Guandacol: Nature and History along Route 40

Guandacol lies very close to the border with San Juan Province, at kilometer 3728 of National Route 40, on the La Troya River. The town is also part of a travel route along Route 40 through La Rioja that highlights the former home of one of the region’s most important caudillos, Felipe Varela. This route provides a regional point of reference alongside the specific location on the river. For travelers looking for a hotel in Guandacol, natural and cultural attractions offer an initial overview of possible themes for their stay.

Natural Attractions in Guandacol

Guandacol’s attractions include Vallecito Encantado, the Cerro Bola Natural Monument, and the Dunas del Cura Shimpa. The Quebrada El Alazán is also an attraction. If you organize your trip around natural and cultural interests, you can consider these landscape destinations separately from the historical sites.

Historical and Cultural Sites

Historical and cultural attractions include El Olivo Histórico, the Iglesia de San Nicolás, the Distrito Minero de los Nacimientos, and the ruins of Felipe Varela’s ranch. The Casa de Felipe Varela in Guandacol is an indirect stamping point on the national Sanmartiniano Pass. If the pass is relevant to your trip, it’s best to check the current participation details before visiting. The San Nicolás parish lists the Feast of Nuestra Señora del Rosario on October 7.

The Tambería de Guandacol

The Tambería de Guandacol is located two kilometers south of the town of the same name. It shows successive settlement phases from the Late Period (approx. 1300–1480 AD) and the Inca rule (approx. 1480–1660 AD). For historical context, the transition around 1480 AD is useful: it marks the change between the two settlement phases mentioned. Alongside the natural attractions and sites associated with Felipe Varela, this place offers its own archaeological focus.

Further context: Coronel Felipe Varela

Other regional themes can be explored within the broader destination of Coronel Felipe Varela. Talampaya Canyon can be explored on foot, by bicycle, on buses, or in 4x4 vehicles. Nighttime full-moon visits take place on five nights per month. Talampaya National Park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. In Villa Unión, the Iglesia Nuestra Señora Del Rosario is located in the center. It was built in 1895 on land donated by Don Honorato Guerrero, after a severe earthquake affected the entire province. Banda Florida, on the outskirts of Villa Unión, preserves adobe houses and old orchards. Within the broader destination of Coronel Felipe Varela, Vallecito Encantado is characterized by geoforms such as the Copa del Mundo and the Sombrero Mexicano; these names refer to distinctive shapes in the local landscape.

For the broader travel overview: Coronel Felipe Varela.