Santa Catalina Department brings together a range of interests: the chapel and regional museum in Santa Catalina, Casira’s pottery tradition, and the Laguna de los Pozuelos Natural Monument, which extends across three departments. The topics therefore range from a specific place and traditional crafts to a landscape spanning a wider area.
Culture in Santa Catalina and Casira
The Capilla de Santa Catalina de Alejandría in Santa Catalina dates back to the 17th century. In the same town, the Museo Regional Epifanio Saravia is considered one of the main attractions. This places a religious building with a specific historical date alongside a regional museum regarded as important. If you include cultural sites in your travel plans, the chapel and museum offer two different points of interest in the same town.
Casira’s alfarería (pottery) is considered a body of inherited cultural knowledge passed on by master craftspeople in the community; it is both a means of work and a tradition. A seal of origin certifies the quality and originality of the pottery. In Casira, the focus is therefore on passing down knowledge and practicing a craft, while Santa Catalina offers a different cultural focus with its chapel and regional museum.
On August 15, a patron saint’s festival was held in Santa Catalina in honor of Señora de Chinchillas, featuring Samilantes, Sikuris and a religious procession. At the end of August, a procession in honor of Santa Rosa de Lima was held in Casira, accompanied by Sikuri bands. If you would like to include these festival dates in your travel plans, check the dates in advance.
Landscape and getting there
The Laguna de los Pozuelos Natural Monument extends across the departments of Rinconada, Santa Catalina and Yavi. Its geographical scope differs from that of the individual cultural sites in Santa Catalina and Casira: here, the area of interest spans three departments.
Santa Catalina can be reached via National Route No. 9 to La Quiaca, followed by Provincial Route No. 65. This route provides specific guidance for getting there. Road conditions can change, so check them before setting out.
Jujuy as a wider travel destination
Within the wider travel destination of Jujuy, the Quebrada de Humahuaca forms a 155-kilometer north–south corridor along the Inca Trail, with hundreds of archaeological and architectural sites. Jujuy’s cuisine is based on corn, potatoes, squash and quinoa, as well as llama, beef and pork; in the Quebrada de Humahuaca, visitors can try humitas, tamales, empanadas and cazuelas. High-altitude wines are produced in the temperate valleys and in the Quebrada.
Jujuy’s landscapes also include the Salinas Grandes. They are among the three most extensive salt flats in the world, cover 525 km² and lie at an average altitude of 3,350 meters. In Jujuy, Calilegua National Park protects more than 76,000 hectares of the Yungas ecoregion. At the Aguas Negras recreation area, the park offers camping for day and overnight stays, as well as trails of varying difficulty.
Discover more destinations: Santa Catalina, Palpalá, San Pedro Department, Santa Bárbara Department, Yavi, Tumbaya Department, San Antonio and Humahuaca Department.
Go to the main travel overview: Jujuy.
