Two roads shape how people navigate Los Sauces: Provincial Route 90, also known as the Productive Corridor, runs through the district from north to south. Provincial Route 93, also known as Ezequiel Tabanera, runs from west to east. There is also a clear distinction between the concentrated urban area and the rural, agro-productive district.

Villa Margarita and the History of the Town

The urban area is concentrated in the 16-hectare Villa Margarita neighborhood. The rest of the district is rural and agro-productive, covering approximately 4,150 hectares. When determining where you’ll be staying, it is therefore important to know whether a location refers to Villa Margarita or to the district as a whole.

The town was established in the 1950s on the grounds of what was then Finca Bascuñán. Juan Casales donated land for the settlement and named it Villa Margarita after his wife. The town’s origins thus connect the neighborhood’s name with its founding and the former estate.

Another example of rural architecture is Finca Ogawa: built more than 80 years ago, it has now been fully restored in the traditional rural style. Its age and restoration give the estate a specific place in descriptions of Los Sauces’ rural character.

Regional Highlights in the Tunuyán Department

Activities in the Tunuyán Department range from crossing the Andes to climbing and trekking. The crossing via Paso Portillo Piuquenes can be made on horseback or on foot. Alpine-style climbing takes place at Cajón de Arenales, while trekking is done on Cerro Punta Negra. The options therefore vary by activity and mode of travel; for the crossing, two ways of getting around are explicitly available.

One cultural and historical attraction in the Tunuyán Department is Parque Temático Sanmartiniano. Its biographical San Martín trail covers the return of General José de San Martín to Argentina in 1823. The park is also home to the educational program “Viaje por la historia y naturaleza de los Chacayes.” It has been held in the Tunuyán Department since 2019 and welcomes hundreds of children, teachers, mothers, and fathers each year. The park’s visitor area is open free of charge; the park is located in Manzano Histórico on Provincial Route 94.

The Museo Arqueológico y de Ciencias Naturales in the Tunuyán Department explores other subjects: the Indigenous past, as well as native flora and fauna. The Museo Municipal Retorno a la Patria has four themed rooms and offers guided or self-guided visits. On November 13, 2019, Monumento Retorno a la Patria was declared a National Historic Monument by Decree 769/2019.

For wine enthusiasts, Bodega Enzo Bianchi in the Tunuyán Department offers a vineyard tour, a winery tour, and a wine tasting. Visits are offered Thursday through Monday and on public holidays, with a confirmed reservation made in advance. Check the details before your trip.

A recurring cultural event in the Tunuyán Department is the La Tonada National Festival. It takes place every February in Lombardia Park on the Río Tunuyán, celebrates folk music, and draws thousands of people. If you would like to plan your trip around the event, check the dates for that year’s festival.

Discover more destinations: Vista Flores, Colonia Las Rosas and Estancia La Pampa.

For the broader travel guide: Tunuyán Department.