Villa La Punta combines clear streams and rolling hills with a range of nature and outdoor activities. Trekking is one option; the area is also considered attractive to hikers and mountain bikers. When planning your trip, you can first decide which kind of activity you want to shape your stay. The landscape, named trails and cultural connections offer different focal points, without prescribing a single fixed itinerary.
Trails and scenic spots
A hiking trail in Villa La Punta leads to Cerro de la Cruz. A spring emerges from beneath a rock in Quebrada de la Chilca and is known as “piedra que llora.” The ravine can be reached on horseback. Cerro is named as a hiking destination, while Quebrada is the site of the spring; there is also the option of reaching the ravine on horseback. This offers a choice of different natural attractions.
Getting there and regional location
From the provincial capital of Santiago del Estero, you can reach Villa La Punta via National Route 64, followed by Provincial Route 24. The town is 92 km from the provincial capital. The route and distance provide practical guidance for your journey; choose the focus of your stay based on whether you would like to explore the trails, the landscape or the cultural connections in particular.
Villa La Punta in the Choya Department
Within the broader destination of Choya Department, Villa La Punta lies on the eastern slope of the Sierras de Guasayán. The landscape of Choya Department features lush greenery, clear streams and gently rolling sierras. The area within a five-kilometre radius of Villa La Punta was declared a provincial nature reserve; the protected area associated with Villa La Punta offers walks and horseback rides. Choya Department also has walking and riding trails from Villa La Punta to nearby ravines and places such as Pozo de Leiva.
Culture and religious traditions
In Choya Department, an image of the Virgen del Carmen, the patron saint of Villa La Punta, is located in Quebrada de la Chilca at the site known as “la piedra que llora.” The parish of Villa La Punta, dedicated to the Virgen, was founded in 1859. A chapel in honour of the Virgen del Carmen was built of stone in 1860 and replaced by a new church in 1944. During Holy Week, residents of Choya Department climb Cerro de la Cruz with torches, commemorating Jesus’ Way of the Cross to Calvary.
The festival in honour of the Virgen del Carmen in Villa La Punta is associated with 16 July, the day of the Virgen. The festival includes a procession on foot or on horseback, a food fair featuring regional dishes, music and folk dancing. If you would like to plan your stay around the celebration, check the current dates in advance.
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