Day Trip to the Cuesta de Miranda + La Mexicana Mine

Have you ever wondered what gold mining was like in the 19th century? Join us on this excursion to the Cuesta de Miranda and La Mexicana Mine in La Rioja, where you'll uncover the secrets of gold and other precious metals found in this region.

Description

We will pick you up from your hotel in Villa Unión at the scheduled time, beginning our journey in an offroading vehicle along the National Route 40.

This road stretches from the south to the north of western Argentina, leading to the winding Cuesta de Miranda. We will make several stops to admire the sierras from various viewpoints. After enjoying the views, we will drive to Famatina, where you can have lunch on your own.

After lunch, our offroading continues along a mountain road to the Sierra de Famatina, where we will see the Pesebre and Ocre canyons. The Ocre canyon is notable for its yellowish hue.

Our next stop will be at an altitude of 4,200 meters (13,780 feet) at the La Mexicana Mine, a key site for gold and silver mining in La Rioja during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

At this historic mining site, you will learn about the methods used to extract precious metals and the history of the cable car system that transported gold and silver to Chilecito.

After visiting the La Mexicana Mine, we will return to your Villa Unión hotel, with an estimated arrival time of 12 hours after pick-up.