La Merced: History, Crafts and Regional Cuisine

Historic La Merced and its culture

La Merced brings together historic sites, regional crafts and local products. A striking landmark on the main square is the historic Casona Wilfrido Figueroa. It dates from the end of 1884 and was restored in July 2024 after more than 70 years of neglect. Today, it has been transformed into the Paclín Technological and Cultural Center. Its story thus leads from a 19th-century building to a new cultural purpose.

Guided tours of the Casona are available Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., as well as on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. If you are interested in the history of the place, you can make the tour a focus of your stay. The Chapel of the Virgen del Rosario is also one of La Merced’s attractions.

Another historic landmark is the Casa del Artesano. It is housed in a historic building opposite the main square. Leatherwork and basket weaving are also practiced in La Merced. Its cultural appeal therefore includes not only historic buildings but also craft traditions. If you enjoy discovering different sides of a place when you travel, you can make room for two distinct themes: architecture and crafts.

Regional products and culinary traditions

Regional sweets and preserves are made in La Merced. Homemade cheeses and Quesillos are also produced locally. These products lend the local cuisine distinctive, place-specific touches. Together with the crafts, they offer a picture of everyday life and traditions that goes beyond a visit to historic buildings.

Pimientos de Paclín, too, are a local product associated with a gastronomic festival celebrating the identity and flavors of Catamarca. The 36th Festival del Pimiento was scheduled for Saturday, February 14, 2026, in La Merced, in the Paclín Department. This date is part of the town’s event history: it is a specific past occasion, not an indication of a future event date.

Excursions in the surrounding area

If you would like to include a hike alongside your cultural activities, Laguna Escondida, near La Merced, offers a 7-kilometer circular hike. The tour is listed as taking four hours and having a moderate difficulty level. These details can help you include the excursion as a distinct activity in your travel plans, rather than confusing it with sightseeing in town.

The Túneles de La Merced are also located near La Merced and are described as a historic gorge experience with panoramic views and nature interpretation trails. The hike at Laguna Escondida and the gorge experience offer different ways to explore the area: one is a circular hike with a stated distance, duration and difficulty, while the other is a historic natural area with views and interpretation trails. When choosing your destination, you can consider whether you would prefer to focus on local history, regional culture or nature experiences.

When choosing a holiday rental in La Merced, the kind of trip you have in mind can be a helpful starting point: in town, the focus is on history, crafts and regional products; for nature experiences, excursions in the surrounding area are an option. Paclín’s tourism office is based in La Merced.

More town pages to help plan your trip: Cerro Negro, Tinogasta, Coneta, San Fernando Del Valle De Catamarca, Las Mojarras.

Back to the main travel overview: Catamarca.