Ruins of Quilmes, Archaeological site in Calchaquí Valleys, Argentina.
The settlement stretches across terraced buildings, defense structures, stone walls, and agricultural areas on the eastern slope of Alto Rey Mountain at 1,850 meters elevation.
The Quilmes people inhabited this settlement from 800 CE until 1665, when Spanish forces led by Francisco Mercado y Villacorta defeated the native population.
The settlement features an interpretation center with four exhibition rooms displaying artifacts, visual displays, and educational materials about the indigenous Quilmes civilization.
The archaeological complex opens daily for guided tours, located 20 kilometers from Amaicha del Valle and 180 kilometers from San Miguel de Tucumán.
The buildings were constructed in deep pits below ground level to protect inhabitants from extreme weather conditions, with walls extending upward to support lightweight roofs.
GPS coordinates: -26.46381,-66.03796
Latest update: May 27, 2025 08:51
Argentina extends across multiple climate zones and contains numerous geological formations. The country encompasses high mountain ranges in the Andes, salt flats in the northwest, rock formations in Patagonia, and extensive grasslands. These areas display the region's geological history and the adaptation of human settlements to different environments. The sites include volcanic craters, thermal springs, canyons, and historic villages. Many of these locations lie away from main routes and require several hours of travel. The regions document pre-Columbian cultures, colonial history, and traditional ways of life that continue today.
The Argentine landscape offers far more than its well-known urban centers. In the northwest, geological formations like Quebrada de las Conchas with its red sandstone cliffs and Talampaya National Park with its eroded canyons draw visitors. Quebrada de Humahuaca displays layers from millions of years of geological history, while Purmamarca sits at the base of the multicolored Cerro de los Siete Colores. Further north, Antofagasta de la Sierra allows access to high-altitude deserts and salt lakes. The Andes shape western Argentina with varied landscapes. The Uspallata Valley serves as a passage between Mendoza and Chile. In Patagonia, the granite spires of Monte Fitz Roy rise above glaciated valleys, while Los Alerces National Park protects ancient alerce trees and crystalline lakes. Villa Traful and Nahuel Huapi National Park show the Patagonian lake district with forested shores and volcanic peaks. Archaeological sites and nature reserves complete these remote destinations. Cueva de las Manos preserves prehistoric rock art from more than 9,000 years ago. The Ruinas de Quilmes mark a pre-Columbian settlement in the Andes. Bosques Petrificados de Jaramillo contains fossilized araucaria trees from the Jurassic period. The Esteros del Iberá form one of South America's largest wetlands, home to caimans, capybaras and over 350 bird species. La Cumbrecita offers hiking trails through alpine forests in the Sierras de Córdoba, while Gaiman preserves the Welsh colonial history of Patagonia.
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