In Santa Bárbara Department, forest landscapes, wildlife watching, and cultural traces shape the region. Las Lancitas Provincial Nature Reserve encompasses Yungas and Chaco landscapes, as well as extensive forest areas. Visitors can observe numerous animal species there, including species that are rare elsewhere in the province. El Fuerte also has a special connection to birdlife: it is home to the region’s largest concentration of Loro Alisero, which can be seen in large, noisy flocks.
Forests, Water and Viewpoints
Las Lancitas protects a large part of the watersheds of the Santa Rita and Valdivia streams. Their water supplies Palma Sola with drinking water and provides irrigation for local farmland. The reserve is therefore defined not only by its forests and wildlife, but also by the waterways that are important to the town and its agriculture.
The viewpoints offer views of different landscapes. From Loma de la Cruz, the panorama extends across El Fuerte and parts of the Sierras de Centinela. Cerro Mirador de Palma Sola overlooks the town, the surrounding farmland, the Real de los Toros area, and RP 25; the Maíz Gordo mountain range can be seen in the background.
RP 25 from Palma Sola is also marked by a change in vegetation: at first, it passes through xerophytic woodland. As it enters the Maíz Gordo mountain range, this gives way to dense subtropical forest. The route thus highlights the contrast between the two types of landscape.
Trails, Waterfalls and River Landscapes
The El Angosto, El Mangrullo, and Miradores visitor trails opened in Las Lancitas Provincial Nature Reserve in January 2025. A description published in December 2024 notes that Miradores was designed for people with reduced mobility and blind visitors. Before visiting, check whether your chosen trail is currently accessible.
Cascada de El Fuerte is also known as Cascada La Colorada. It is located 13 kilometers south of El Fuerte and 150 meters from the road. Along the Río Maíz Gordo, there are also places to swim and photograph the surrounding forest landscape. Check locally which areas are accessible.
History and Cultural Heritage
The Antiguo Fuerte, also called Presidio de Santa Bárbara, was built in the 18th century as a colonial defensive fort. Leatherworking is also part of El Fuerte’s cultural heritage; a description of the town published in December 2023 includes it among the local traditions.
An older archaeological trace can be found at the Abra de los Morteros site. It belongs to the San Francisco culture and dates from 800 BCE to 500 CE. The site contains large stones with hollows used for grinding corn. The fort and the stones, with their signs of working, offer insight into different historical traces of the region.
The Festival del Caballo Criollo, Coleto y Guardamonte also combines cultural performances with crafts. A 2023 description gives the second Saturday in January as the date and lists gaucho performances, Chaco folk music, and wood and leather crafts on the program. The Feria de Gastronomía Regional is associated with the festival. Check for current dates and programs before your trip.
Hot Springs and Getting There
The Termas del Palmar de Lambrisca are located at an altitude of 850 meters on the western slope of the Sierra de Santa Bárbara. Their hyperthermal water produces visible steam at each spring. The visible steam reveals the springs’ geothermal character.
Palma Sola can be reached via RN 66 and RN 34, followed by RP 1 and RP 6. Check road conditions locally before setting out. Those interested in the surrounding area can consider the viewpoints, forest landscapes, trails, and cultural sites as different starting points for planning their trip.
Discover more destinations: Palma Sola, Palpalá, Palpalá, San Pedro Department, Valle Grande Department, Doctor Manuel Belgrano Department, Ledesma Department, Tumbaya Department.
Return to the main travel overview: Jujuy.
