With their elongated shapes and varying shades, Los Castillos de Villa Vil bring to mind the towers of Gothic castles. Wind and water have shaped this natural rock formation over millions of years. In Belén Department, landscapes, history and textile craftsmanship offer different focuses for visitors.

Rock formations and nature trails

At Los Castillos de Villa Vil, access is via marked trails and off-road vehicle tracks; the drive is with an authorized guide. The walking section is about five kilometers long and moderately difficult. You should therefore plan for both the off-road vehicle access and the walking section. Check the route and safety conditions locally.

In Londres, the El Chorro de Las Flores Amarillas trekking trail leads to a ten-meter-high waterfall. Along the way, visitors can learn about the local flora and fauna. Unlike the rock formations of Villa Vil, the focus here is on the waterfall and nature observation. As trail conditions can change, check them before your visit.

Inca history and historic sites in Londres

El Shincal de Quimivil in Londres was built by the Inca between 1471 and 1536. Historic churches also offer insight into the area's history: one preserves bells dating from 1607, while another houses an image of the Virgin Mary from 1797. The Museo Folklórico in Londres is located in an old mansion. The cultural themes therefore range from an Inca site and historic church artifacts to a museum in a former residence.

Textile craftsmanship along the Ruta del Telar

The Ruta del Telar is a cultural and productive circuit with 14 stops; participating craftspeople include some from Belén Department. In Londres, the route includes more than 30 family workshops. They showcase textiles made from vicuña, alpaca, llama and sheep wool. Across Belén Department, the Ruta del Telar includes more than 300 craftspeople who traditionally work on looms. These different figures show the breadth of the craft, from the circuit and family workshops to loom work. Confirm the participation of individual workshops locally.

Choose the right focus for your trip

When looking for hotels in Belén Department, your preferred focus can be a first filter: rock formations and guided off-road vehicle access in Villa Vil, trekking to the waterfall, or the archaeological, church and textile themes in Londres. The nature destinations also differ in their described character: Los Castillos focuses on rock formations and a moderately difficult walking section, while El Chorro centers on the waterfall and local flora and fauna. When planning your visit, take particular account of the authorized guide in Villa Vil, changing trail conditions at the waterfall and the local participation of workshops.

Discover more destinations: Belén, Ciénaga, Antofagasta De La Sierra Department, Ancasti Department, Santa María Department, El Alto Department, Paclín Department, Ambato Department

For the main travel overview: Catamarca.