Las Cardas Posada

Mauricio is what sets this place apart. His advice about traveling around the Catamarca region was really valuable, and the trip to the Balcón del Pissis that he organized for us was spectacular. We had an extremely pleasant stay. Everything was as it appeared in the photos.

A good alternative to Hotel Belen, and quite a bit cheaper. The rooms were large, the beds comfortable, and the a/c worked well. Breakfast was miserable, though, and it’s a 15 minute walk to the main square.

The owners are delightful. When a scheduling problem with our itinerary meant we had to cancel two nights, they waived the charges. We also really appreciated how much personal time they gave us to share information. Our spacious, well-equipped room had a refrigerator, which was great for making lunches for day trips, and an air conditioner that worked very well in 35 degree heat. Breakfast was one of the best we had along Ruta Cuarenta, with protein included, so we didn’t need to find a restaurant soon after. Las Cardas Posada & Spa is about a half hour drive south of Belén, near the pre-Incan Shincal ruins. North of town, Ruta 40 winds through a beautiful quebrada and leads to an interesting 40 km+ circuit through small pueblos. The owners also offer a reasonably priced three day tour of the high desert region of Catamarca. Lunch and dinner are available just up the street at Hotel Belén. There may be other options in town, but on Christmas Day Hotel Belén was the only place offering meals. My wife and I can’t recommend Las Cardas Posada & Spa highly enough. It’s well worth staying here if you visit Belén.

We’ve stayed in lots of hotels in this price range in similar towns while driving Ruta 40, so we count ourselves experts. Las Cardas was probably the best so far. Comfortable, spacious, friendly, well located, and efficient. Literally outstanding.