What are and where are the best tourist towns in Argentina?

Winter holidays – or any other trip that one organizes during this time – can be a good opportunity to get to know some of the “best towns” in Argentina.

Los Best Tourism Villages It is an initiative that promotes ONU Turismo and? distinguishes towns from all over the planet with certain characteristics related to the number of inhabitants, tourism development and sustainability: By 2024 there are already eight Argentine towns nominated. We will have to wait until the end of the year to find out if any of them is the winner in a competition in which candidates from all continents participate.

But in addition, to these 8 candidate towns from Argentina, there are those that were distinguished in previous editions.

Here are some references to take into account when planning tours around the country and adding them to the attractions.

• Saldungaray (Buenos Aires)

It was founded by Don Pedro Saldungaray, it is in the southwest of the province of Buenos Aires100 km from Bahía Blanca and part of the tourist region of Sierra de la Ventana.

Among the must-sees, the architecture of Francisco Salamone stands out, which can be seen in some buildings. Among them, stands out the imposing Cemetery Portalfrom 1938. Its façade is 23 meters high and 43 meters wide.

There is also Bodega Saldungaray, with its wine tourism proposals, and the family-owned Camó Udi cheese factory.

• Urdinarrain (Entre Ríos)

it is in the Gualeguaychú departmentin a green and undulating landscape.

The origin of this town dates back to 1890, with the passage of the first train and the contribution of German, Italian, Russian, Polish, Jewish and Spanish immigrants who brought their culture, traditions and flavors.

For visitors there are four museums, self-guided historical circuits of faith, monuments and rural areas, river beaches with white sand and lots of nature. Agricultural-livestock-industrial and wine production, regional products (dairy, sweets, pickles) and crafts such as Creole rope, loom and wood are also added.

You are 178 kilometers from San Salvador de Jujuy and has 300 inhabitants. His fort is a great rock treasure and the story of a curious move related to his middle name, Abdón Castro Tolay.

Very close to the town, in the rock formations – or “ravines” -, there are Inca pictographs and petroglyphs, which can be accessed on a guided visit.

At 3,619 meters above sea level, these walls are tuffs and ignimbrites of volcanic origin.

The other history of the town and its name. Originally founded as Barrancas, it was later renamed Abdón Castro Tolay. It was a way to pay tribute to a rural teacher who promoted the transfer of the primary school (now School No. 279) from Paraje de Colorado.

The school moved… and the whole town.

• Caviahue-Copahue (Neuquén)

He was already nominated in 2022 and now that we are in the middle of the snow season, it is worth saying that this destination stands out for its ski center located in a forest of ancient araucarias. And it is also famous for its hot springs at the foot of the Copahue volcano.

Although the thermal center is closed in winter, there are excursions that allow you to get to know the Chancho lagoon.

Caviahue and Copahue are separated by 16 km, but both are located within the Copahue Provincial Parka protected natural area 370 kilometers from the city of Neuquén.

Adding to this attraction is that in the surrounding area, there are rural areas where Mapuche and Creole communities live, known for practicing transhumance (a type of grazing that is characterized by moving livestock – long distances – depending on the season).

It is 130 kilometers north of Córdoba capital, it is one of the oldest towns in the province and that is why it is said that it is an open-air museum.

Crossed by the Suncho River, Villa Tulumba was part of the Camino Real and in 1803 it became Villa Real by Royal Decree of Charles IV of Spain.

They are testimony of the colonial period its cobbled streets, the old streetlights and the churches such as Nuestra Señora del Rosario, built in 1882. You have to enter to see an old tabernacle, baroque style inside, in addition to the paintings by the artist Martín Santiago.

A walk through the town also allows you to see some mansions made with adobe from the 18th and 19th centuries.

Not to be missed are the Cuatro Esquinas and also Calle Real, which allows you to find facades of mansions from the 17th century. Among them, the House of the Reynafé: the Barranca Yaco massacre was planned there in 1835, which ended with the death of General Facundo Quiroga.

There are also cave paintings in Cerro Colorado, belonging to the Sanavirones, the original people of the area.

115 km from Posadas, on provincial route 103, in the Oberá department, this town has the title of First Ecological Municipality. What’s more, the Ecology Festival is celebrated here every year.

In an area of jumps and waterfallsrural tourism based on agrocamping stands out, with excursions to appreciate the richness of flora and fauna.

Proposals include bird watching, trekking, cycle tourism and canoeing.

Rural productive activities such as grass, tea, and forestry are also developed.

Very close to the Cordillera130 kilometers from the capital city of Mendoza, Los Chacayes is part of the Tunuyán department and the Uco Valley, a vineyard area.

One of its icons is the Historic Manzano Natural Reservethe place that treasures a sapling of the tree where General José de San Martín rested on his return from the Liberating feat.

The National Monument “Return to the Homeland” bears the signature of the sculptor Luis Perlotti.

It is welsh village of 8,000 inhabitants, 36 km from Rawson and 80 km from Puerto Madryn, it is a trip to the past and, especially, to Welsh culture.

Gaiman It was already among the “best towns” nominated in 2023 for its architectural heritage, its rural and urban landscape and the traditional tea houses that are a hallmark of identity.

Chosen among the best tourist towns in the 2021 edition, Caspalá is in the department of Valle Grande, 10 km from Santa Ana and 240 km from San Salvador de Jujuy. It has 500 inhabitants.

In the middle of a mountainous relief, it is 3,100 meters above sea level.

Among its attractions is the Santa Rosa de Lima Church, built in the 1840s by Don Tomás Coronel.

They say that both bronze bells Like the image of the town’s patron saint, they were brought from Peru. A date to keep in mind: every August 30, Caspalá celebrates its patron saint’s day.

In the 2022 edition, Trevelin was chosen to be part of the “Upgrade” program, of the Best Tourism Villages to strengthen different issues so that tourism becomes an engine of development and well-being for the local community.

This town of just over 9,000 inhabitants is famous for its spectacular tulip fieldits proximity to Los Alerces National Park, its Welsh heritage and also because it has its own Wine Route with vineyards.

In the heart of the Sierras Centrales de San Luis, La Carolina has colonial architecture, a unique natural environment and cobblestone streets that hold a lot of history: it was the epicenter of the gold rush in Argentina during the 18th and 19th centuries.

It was recognized in 2023 by UN Tourism as one of the best tourist towns in the world.

It is 80 km from the provincial capital along provincial route 9, and 180 km from Villa de Merlo. And it has 300 inhabitants, 1,300 meters long and two streets wide.

Today visitors can take a walk inside the mines with excursions in which they are given helmets with a flashlight and rubber boots. They also invite you to learn how to look for gold in the river from a local guide.

• 2021 Candidates: Trevelin (Chubut) and Concepción del Yaguareté Cora (Corrientes), in addition to Caspalá in Jujuy, who was the winner.

• 2022 Candidates: The three candidates who presented themselves to the UNWTO were Trevelin (Chubut), Caviahue-Copahue (Neuquén) and San Francisco de Alfarcito (Jujuy).

• 2023 Candidates: Gaiman (Chubut), Laguna Blanca (Catamarca), Los Antiguos (Santa Cruz), Tolhuin (Tierra del Fuego), Villa Traful (Neuquén), Yavi (Jujuy) and La Carolina, in San Luis, which was the winning town.