The BEST of Travel in TUCUMAN 🌵🦙 Epic Day Trip Visiting Ruins 🧶🥟 Argentina’s Best-Kept Secret! 🚗🌄🇦🇷

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Today we're showing you the best of travel in Tucuman as we visit the smallest province in Argentina! In this whirlwind tour, we’ll experience a myriad of landscapes ranging from lush jungles to arid deserts, we’ll come across mysterious monolithic stone carvings, we’ll sample some of the famous deli meats and cheeses this region is known for, we’ll stand under the shade of an 800-year-old cactus, we’ll devour some delicious empanadas, and we’ll also visit some of the largest pre-Columbian ruins in all of South America.

Tucuman may be small, but it is packed with unique attractions. So we invite you to come along and experience some of the highlights Tucuman has to offer!

Places we visited in Tucuman:

🌿 Monumento al Indio 🌿

This 6-metre tall monument is located on the road to Tafi del Valle and it represents the 'chasqui' meaning 'messenger' in the Quechua language. This is a popular roadside stop where you get sweeping views of the valley, plus there's also a roadside market where you can grab a snack or pick up a few souvenirs.

🪨 Los Menhires 🪨

This is a collection of 50 carved stones that were found scattered across the valley, and were then moved to an archaeological reserve in the town of El Mollar. These megaliths were created by the Tafi culture and they feature human faces, llamas, and symbols of fertility.

🧶 Tafí del Valle 🧶

The town of Tafi del Valle is a popular destination for anyone travelling through the province of Tucuman. The town is very walkable and it has an abundance of artisanal shops, so it's a great place to shop for souvenirs; you'll find clay pots, hand-woven baskets and textiles. The town is also known for its cheese festival, so we had to buy (and try) some of their chimichurri cheese.

🔥 Mirador el Infiernillo 🔥

Mirador el Infiernillo translates to the 'lookout to hell'. A bit of a dramatic name, but it is located at an altitude of 3,042 metres above sea level, so maybe whoever named this place wasn’t feeling their best (hello altitude sickness!) This is the highest traversable pass in the province, so we stopped to take photos.

🌵Grandfather Cactus 🌵

The grandfather cactus is an 800-year-old cactus that sits in the middle of the valley. Apparently, this type of cactus (cardón) only grows between 1-1.5 centimetres per year, and this one stands over 8 metres tall, so it's considered the grandfather of all the other cacti in the area. The landscape here is dry and arid.

🥟 Amaicha del Valle 🥟

This town marked our lunch stop of the day. We ate at a restaurant called Warmy Sonkoy, on the side of the road. We ordered humitas, tamales and empanadas, as you do when you're travelling in northern Argentina! It was a tasty and filling meal before continuing on with our day tour across Tucuman.

🦙 Quilmes 🦙

The Sacred City of Quilmes is located in the Calchaquí Valleys and it was the site of the largest pre-Hispanic settlement in all of Argentina. Dating back to 850 AD, this site occupied 30 hectares, and at its height, about 5,000 people lived here. The Quilmes were exiled by the Spanish in a dramatic exodus where they were forced to walk 1,200 kilometres across the country to Buenos Aires. Few survived and those who did later succumbed to diseases that were unknown to them.

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Tucumán, Argentina: Epic Day Trip – Ruins of Quilmes, Jungles, Empanadas & Ancient Wonders 🌵🏛️

Welcome to Tucumán: Argentina’s Best-Kept Secret! 🚗🌄

Hello everyone! In today’s video, we’re taking you on a whirlwind day trip across Tucumán, Argentina—the country’s smallest province, yet packed with incredible attractions, landscapes, and culture. From mysterious monoliths and ancient ruins to lush jungles, desert vistas, mouthwatering empanadas, and giant cacti, this episode is all about adventure and discovery. Whether you’re a history buff, a foodie, or a nature lover, there’s something for everyone in Tucumán!

Ruins of Quilmes: Argentina’s Sacred City of Stone 🏛️⛰️
After lunch, we visit the awe-inspiring Ruins of Quilmes, the largest pre-Colombian settlement in Argentina, dating back to 850 AD. Once home to 5,000 people and covering 30 hectares, these ruins represent centuries of resistance against the Inca and later the Spanish. Despite 140 years of Spanish attempts, the Quilmes only fell after a brutal siege cut off their water and food. The survivors were marched 1,200 km to Buenos Aires—only 150 survived the journey—and the neighborhood of Quilmes was named in their honor. Today, the stone walls, defensive positions, and mountain backdrop tell a powerful story of survival and loss.

The BEST of Travel in TUCUMAN 🌵 | Visiting the SMALLEST PROVINCE in Argentina! 🇦🇷

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