Villa Unión
Argentina · Americas
About Villa Unión
Villa Unión is a town in La Rioja, northwestern Argentina. The town is strategically located in the heart of the Bermejo Valley, 1,153 meters above sea level, at the foothills of the Andes mountains. Beautifully set amidst the intensely red mountain ranges of Sierra de Famatina and Sierra de Maíz, surrounded by local, traditional wineries and the Bermejo River passing, often brutally in the rainy season, through the town.
The weather is hot and rainy during the summer, January and February being the wettest months, while it's dry and cold during winter. As the soil can't easily get rid of the heavy rainfall, the area commonly floods during the rainy season. The area represents a typical climate of the mountain desert, with a soaring difference in temperatures between day and night. Villa Unión is affected by a climate phenomenon called the "Zonda wind"--a dry wind often carrying dust, which comes from the polar maritime air, warmed by descent from the crest, which is some 6,000 m (18,999 ft) above sea level. It may exceed a velocity of 40 km/h (25 mph) and may lead to changes in air pressure, commonly causing people headache.
Nearby towns from Villa Unión are Los Palacios, Banda Florida, Villa Castelli, Vinchina, Guandacol, Aicuña and Patquía. Nearest major cities from Villa Unión are San Juan, La Rioja, Chilecito, Catamarca and Córdoba.
Villa Unión travel guide
Getting there
The nearest airport is the Capitán Vicente Almandos Amonacide Airport in La Rioja, 3 kilometers from the city center of the city of La Rioja. Three weekly flights are offered between Buenos Aires and La Rioja by Aerolineas Argentinas. The international route from Villa Unión to Copiapó in Chile is under construction and will soon be opened, with a paved road and a tunnel, allowing crossing of the Andes the whole year round on good roads, which is believed to improve life in the little town of Villa Unión in the coming years, for its new strategic position for international trade. Buses: From La Rioja:
07:00 Facundo 12:00 Facundo 13:00 Arce 19:00 El Zonda 20:00 20 de Mayo From Chilecito:
12:30 Invanlor From San Juan:
18:00 G-Team - Daily door-to-door service. Arrival in Villa Unión at 21:00. 22:00 Transportes Fernández (Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday) 1 Terminal De Ómnibus de Villa Unión (Bus station). Modern, clean bus station with on-site cafeteria and restrooms available. Ticket offices typically are open only when a bus is scheduled to arrive shortly.
Getting around
Villa Unión is a very small town and can be seen on foot. However, if you decide to go and see nearby sites of Banda Florida or Anchumbil, it might be useful to catch a taxi, which can be found on the northern side of the Plaza. Taxi drivers also take tourists to attractions further away from Villa Unión, such as Laguna Brava, Talampaya or Valle de la Luna, which is convenient and often cheaper than a tour, if you travel two or more together.
See
Locally:
The Viewpoint northeast of city center Miguel Angel Gaitán a mummified child in the cemetery, believed to deliver miracles The Dam as tempting as it is in the heat, swimming here is not allowed Banda Florida west of town. Beautiful rock formations, ancient petroglyphs in the rocks Anchumbil east of town. Similar to Banda Florida. Nearby:
Talampaya National Park. Pre-historic, massive, intensively red canyons. Laguna Brava A beautiful lake in the high altitudes, with flamingos and more fauna. Guandacol El Chiflón Ischigualasto National Park also called "Valle de la Luna"
Buy
All around town, you'll see stores offering Productos regionales. Those include as an example:
Vino Patero Dried fruit Special liquors Mineral stones
Eat
1 La Palmera, Ruta Nacional 76 & 40, ☏ +54 380 451-6009. M 14:00 - 23:00, Tu-Su 19:00 - 00:00. Lots of window seats and cuts of meats and postres for later. (updated Apr 2021) 2 Comedor Doña Paula, Hipólito Irigoyen B° - Los Palacios, ☏ +54 3825 47-0087. M - Sa 09:30 - 00:00. It might look like a unit in a strip mall, but one can get some fairly tasty regional foods here. (updated Apr 2021) 3 La Parroquia - Café y Delicias, Hipólito Yrigoyen S/N, ☏ +54 380 4510 241. Daily 07:30 - 12:30 and 15:00 - 22:00. Here you can have some little sandwiches and coffee on their patio or in their yard. (updated Apr 2021)
Drink & nightlife
1 Podium Disco, Honorario Guerrero. Sa-Su 00:00 - 06:00, closed M-F. Plenty of drinks at the bar here (albeit pricey), plus some entertainment. (updated Jun 2025) 2 Guadalupe Bar, San Martín & Honorato Guerrero, ☏ +54 3825 67-4569. W-Su 20:00 - 02:00, closed M-Tu. You could enjoy a torta sandwich thing or pizza here with your drink. (updated Jun 2025) 3 1833 Bistro, Hipólito Irigoyen 13, ☏ +54 382 5668 328. Th-Su 17:00 - 00:00, Tu 19:00 - 02:30, closed W. A coffee shop/bar/eatery to hang out at. (updated Jun 2025)
Sleep
1 Hotel Boutique Pircas Negras, Ruta Nacional 76 accesos sur, ☏ +54 3825 47-0611. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 11:00. It has a pool and covered patio from which you can see the jagged terrain. US$110. (updated Jun 2025) 2 Hotel Dayton, Av. Nicolás Dávila 109, ☏ +54 3825 47-0640. The exterior might look a little scary, but nice dining room. Guest rooms are basic. (updated Jun 2025) 3 Hotel Boutique Cañón de Talampaya, ruta 76 km 202, ☏ +54 3825 47-0753. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 11:00. Everything seems to have a nice ochre tone to match the surroundings. (updated Jun 2025) 4 Hotel Valle Colorado, Nicolás Dávila Sur (RN 76 km 203), ☏ +54 9 380 444-8511. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 11:00. Guests get their own cabin here, and can try out the restaurant on site if so inclined. US$37. (updated Jun 2025) 5 Hospedaje "Doña Gringa", Nicolás Dávila 108, ☏ +543 82 556 9178. This one is just kind next to the Hotel Dayton not looking to win any international glam awards probably, but the hostess is friendly and serves a nice breakfast with homemade bread and butter/jelly in the morning. (updated Jun 2025) 6 Camping LizGrey, Pje. Albornoz y Gdor. Mellis, ☏ +54 9 380 458-9741. In-town campground with pool for the more intrepid accommodation type. (updated Jun 2025) 7 Hotel Noryanepat, Joaquín V. Gonzales, ☏ +54 3825 47-0133. Basic accommodation here. (updated Jun 2025) Cabañas Los Cantaros del Rio, Ruta Nac. 76 Bº San José, ☏ +54 9 3825 40-4503. This one also is not too exciting, but it has a pool.
Go next
To La Rioja, Patquia, El Chiflón and Pagancillo:
04:00 20 de Mayo, El Zonda 15:00 Facundo 19:00 Facundo 21:15 Arce To Chilecito:
15:00 Invanlor To San Juan, San José de Jáchal and Guandacol:
05:30 G-Team - Daily door-to-door service. Arrival in San Juan at 08:30. 18:00 Transportes Fernández (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) To Vinchina and Villa Casteli:
In the morning, smaller vans departing from the plaza.
Overview adapted from Wikipedia, travel guide fromWikivoyage (CC BY-SA)。Photography via Wikimedia Commons.