Discover Chos Malal

Chos Malal combines striking landscapes with a rich and varied urban history. From the trail to Cerro de la Cruz, the view extends across the Valle de Chos Malal, to the confluence of the Neuquén and Curi Leuvú rivers, and toward the Cordillera del Viento. There are also places where you can trace different chapters in the city’s history: a 19th-century church, a museum covering several historical topics, and buildings of particular significance to Chos Malal. When choosing your destination, you can therefore consider whether you are mainly looking for scenic views or would rather focus on cultural discoveries.

Plan for the landscape and trails

The viewpoint at Cerro de la Cruz offers an overview of the valley and the area’s distinctive geographical features. If you enjoy taking in landscapes, it provides a specific reason to discover Chos Malal from a higher vantage point as well. The view takes in both the confluence of the Neuquén and Curi Leuvú rivers and the Cordillera del Viento; it is not just about the valley itself, but also about several of the area’s defining landscape features.

Another trail option leads to the monument on Cerro de la Virgen. The walk there takes about 60 minutes; the full route is estimated to take around two hours. You can take these approximate timings into account when planning your day.

City history at specific sites

The parish church of María Auxiliadora was inaugurated on December 7, 1888. The ceremony was led by the Salesian priests Domingo Milanesio and Bartolo Panaro, with the support of Governor Olascoaga. The construction also tells a story about the materials used: the building is made of adobe, and the roof is made of oak. The timber was brought by wagon from the lagoons of Epulafquen. The church thus brings together a precisely dated historical occasion with details about its construction and the origin of the roofing material.

The Museo Histórico Provincial “Manuel José Olascoaga” is divided into three exhibition rooms. They focus on Indigenous peoples, the “Campaña del Desierto,” and the founding of Chos Malal. The topics cover different historical periods, from Indigenous peoples and the “Campaña del Desierto” to the city’s founding. History enthusiasts can therefore include the museum in their travel plans as a cultural reference point for these three topics.

Heritage, culture, and local tradition

Buildings and places of remembrance beyond the church and museum also contribute to the city’s history. The former Hotel de Turismo is part of Chos Malal’s historic heritage. After years of vacancy, it was completely renovated in 2013 and converted into the Centro Cultural del Norte Neuquino. Its transition from former hotel to cultural center is a chapter in its own history. The Almacén de Ramos Generales Enrique Dewey, in turn, was the first brick building constructed in Chos Malal—a notable marker in the city’s architectural history.

The Hito de la Ruta 40 is located at the southern entrance to Chos Malal. The Legislatura Neuquina recognized it as Provincial Tourism Heritage No. 3767. For visitors exploring the city’s historic and cultural sites, it is another point of local interest, alongside the buildings within the city.

Local tradition also includes the Fiesta Nacional del Chivito, la Danza y la Canción, held every year in Chos Malal. In 2004, Resolution No. 384/04 of the Secretaría General de la Presidencia de la Nación declared it a festival of national significance and gave it national Fiesta status. Along with the historic sites, it adds a recurring cultural tradition to the picture of Chos Malal.

Getting here and finding accommodation

Chos Malal is primarily connected via National Route No. 40.

For the wider travel overview: Departamento Chos Malal.