Guandacol offers clear access from Ruta 40 alongside historical and scenic attractions. The town is very close to the border with San Juan Province, at kilometer 3728 of Ruta Nacional 40, on the La Troya River. Guandacol is also part of a travel route along Ruta 40 through La Rioja, which includes the former home of Felipe Varela, one of the region’s most prominent caudillos, as a featured stop. This means you can consider the town both as a destination with attractions of its own and as part of a longer route itinerary.
Archaeological traces and local attractions
Tambería de Guandacol is located two kilometers south of the town of the same name. The site shows successive settlements from the Late Period (c. 1300–1480 AD) and the Inca rule (c. 1480–1660 AD). These periods show that this archaeological landmark is not limited to a single era. Another historic landmark is the Casa de Felipe Varela in Guandacol, which is designated as an indirect stamping point on the national Sanmartiniano Pass. The San Nicolás parish lists the feast of Nuestra Señora del Rosario on October 7. If you would like to plan your trip around this feast, check the current dates in advance.
Attractions in Guandacol include Vallecito Encantado, the Cerro Bola Natural Monument, the Dunas del Cura Shimpa, and the Quebrada El Alazán. Other local landmarks include El Olivo Histórico, the Iglesia de San Nicolás, the Distrito Minero de los Nacimientos, and the ruins of Felipe Varela’s ranch. The range of themes extends from archaeological settlements and religious sites to scenic destinations and historic places of remembrance. You can therefore choose what to see in Guandacol based on the themes that interest you most, rather than viewing the town merely as a point on Ruta 40.
Within the wider destination of Coronel Felipe Varela
The Cañón de Talampaya adds to the regional context: you can explore it by bus or 4x4 vehicle, on foot, by bicycle, or at night during a full moon. Nighttime full-moon visits take place on five nights per month. Parque Nacional Talampaya was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. Villa Unión also has its own historic highlights. There, the Iglesia Nuestra Señora del Rosario was built in 1895 on land donated by Don Honorato Guerrero, after a severe earthquake had affected the entire province. Banda Florida, on the outskirts of Villa Unión, preserves adobe houses and old orchards.
Search for accommodation based on your main destination
If your itinerary focuses mainly on regional destinations such as the Cañón de Talampaya, also search using the name Coronel Felipe Varela. This lets you align your accommodation search with the main focus of your trip and distinguish between Guandacol and the wider destination.
For the wider travel overview: Coronel Felipe Varela.
