Argentina · City Guide
Santiago del Estero
Santiago del Estero is Argentina's oldest city, founded in 1553 and known as the Mother of Cities for its role in founding numerous other Argentine settlements, combining a rich colonial and indigenous heritage, the beautiful Río Dulce providing relief from the region's hot climate, the renowned chacarera folk music tradition, and the nearby Termas de Río Hondo thermal spa resort. As a destination of deep historical significance in Argentina's interior, Santiago del Estero offers a genuinely different perspective on the country.
Explore Santiago del Estero →Elect's take
"Santiago del Estero has a sense of historical depth that comes from being Argentina's oldest city, and the chacarera music tradition here is something I have not encountered with the same authenticity anywhere else in the country."
As Argentina's oldest continuously inhabited city, Santiago del Estero played a foundational role in Spanish colonisation of the interior, earning its nickname as the Madre de Ciudades for the expeditions that departed from here to found Córdoba, Tucumán and other major Argentine cities. The chacarera, a traditional folk music and dance form, has deep roots here and is celebrated throughout the region's festivals. The Río Dulce provides a beautiful river setting offering relief from the hot continental climate, with beaches and water activities. Termas de Río Hondo, approximately one hour away, is one of Argentina's most significant thermal spa resort towns, with naturally heated mineral waters. The Quimilí and Bandera areas showcase the region's Chaco landscape and indigenous Quechua cultural heritage.
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Argentina's Oldest City
Founded in 1553, the Mother of Cities that founded much of Argentina's interior.
Chacarera Tradition
A traditional folk music and dance form with deep roots in the region.
Río Dulce
A beautiful river providing relief from the region's hot continental climate.
Termas de Río Hondo
A significant thermal spa resort town with naturally heated mineral waters approximately one hour away.
Quechua Heritage
Indigenous cultural traditions reflected throughout the surrounding Chaco region.
Colonial Heritage
Deep historical significance as the foundation point for Argentina's interior settlements.