In Departamento General Lamadrid, El Condado combines the character of a rural village with adobe architecture on historic buildings. The town is also linked to the settlement history of Villa Castelli: Villa Castelli’s first settlers made their home in El Condado. At the summit of El Condado stands the Capilla de la Virgen de la Merced, an important place of worship. El Condado thus brings together rural heritage, early settlement history, and religious heritage.
Archaeological Traces and Waterworks
The Reserva Cerro El Toro is a protected archaeological and natural site. It preserves significant remains of the Aguada culture: petroglyphs, terraces, galleries, and stone corrals. Petroglyphs are rock carvings. El TĂşnel has a different focus: this historic waterworks was built to supply the region with drinking water. Canals, sluice gates, and other structures remain in the El TĂşnel area, showing its importance for water distribution in the department. The two sites offer different insights: archaeological remains at one, and historic water supply at the other.
La Bajada is a natural formation of sedimentary rock and part of Villa Castelli’s adventure circuit. El Condado is well suited to walks, bike rides, and horseback rides.
Routes Through Quebrada del Yeso
Quebrada del Yeso is reached via El Condado on a paved road; from there, the route branches off into the riverbed. The route through Quebrada del Yeso is approximately 50 kilometers long; if you continue along the track, it connects with the route to Laguna Brava. The distance refers to the route through the quebrada; the paved road describes the access route as far as the turnoff. Check road conditions before setting out, as they can change.
Events in Villa Castelli
“Villa Castelli en Bici” is scheduled as a cycling tour in 2026. It combines cycling with history, striking landscapes, and vibrant culture, and takes place from September 6 to December 31, 2026, at the Cerro El Toro heritage site visitor center on Ruta Nacional N° 76, kilometer 154. The Mercado Cultural takes place at the same visitor center in Villa Castelli from September 4 to December 31, 2026. The Mercado Cultural period begins two days before the cycling tour, and both event periods end on December 31, 2026. Check the dates before your trip.
La Rioja as the Wider Destination
The wider destination of La Rioja offers other landscapes to explore. The Reserva Provincial Laguna Brava is a Ramsar wetland in the Andes of La Rioja Province, near the Chilean border. Talampaya National Park is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site; its red sandstone cliffs reach heights of up to 200 meters.
Regional offerings in La Rioja also include interpretive hikes in Hualco, where trails connect landscapes, archaeology, and cultural heritage. At Parque Provincial El ChiflĂłn, guided tours include the El Hongo geological formation. Cuesta de Miranda runs along a 114-kilometer stretch of Ruta 40 connecting Chilecito with General Felipe Varela; viewpoints offer opportunities to observe geological features as well as flora and fauna.
Discover more destinations: Departamento Rosario Vera Peñaloza, Arauco Department, Coronel Felipe Varela, Coronel Felipe Varela, Departamento General Juan Facundo Quiroga, Independencia, Departamento San Blas De Los Sauces, Famatina Department.
For the wider travel overview: La Rioja.
