Colalao del Valle lies in the Calchaquí Valley at kilometer 4,308 of National Route 40. Winegrowing and festivals offer concrete points of reference when choosing the destination: the vineyards are part of Tucumán’s Ruta del Vino de Altura, and the Fiesta del Ponchi honors a drink popular in the valley. Luna de Cuarzo also offers a seasonal opportunity to pick fruit yourself. Those interested in these themes can consider them as different ways of experiencing the place.

Winegrowing and seasonal harvests

The vineyards of Colalao del Valle are part of Tucumán’s Ruta del Vino de Altura; Bodega Chico Zossi produces high-altitude wines. This gives the destination a double connection to wine: the vineyards’ place on a named route and Chico Zossi’s production of high-altitude wines. At Luna de Cuarzo, visitors can pick fruit themselves during the season. Here, the focus shifts from winegrowing to a specific seasonal activity. If you are weighing up both options, the difference matters for planning: fruit picking is seasonal, so it should not be treated as a year-round offering.

Festivals and culinary connections

The Fiesta del Ponchi is celebrated every July and honors a drink popular in the valley. It is made with aguardiente, sugar, cinnamon and beaten egg. This gives the festival a specific culinary connection alongside winegrowing. The Fiesta del Antigal is an old celebration associated with the region’s Indigenous peoples. The two festivals have different emphases: the Ponchi festival centers on a drink and its annual July date, while the Antigal festival focuses on its connection to the region’s Indigenous peoples. If you are planning your trip around the Fiesta del Ponchi, bear in mind that it takes place annually in July, and check the specific event dates before booking.

Archaeology and landscape in Tafí Del Valle Department

The wider Tafí Del Valle Department is home to a separate archaeological highlight, the Ciudad Sagrada de Quilmes. The site was restored in the 1970s and includes reconstructed residential areas, agricultural terraces, a hilltop fortress and defensive structures on the sides. Next to the archaeological site is the Centro de Interpretación de Quilmes, which enhances the visit with four educational spaces. Visual, auditory and tactile media introduce visitors to the Quilmes’ origins, daily life, customs and displacement.

The Museo Arqueológico a Cielo Abierto Los Menhires in El Mollar is also in Tafí Del Valle Department. It displays around 124 shaped, elongated stones, up to three meters tall and more than 2,000 years old. The Parque Provincial Los Ñuñorcos and the Reserva Natural Quebrada del Portugués also shape the department’s regional landscape and archaeological context. The hills of Ñuñorco Grande and Ñuñorco Chico formed part of the old Inca road; archaeological sites are located there. The Reserva Quebrada del Portugués was established in 1996 to preserve the area’s natural and cultural heritage.

Discover more destinations: Tafí Del Valle, San Pedro De Colalao, San Miguel De Tucumán

Go to the overview of the wider travel region: Tucumán.