Fiambalá travel guide
The practical side of your trip: how to get there, what weather to expect, how to handle the altitude and what to check before heading into the mountains.
Getting there
Fiambalá is in western Catamarca, in the Tinogasta department, on National Route 60, about 50 km north of Tinogasta.
From the provincial capital, San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca, it's around 320 km by car. The nearest airports are Catamarca and La Rioja; from there you continue by road.
From Chile you arrive through the San Francisco Pass, starting in Copiapó. Fiambalá is the first stop on the Argentine side.
Weather and when to go
It's a high desert climate: dry, very sunny, with little rain, mostly in summer. Temperatures swing a lot between day and night, so evenings are cool even in summer.
- Summer (December to February): very hot days in the valley. This is the season for the high Andes and the Seismiles Route.
- Autumn and spring: milder temperatures for the dunes, hikes and exploring Fiambalá.
- Winter (June to August): sunny days and cold nights with frost. It can snow in the mountains and the San Francisco Pass may close.
- The hot springs are good all year round.
Altitude
Fiambalá sits at about 1,500 meters, but mountain trips climb much higher: the San Francisco Pass is close to 4,700 meters and Ojos del Salado, the highest volcano in the world, reaches 6,893.
Above 2,500 meters you may feel altitude sickness (locally called apunamiento or soroche): headache, dizziness, fatigue or shortness of breath.
- Go up gradually and spend at least one night in Fiambalá before heading to the high mountains.
- Drink plenty of water, eat light and skip alcohol on the day of the trip.
- If symptoms are strong or get worse, go down: that's what helps most.
- Traveling with kids, while pregnant or with heart or breathing conditions? Check with your doctor first.
What to pack
- Sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat: the sun burns much faster at altitude.
- Layers and a warm jacket for the night.
- Closed shoes for sand and rock.
- Swimsuit, flip-flops and a towel for the hot springs.
- Plenty of water if you're driving into the mountains.
- Some cash, in case a place doesn't take cards or transfers.
Before driving into the mountains
Route 60 to the San Francisco Pass runs for over 200 km through high mountains with very few services.
- Fill up the tank in Fiambalá before you leave: there are no gas stations after that.
- Check whether the San Francisco Pass is open before you go: it can close due to snow or wind.
- There's no cell signal once you head into the mountains. Tell someone your route and when you plan to be back.
- If you can, bring a satellite connection (a portable Starlink kit or a satellite messenger) so you can call for help without signal.
- For the Seismiles Route, going with a guide and a 4x4 is recommended. Mountaineering requires registering beforehand.
Gas stations in Fiambalá
Services in Fiambalá
Hospital, ATMs, police station and bus terminal, with their location on the map.
Tap to open in Google Maps