Full of landscapes, reserves and wineries, this province is one of the favorite destinations for tourists to disconnect from routine.
18:51 | Thursday June 20, 2024 | La Rioja, Argentina | Fenix Multiplatform
Along with the Flag Day holiday, the June long weekend began, since Friday the 21st was declared a long weekend holiday for tourist purposes. In this sense, one of the favorite destinations of tourists in recent months is the province of La Rioja, which has several offers to enjoy its landscapes.
With the aim of taking the tourism sector as the axis of public policy, and promoting the development of its activity, the Government of La Rioja launched the Movete por La Rioja program. Prepared by the Ministry of Tourism in conjunction with the private sector, this tourism program includes benefits for those who visit the province: up to 50% discount on long-distance bus tickets, 3×2 in accommodations and, with the advance purchase of accommodation or tourist package in La Rioja, for a minimum of two nights, you can access points to exchange them for hundreds of gastronomic and adventure experiences.
In relation to the discount of up to 50% on long-distance micro tickets, it will be applied to tickets to La Rioja, from the companies Flecha Bus and Gral. Urquiza. This promotion will be valid for round-trip tickets with a closed date, and will be valid during May and June 2024. If the ticket is for Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, the discount will be 50%, while if it is for Mondays , Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays the discount will be 40%.
On the other hand, with the 3×2 promotion on accommodation, Movete por La Rioja invites tourists to contract 3 nights of accommodation and pay only 2. This promotion will be valid until December 31, 2024, and will not be valid for long weekends or high seasons.
Finally, all those people who travel to the province of La Rioja between May 1 and July 31, 2024, and prove the trip with the purchase and reservation of accommodation and/or tourist package with a minimum of two nights accommodation, will receive points to redeem on the Movete por La Rioja website. Points can be exchanged for lunches, dinners and breakfasts in restaurants, tourist excursions, visits to wineries, purchases of regional products and accommodation. 50% of purchases made will be refunded, with a limit of up to $100,000 pesos.
Likewise, the province launched new promotional lines aimed at provincial tourism. These initiatives were presented during an event in which the Minister of Tourism and Culture, Gustavo Luna, highlighted their importance in a national context of transformations.
It should be noted that these financing lines proposed by the CFI offer loans with rates subsidized by the provincial government, reaching up to a 50% subsidy and an annual rate of 20% for the beneficiary. These loans, backed by FOGAPLAR and Banco Rioja, have a maximum limit of up to 120 million pesos and are aimed specifically at the tourism sector.
What to visit in La Rioja
Among the favorite destinations of tourists in La Rioja is the Talampaya National Park. This Park is home to a wide range of mammal ancestors, as well as vestiges of dinosaurs and plants, which illustrate the evolution of vertebrates and the characteristics of the paleoenvironments of the Triassic period. Together with Ischigualasto they make up the most complete continental set of fossils in the world.
The protected area was created as a Provincial Park in 1975 and became a National Park in 1997. Since 2000 it has also been a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Talampaya is located at km 59 of National Route 76. This area allows access to the imposing Talampaya canyon and marvel at its enormous reddish walls, geoforms and petroglyphs. The reddish color of the earth that gives this valley a lunar appearance contrasts with the heights of the foothills to the west and the majestic snow-capped Famatina to the north, preparing the traveler to live an unforgettable experience.
Another favorite destination to spend this long weekend is the Laguna Blanca Provincial Reserve, which consists of an area of 405 thousand hectares located at more than 3 thousand meters high and surrounded by some of the highest peaks in the Cordillera. of the Andes. It has approximately 400 inhabitants and includes a provincial reserve about 450 kilometers from the city of San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca.
Its colorful landscape features high-altitude saline lagoons that protect species of endemic or threatened aquatic birds, such as flamingos and parinas. The best known are Laguna Brava and Laguna de Mulas Muertas.
A classic of the province is the famous Rioja wine, so tourists can also choose to visit different wineries to enjoy the wine experience offered by the provincial government. One of the most acclaimed is the Chañarmuyo Winery and Guest House. This winery, located in the city of Chañarmuyo, Famatina, has accommodation and guided tours for tourists who reserve in advance at 380-154278010. If accommodation is reserved, the guided tour will be completely free. Visits are from Monday to Saturday at 11:30, and tourists must appear 15 minutes before the Guest House.
The visit to the winery includes a tasting of the best regional wines, highlighting its classic Chañarmuyo Malbec, ruby red in color and soft aromas of red fruits, with notes of violets and mint. It also sells handcrafted products and country clothing.
On the other hand, the Valle de la Puerta Estate and Winery also has a guided tour, which culminates with tastings and sales of both wines and olive oils. Visitors will be able to enjoy the grills available, as well as the possibility of touring the vineyards by car or bicycle. You must reserve in advance by calling 03825-490085, and choose a time between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
The specialty of this winery is the Ichanka Estate line, whose wines stand out for their great flavor, depth and elegance. Among them, Torrontés offers a fresh, dry flavor with a crisp acidity that lifts the citrus, apple and pineapple flavors and reveals a subtle muscat character.
