Venture into South American history at Santiago del Estero, an expanse of colonial Spanish townships and natural playgrounds. The region stretches across 52,500 square miles (136,000 square kilometers) of northern Argentina. Come here to enjoy a laid-back atmosphere, architectural heritage and fishing estuaries.
Make your base in the province's main township, which shares the name Santiago del Estero. This town was founded in 1553 after a visit by Spanish conquistador Diego de Rojas. Admire its Cathedral Basilica, which has a gorgeous façade towering over the main plaza. Stroll across the Plaza Libertad or enjoy the peaceful ambiance of Aguirre Park, which is decorated with stone fountains and eucalyptus trees.
Learn about the province's history at the Bicentenary Cultural Center, where you'll see pre-Columbian ceramics, prehistoric fossils and a collection of Argentinean paintings. Delve into Santiago del Estero's religious heritage at the Museum of Sacred Art, which exhibits clothing of Franciscan monks, among other 16th-century relics.
Visit Termas de Rio Hondo, a lakeside town built around the thermal pools of the Hondo River. Relax in these medicinal waters before enjoying a massage. Afterward, see 6,000-year-old human relics and animal fossils dating back 5 million years at the Municipal Museum of Rincon de Atacama.
Travel to the Quiroga Dike, a temperate lake just a short drive from Santiago del Estero, to fish and enjoy Argentina's dynamic natural landscape. Dorado fishing trips along the Salado and Dulce rivers are also very popular in spring and summer.
Santiago del Estero is accessible via its main town's airport. Get around using a rented car or use inexpensive buses. Expect warm weather the province's subtropical location keeps temperatures high year-round.
A large portion of the Santiago del Estero province is covered by the Copo National Park, which spans 282,300 acres (114,200 hectares) of the Dry Chacho Region. Hike though extraordinary grasslands and look for rare wildlife including the giant armadillo and the skunk pig.