal. From the sculpture, the panoramic view extends over San Antonio, the surrounding valley and the Río Los Sauces. This also makes it a point of interest for travellers who want to give more weight to scenery and views when planning their trip.

Further afield in the region, the Camino Real offers a glimpse into history: this old road connected San Salvador de Jujuy and Salta and was used in pre-Hispanic and colonial times, as well as in the 19th century. The El Carril area lies on the Camino Real, a few kilometres from San Antonio. These regional historical connections add to the picture of local culture without conflating the town's trails and sights with more distant destinations.

Fishing is the main activity at Dique Los Alisos, where you can catch catfish, Dentudos, sardines and Mojarras. Together with the hiking trails and Quesillo tradition, this offers a range of interests for travellers, from time outdoors to local food. When choosing a hotel in San Antonio, you can prioritise whichever aspects matter most to your stay.

Discover more destinations: Departamento Valle Grande, Departamento Ledesma, Departamento El Carmen, Palpalá, Departamento Santa Bárbara, Departamento Humahuaca, Departamento San Pedro, Departamento Santa Catalina.

Back to the main travel overview: Jujuy.