Ruins of Hilario

Information

The Ruins of Hilario correspond to what was an old mineral smelting facility intended for silver extraction. They are located 22 km from the town of Barreal in the Argentine province of San Juan, at about 3000 meters above sea level. Due to their historical value they were declared a National Historic Monument.

This site represents one of the first mining ventures in the country, built in the 19th century under the initiative of then-president Domingo Faustino Sarmiento. The project aimed to promote the industrialization of mining in the Andean region. However, over time it was abandoned and today only remnants of that era remain, among which a large chimney and several adobe structures still stand the test of time.

The ruins are located alongside National Route 149, which is fully paved and connects Barreal with Calingasta. From the site one can appreciate the characteristic landscape of the area, with the Río de los Patos winding nearby and the mountains as a backdrop. Just 1000 meters away rises Cerro Alcázar (a hill), a natural formation with intense colors and geoforms that constitutes another tourist attraction in the region, ideal to complement the visit.