Catamarca Province, with a surface of 102.602 square kilometres, is situated in the north east region of Argentina, and its limits are: in the North, Salta Province; To the east The provinces of Tucuman and Santiago del Estero; to the south the provinces of Cordoba and La Rioja; and to the west the Republic of Chile, with the Andes Mountain range as boundary.

The province offers a wide variety of scenary, high mountains and peaks, rocky valleys, rivers dikes and lakes. Throughout its territory remains of a rich arqueological and artistic past can be found. There are thermal waters, adventure tourism and mountaineering. There is rural tourism where you can visit and stay at antique but reconditioned houses, and go horse riding, trecking, visit the faros and take part in folklore guitar sessions while enjoying typical regional food, homemade breads and jams, and enjoy nature to its full.

Watched over by peak ‘El Manchao’ (4.400 meters above sea level) sight-seeing in the region of Ambato join a circuit of picturesque tourist villages. Good areas for tough pastimes, like mountain biking, gliding and all kinds of water sports:

Sightseeing and settlements of the heights: Situated in the Andes region, the heights is the most unpopulated region on Earth, but also one of the most enigmatic and surprising. Set at more than 3,500 meters above sea level, it is one of the most virgin areas of Catamarca and Argentina. Among its volcanic history there are several cones of 600 meters or more, lava fields, and peaks with dunes ideal for 4X4, mountain biking, mountaineering, photographic safaris, and height fishing

To the north east of the Argentine Territory is what is known as the chaquenian region, which covers some 40% of the country’s total surface, almost a million hectares which include the south east of Bolivia and Paraguay and the southwest of Brazil. The Argentina part includes the provinces of Formosa, Chaco, the east of Salta, parts of Santiago del Estero, Santa Fe, Tucumán and Córdoba. Chaco is the ancient habitat of tobas, mocovies, abipones, wichis, lules and vilelas aborigines, and was also the site where European conquerors settled at first in what later became Argentina

It is an extensive plain, humid with lots of bogs and lakes and has a subtropical climate where summer temperatures can reach 48ºC and annual rainfall can be 800mm usually in the summer
Rivers that flow in the region are the Salado, Pilcomayo Paraná and Paraguay.

Within Chaco is the Chaco National Park, 15.000 hectares which includes the Chaco forest and lakes which in former times were the curves of the rivers. Forestal reserves in the area are based on conserving the ‘quebracho’ (literally axe breaker) plantations – a very hard red wood, which grows to 20 meters in height and 1.5 in diameter. It is a wood that doesn’t rot, and is often used in railway sleepers , posts for lighting, and has a tannin extract used in leatherwork. Over exploitation in XX century has destroyed the main natural source of the region. The region also has palm trees, laurel, oak and climber plants and spiky bushes. Termite and pruning ants consume this type of vegetation and undergrowth which in turn are eaten by armadillos and the ant eater. (PICTURE) There are many other animals in the region, foxes, skunks, pumas, snakes, flamingos, reptiles, some in danger of extinction due to over cutting back the forests, and indiscriminate hunting. In an attempt to convert the forest in arable land when 5 million hectares were cleared, it ended up being an almost sterile thorn pit.

The Thermal waters of Roque Saenz Peña are considered among the best in the country being thermal, mineral, and medicinal having a great positive action on the human organism.
There are wild life reserves where animals, reptiles, birds, trees and bushes are protected. There is also a wild animal recuperation centre, which houses, cures and returns to their natural habitat animals, involved in accidents and natural phenomena and controlling against illegal hunting and capture

The capital of Chaco Province is Resistencia, a city of art, as its streets and parks are adorned with statues in stone, wood or bronze and paintings often with a European influence, with the international sculpture show in July being its main attraction

The same colouring elements were used to make tattoos and paint their belongings, often without a gloss. Water was heated up with the colouring element and the fibres submerged in that. The Spaniards soon learned that there was anew market in this and began to export techniques and tones back to the old world

The Andes region: made up of 7 Andes towns surrounded by 12 lakes and is well known for it mountain activities especially the ski centre "La Hoya", and for its Protected Nature Areas in the Andes forest, for its lovely trip on the historic vapour train "La trochita". It also has two National Parks .Activities include 4x4 excursions , adventure tourism circuits and the famous fly fishing, as well as hundreds of other activities and cultural outings where the original settlers play an important part to make this a unique journey.

Peninsula Valdes Region: where the Nature Protected Áreas fill us with emotion with the whale sightings, millions of penguins, sea wolves and sea elephants among others. All this in a region where the Welsh customs are still active with their delightful arquitecture and museums showing of undersea life and the history of dinosaurs. You can visit the many Tea houses and have a traditional Welsh tea served by Welsh people

   

Central Region: Many lakes, ideal for fishing and photographic safaris for nature lovers. You can see cave art, actual places where dinosaurs lived and visit the Nature protected area “ Petrified Wood” as well as buggy rides.