Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Valle de Conlara
Heading northeast to Merlo from San Luis, the landscape changes dramatically as the
road climbs into the hills. As you leave San Luis the land is arid and desertlike; Papagay-
os has its own unique vistas, punctuated by palm trees, while Merlo is a lush mountain
town.
Estancia La Estanzuela
Set on a Jesuit mission dating from 1750, this gorgeous
estancia
( 02656-420559;
www.estanzuela.com.ar
;
1 or 2 people incl full board AR$1200; )
has been left in near-ori-
ginal condition from the days when it was a working farm. Floors are wood or stone,
walls are meter-thick adobe and many ceilings are constructed in the traditional gaucho
style. The house is decorated like a museum, with antique furniture, paintings and family
heirlooms galore. A small pond that the Jesuits built for irrigation serves for romantic
rowboat outings and there is plenty of horseback riding and nature walking to be done.
This is a very special - near-magical -place and the minimum three-night stay should not
be hard to adhere to. Prices include meals, drinks and activities.
The property is located 2km off RP1, between Villa del Carmen and Papagayos. The
closest public transportation is to Papagayos from Merlo. Reservations for rooms are es-
sential and must be made at least two days in advance. If you don't have your own trans-
portation, ask about getting picked up in Papagayos or San Luis.
Papagayos
02656 / POP 430
Possibly the last thing you're expecting to see in this part of the world is a valley full of
palm trees, but that's exactly where this small town is situated. On the banks of the Ar-
royo Papagayos, the town is surrounded by huge Caranday palms, giving the area a cer-
tain notoriety for handicrafts made from their trunks and branches.
Small stores (mostly attached to workshops) selling these
artesanias en palma
are
scattered around town.
Rosa López
(in front of plaza) has the best range. The tourist of-
fice can provide a map showing all the store locations, along with other local attractions.
The
arroyo
(creek) is a good place to cool off - its length is dotted with swimming
holes. For a more formal swimming environment, the Balneario Municipal offers swim-
ming pools, picnic and barbecue areas.
