La Caldera: Chicha, Crafts and the Valle de Lerma

La Caldera offers insights into local traditions and various ways to experience the Valle de Lerma. The Festival Nacional de la Chicha, local crafts and excursions in the surrounding area each offer a different focus. When planning your trip, you can decide whether you mainly want to discover the festival and the culture, or also set aside time for hikes and a horseback ride.

Festival, Chicha and Regional Cuisine

The Festival Nacional de la Chicha is a traditional celebration in La Caldera that takes place every year. The 35th edition is scheduled for 13, 14 and 15 March. During the festival, producers offer visitors Chicha and regional dishes. If you are interested not only in the food but also in how it is made, you can learn about the various steps at the Balcón de Quetzemaní.

The festival brings together several ways to engage with a local tradition: the celebration, the products on offer and insights into how they are made. If you are travelling with others, you can tailor your visit to the group's interests. The announced festival dates give you a specific timeframe to consider; Chicha and regional dishes are among the offerings during the festival.

Crafts and Historic Sites

There are also various connections to local crafts in La Caldera outside the festival. A craft fair takes place in front of the main square. Along the path to the Cristo, there is also a workshop featuring leatherwork, Peleros, horse equipment and basketry. The range includes everything from leather goods to woven items. If you are interested in regional crafts, you can explore these different examples as part of your visit to the town.

Another cultural highlight is the Iglesia Nuestra Señora del Rosario. It houses a wooden carved crucifix and is located next to the former Camino del Inca. These two details give the place a cultural and historical dimension distinct from the festival and crafts. You can therefore include the church as a separate interest in your travel plans without making the festival the sole focus of your stay.

Experience the Valle de Lerma on Foot and on the Go

There are different ways to take in the landscape. From the Cristo Penitente, you can view the Valle de Lerma from the valley's northern edge. A few metres from the town, you can also hike up Cerro de la Cruz and enjoy the view across the Valle de Lerma. This gives you two distinct ways to experience the landscape: a viewpoint at the Cristo and a hike on the Cerro.

Nearby, Dique Campo Alegre is also a place to go horseback riding close to the water. Along the way, you can experience the Yungas landscape and stop to take photos. Afterwards, a traditional lunch is served on site: Asado criollo, salad, bread and a non-alcoholic drink. This excursion combines time on horseback with a meal, making it different from the hike on the Cerro and the viewpoints at the Cristo.

Choosing Accommodation to Suit Your Plans

When choosing a holiday apartment or house, the experiences that matter most to you can be a good starting point. If you would also like to include the horseback ride at Dique Campo Alegre, take this excursion into account when considering where to stay. The key is which of the experiences described you want to shape your stay.

If you would like to consider other local pages, you can also find Calderilla and Vaqueros here.

For the broader travel overview: Departamento La Caldera.