CALILEGUA NATIONAL PARK

HOW TO GET THERE
We can reach the Park through N° 34 National Route, which runs along the foothills from San Salvador de Jujuy. When we reach Libertador General San Martin, we take N° 83 Provincial Route, made of compacted gravel, and only 8 km away we reach Valle Grande and the Aguas Negras Stream, where we enter the National Park.

The route crosses the Park through the middle part (a 23 km section), and passes the area called Seccional Mesada de las Colmenas, where the traveller will find personnel from the Administracion de Parques Nacionales or National Parks Administration . Along this road we can really enjoy the characteristic attractiveness of the region.

There is bus service from Salta to Libertador San Martin, and from Libertador to San Francisco, through the Park. The last bus daily departs are (except on Wednesdays) at 8:00 or 9:00 in the morning.

To reach the Park by car, we must take the N° 34 National Route and go north to Libertador General San Martin. After crossing the San Lorenzo River, we must turn left down N° 83 Provincial Route.

From there onwards the road turns itself very steep. For that reason we recommend to drive carefully and to stop when the pleasure taken from the views is overwhelming.

The travellers that decide to visit Parque Nacional Calilegua directly reach it from Buenos Aires to the Salta or El Cadillal airport in Perico, Jujuy, and 70 km from Libertador General San Martin; or simply, they can take a bus to Libertador in the Bus Station Estacion Terminal in the Barrio Retiro of Buenos Aires.

DISTANCES TO MAIN TOWNS
Libertador General San Martín: 10 Km
Calilegua : 15 Km
San Francisco : 20 Km
Valle Grande : 70 Km
San Salvador de Jujuy : 130 Km
Salta : 170 Km

ACTIVITIES
This park is an absolute paradise for bird-watchers. There are more than 300 registered species to this day. The traveller can request a list of the registered species from the Intendencia del Parque Park Management or directly from the Park rangers. You can camp in the Aguas Negras Camping, which has restrooms and is an ideal place to discover the various paths that cross the Park.

It is possible to go trekking for several days; we can start in Parque Nacional Calilegua and reach the Quebrada de Humahuaca Gorge. After abandoning the Park limits, we take N° 83 Provincial Route to the town of San Francisco, and from there we can continue on foot or by horse towards Tilcara or Humahuaca, in the ravine of the same name.

We can also go horse back riding from San Francisco to the town of Alto Calilegua, at 2,700 m.a.s.l. ; the degree of difficulty is high, and in some parts extremely high. For a horse riding excursion to Alto Calilegua, the approximate time is 6 hours for the ascent and 4:30 hours for the descent. This section of the road can also be done on foot, but the average time will be of 8 to 10 hours.

It is not easy to access the high kingdoms of the Keu and the Chinchillon. We have to leave the protected area, and go on foot or by horse along the path that connects the towns of San Francisco and the Alto Calilegua. On the way we can visit the spectacular Cajon del Rio Jordan, where the peculiar Calilegua frog makes its living. If physical strength allows and God permits, the programme includes reaching the summit of the Cerro Amarillo Mountain at 3,660 m.a.s.l..

From Valle Grande the traveller can embark in a walking excursion to the Humahuaca Gorge. This takes 3 days. We will go across mountains 4,100 meters tall. The roads, simply spectacular, are also good to practice mountain bike.

MYSTERIOUS EXCURSIONS
At 3000 m.a.s.l., outside the Park, there is the small town of Alto Calilegua, which can't be access by car and can only be reached by mule or on foot. We find there the ruins of pre-Hispanic fortifications which add archaeological value to the whole region. Mountain lovers have the possibility of reaching on foot the high areas of the Park: Cerro Amarillo and Hermoso.

No one knows for true when the present inhabitants of the highlands arrived, or where they came from. They grow corn, pumpkins and potatoes, but they are essentially shepherds. In summer they leave the cattle freely grazing on the grassy heights, and with the arrival of the hard winter season, they move it to the jungle border.

Going northwest along a mountain trail we can reach Valle Grande, a town located in a fabulous valley surrounded by mountains, very near to the Tropic of Capricorn.

Walking paths and narrow fords of different length and degrees of difficulty make this National Park an appropriate place for nature lovers who care to go for walks and picnics.

The Sendero Burgos Path: next to the camping grounds it crosses the foothill jungle for about 600 meters. Walking time: 40 minutes. Difficulty: medium.

The Sendero al Mirador Path: At 180 m from the Aguas Negras sector, on the right side of N° 83 Provincial Route the valley of the Lorenzo River can be watched. Walking time: 40 minutes. Difficulty: high and medium.

"The Sendero a La Lagunita" Path: At two km from the Aguas Negras sector, on the right side of the route, a path that takes us to the Lagunita Small Lake begins. Seventy m along the road there is a lookout spot facing a dense mountain forest. It is possible to watch water fowl bird fauna. The return trip can be done along the Aguas Negras Stream, where animals or their tracks can be seen on the wet mud of the stream. Walking time is two hours; the difficulty, extreme.

The Sendero Tataupa Path: It branches off at 2.5 km from the Aguas Negras part, on the left side of this route. It crosses the foothill Basal Jungle and returns with the Negrito Stream. Walking time: five hours. Difficulty: high.

The Sendero de la Junta Path branches off three km from the Aguas Negras sector, on the right side of the path. We can see where the Aguas Negras and Toldos streams come together. We return along the Aguas Negras Stream. Walking time: five hours. Difficulty: high.

The Sendero "La Herradura" Path: It starts 100 m from the Aguas Negras sector, on the left side. It crosses the basal foothill Jungle. Walking time: 15 minutes. Difficulty: low.

The Sendero a la Cascada Path: It starts 100 m from the Mesada de las Colmenas sector. We climb the road leaving from the left side. It crosses the so called Montana Jungle. We reach the Negrito Stream and 300 m downstream, where it joins the Tres Cruces stream, we will be able to see a small waterfall. To go back you have to return along the same road. Walking time: three hours. Difficulty: high.

The Momota Path: Next to the camping grounds, it crosses the foothill Jungle for close to 600 meters. Walking time: 40 minutes. Difficulty: medium.

RECOMMENDATIONS

• If you go by car, drive at low speed. Remember you are on excursion.
• If you listen to music or the radio, do it at a low volume, thus avoiding to bother other visitors and wild fauna.
• Only make fire in suitable places, always away from the trees.

In the Parque Nacional Calilegua it is not allowed to:

• Hunt, fish or set traps.
• Bother the animals.
• Remove any type of plants.
• Enter places that have not been prepared for visitors.
• Introduce foreign species that do not belong to the Reserve.

When you enter the Park, contact Park Rangers in the Aguas Negras Sector (at the Park's gate) or at the Mesada de las Colmenas (13 km away from the entrance). You can watch trees and learn about them by reading the "Guia de arboles para visitantes" which they will provide.

The Administración de Parques Nacionales National Parks Administration Intendencia Calilegua.
San Lorenzo y Madrigal - Calilegua.
Dpto. Ledesma CP 4514
Provincia de Jujuy - Argentina.
Tel.: 03886-422046