LIBERTADOR GENERAL SAN MARTIN

The Libertador General San Martin town was born with the name of Pueblo Nuevo Ledesma in 1899, on an area donated by the owners of the Ledesma sugar refinery. Two years after its foundation, the outline and later subdivision of the 8 blocks surrounding the square were made.

In 1906 the railroad arrived, and the station was built half way from both: the industrial centre and the new town. Thus, the new zone started an economic boom that was strengthened when the first Lebanese and Syrian immigrants settled there.

In 1950 the town took its name, of course, from the Libertador General San Martin. It currently shows a series of important tourist centres. Others are just developing, but all of them play a role according to the services and attractions they deliver.

It is located 8 km away from the Calilegua National Park entrance, and is the operation centre for its visit, as well as the logistic supply centre for the Nº 34 National Route.

The Ledesma factory can be visited in the area. It produces sugar, alcohol, cellulose and paper; the last two in a modern plant that uses the sugarcane residues as raw material.

The harvesting season runs from May through November; part of the production is exported to various countries in America and Europe.

There are another two sugar refineries: La Esperanza and Rio Grande. Mangos, avocados, chirimoyas, bananas and papayas are also grown in smaller farms.

It is located 106 km away from San Salvador de Jujuy, accessed by the Ruta Nacional Nº 34, which later crosses the Ruta Nacional Nº 1. In its surroundings one can enjoy trekking, mountain biking, horse riding, mountaineering, trout fishing, photo safaris and flora and fauna observation.

There are lodging and gastronomic services, tourist guides and travel agencies. It can be visited all year round, though southern hemisphere's summer rains may impede the access.

ATTRACTIONS

The Complejos Termales Hot Spring Centres
From Libertador General San Martin one can visit the Hot Springs circuit called El Caimancito, and others such as Aguas Calientes, Manantial de la Quinta and El Palmar: it is a 35 kilometre long route.

Alto Calilegua
From this location, and after trekking or mule riding through paths carved in the mountains for 6 hours, one arrives to the Alto Calilegua. From here, and after 4 hours of steep walking, one reaches the top of the Hermoso and Amarillo mountains. Please don't steal the archaeological pieces found there.