Belén

Information

It is a city in the Argentine province of Catamarca, located alongside the Belén River. It lies in a valley, right where it becomes narrower and is enclosed by mountains, marking the beginning of a ravine.

The city has a tourist information office, a petrol station, accommodations, places to eat and a variety of shops. There is a municipal campground on the banks of the river, which may have water or be dry depending on the time of year. It is common to see many tourists who come to visit the city, as well as those passing through on their way to explore the town of Antofagasta de la Sierra and the Catamarca Puna.

At the top of a hill located west of the city stands the monument to the Virgin of Belen, a sculpture about 15 meters high situated approximately 300 meters above the city. It can be reached by following a winding trail of about 2 kilometers in length that is steep in places, which runs along a Stations of the Cross on the mountain. From there, there is a panoramic view of the town and its surroundings.

Leaving the city heading north, you travel through the Quebrada de Belén (a ravine), where there is a municipal reserve along the route featuring sculptures of wild animals such as an armadillo and a lesser rhea.

There are daily buses to Belén from Aimogasta (province of La Rioja) and from San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca, and once a week from Antofagasta de la Sierra. If traveling by car, the city is located along National Route 40, which connects it with many towns and tourist sites in the southern, western and northwestern parts of the country.