Lules Department: Nature, Water and History
Accommodation in Lules Department
Lules Department offers a variety of reasons to visit: a narrow valley with steep slopes, nature trails and water-based recreation, as well as striking historical landmarks. You can tailor your stay to whether you enjoy spending time outdoors, going for a hike or exploring the cultural history of Tucumán. The Quebrada de Lules is a meeting place for families, tourists and local residents, and a place to relax and enjoy leisure activities.
Quebrada de Lules: Nature and Water
The Quebrada de Lules is a narrow valley surrounded by steep slopes. The Reserva Natural de la Quebrada de Lules nature reserve has nature trails, places to relax and outdoor activities. This makes it a destination in its own right for days when you want to spend time in nature. The Balneario La Quebrada adds water-based recreation to the options: it has three large swimming pools with a capacity of up to 600 people. The pools and trail network offer different options to consider when planning your holiday days.
Hike to Cascada de Huaicondo
The route to Cascada de Huaicondo passes through the heart of the Yungas of Tucumán. The hike is five kilometres long, of moderate difficulty and takes a little over an hour. The route features significant ascents and descents; the tourism authority recommends going with a guide or an authorised provider. The trail is open until 2 p.m.; an admission fee must be paid before starting the hike. The distance, changes in elevation and estimated duration give you practical details to consider when adding this excursion to your travel plans. Also bear in mind the recommendation to go with a guide or an authorised provider.
History around Lules
The first public institutional school in the country was located at the ruins of San José de Lules. Jesuits first cultivated sugar cane in Tucumán there. The site is also connected with the history of the independence period: General San Martín's army rested near the ruins in 1814. Visitor registration at the ruins is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. These three historical connections—the school, sugar-cane cultivation and the army's rest—offer different ways to explore the history of the place.
Another historical highlight is the former Ingenio San Pablo in Lules. The interpretive tour of the former sugar mill site introduces its history and is easy. It includes the chalet of the founding family, the chapel dedicated to Nuestra Señora del Carmen, and a factory building in the industrial architectural style of the late 19th century. Machinery and characteristically tall chimneys are among the striking details there. If you are interested in industrial history, the tour offers a different perspective on the past than the ruins of San José de Lules.
Villa Nougués and Spiritual Sites
In Villa Nougués, Iglesia Sagrado Corazón is a neo-Gothic church. The town tour also includes the Stations of the Cross surrounding Iglesia Sagrado Corazón de Jesús. Another attraction in Villa Nougués is the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes. Santuario Nuestra Señora del Valle de la Reducción is one of the stops on Tucumán's Ruta de la Fe. More than 50,000 worshippers were estimated to have attended the pilgrimage to Virgen del Valle in La Reducción on 8 December. These sites and the pilgrimage are especially appealing to travellers who want to include sacred architecture and religious traditions in their explorations.
Places to Discover Further
When choosing a holiday rental in Lules Department, consider whether nature, hiking, water-based recreation or cultural history will be the focus of your stay. Other places in the department include Lules, Mundo Nuevo, Villa Nougués and Manantial.
For the broader travel overview: Tucumán.
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