San Antonio

In San Antonio, a strong Quesillo tradition meets a wide variety of hiking experiences. You can get to know the town through its regional cuisine and culture, or combine your trip with trails to waterfalls and viewpoints. When choosing your holiday apartment, it is therefore worth first considering whether you want to focus mainly on local life and regional specialities or on longer hikes.

Quesillo, regional cuisine, and local history

San Antonio is known as the provincial capital of Quesillo. The Chávez and Ciares families have been making it since the beginning of the 20th century. The Festival del Quesillo takes place every year in late November or early December. The programme includes performances by well-known folk groups and a fair featuring regional foods—a chance for music and local cuisine to come together.

Beyond Quesillo, recipes passed down through generations also shape the local food scene. Producers in San Antonio offer Dulce de Cayote, Tamales and Empanadas, as well as artisan wines and Chicha de Maíz. If you enjoy discovering a variety of regional specialities, you will find several different products here rather than having to settle for just one dish.

One striking feature of the Inmaculada Concepción church is its façade: it has one door, four windows, and four round windows. This clearly defined façade adds a specific architectural landmark to the culinary and musical impressions of the town.

Hiking trails with varying levels of difficulty

The San Antonio Natural loop trail is designed for walking and has information boards, trained guides, and local information providers. The municipality has also opened a Sala de Interpretación and an interpretive tourist trail. Both introduce visitors to the archaeological, historical, cultural, and natural values of the surrounding area. As you walk, you can take in not only the landscape but also its many different points of interest.

A longer hiking destination is Cascada de Los Paños. From the bridge over Arroyo Los Paños, a trekking trail leads to the waterfall, which is about 15 metres high and set in a forest of walnut and alder trees. The round trip is listed as taking about five hours and is considered moderately difficult, with the final 200 metres being particularly challenging. If you are travelling with children, take these details into account and consider whether the route is suitable for your group.

Another guided option is the night walk to Mirador del Cerro de la Cruz. It follows natural paths and trails along the mountainside, covers around 4 km, and takes about two hours. From the viewpoint, you can see across the Valle Jujeño and the lights of nearby towns. This sets it apart from the hike to the waterfall: the night-time setting and views over the region are part of the experience described here.

The Via Crucis to Cristo de la Hermandad climbs about 4 km along natural paths to the foot of the sculpture and is of moderate difficulty. The Cristo is 3 km from the town of San Antonio; access is via a road branching off RP 42 near Embalse El Tipal. From the Cristo, there are panoramic views of San Antonio, the surrounding valley, and Río Los Sauces. The distance, uphill route, and views give you specific points of reference for distinguishing this hike from the others.

At Dique Los Alisos and in the surrounding area

You can fish for Bagres, Dentudos, Sardines, and Mojarras at Dique Los Alisos. The Complejo Turístico Eva Perón is also located there, with a campsite, sports facilities, and dining options. It also offers rooms for social tourism. This is a separate accommodation option within the complex and should not be confused with holiday apartments in the town.

One historical point of interest in the wider area is the Camino Real. This old route was used in pre-Hispanic and colonial times, as well as in the 19th century, to connect San Salvador de Jujuy and Salta. The El Carril area lies on the Camino Real and is a few kilometres from San Antonio. The region’s history therefore extends beyond the towns and experiences at the immediate destination.

Other destinations include San Pedro Department, Palpalá, Doctor Manuel Belgrano Department, Valle Grande Department, Ledesma Department, Palpalá, Susques Department and Tumbaya Department.

For the main travel overview: Jujuy.