San Miguel de Tucumán
San Miguel de Tucumán, usually known simply as Tucumán, is the capital city of Tucumán Province, and the largest city in the Northwest region of Argentina, with 606,000 people (2020) in the urban area.
Understand
San Miguel de Tucumán is an important historic spot in the country since the Declaration of Independence from Spain took place here on July 9th, 1816. The building where this historical event occurred is a colonial-style house known as "Casa Historica".
Climate
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Summers in the city are hot, humid and rainy. Much of the rainfall occurs in summer. Temperatures average above 30°C (86°F) during the day while nights are muggy, staying close to 20°C (68°F). Heat waves can push temperatures above 40°C (104°F) although cold air masses from the south bring relief to the hot weather. Spring and fall are warm to hot with mild nights. Winters are dry with warm days and cool to cold nights. Frosts are uncommon and the weather is characterized by sunny weather.
Get in
By plane
At Teniente Benjamín Matienzo International Airport, at 9 km east from San Miguel de Tucuman, there are daily flights from Buenos Aires with Aerolíneas Argentinas and LATAM. There are also regular flights from Córdoba on Austeal, and from San Carlos de Bariloche, and Lima (Peru) on LATAM (as of Sep 2019).
By train
Trenes Argentinos runs two weekly trains from Buenos Aires and back. The journey takes approximately 25 hours as it stops in many towns and cities along the railway. It costs AR$87 in tourist class, AR$132 in Primera class, AR$236 in Pullman class, and AR$740 in Camarote class (private two-bed compartment and two breakfasts), all round trip prices. There are discounts for students, children and seniors. See the excellent (but only in Spanish) web site. The train includes a dining and snack car. Get your tickets early - they are sometimes sold out 10 days in advance.
- 🌍 Tucumán Mitre railway station (Estación Tucumán Mitre), Corrientes 1045.
By car
- Coming from North: Ruta 9 from Salta and Jujuy
- Coming from West: Ruta 38 from Catamarca, La Rioja, San Juan, Mendoza
- Coming from North West: Ruta 40 from Andes, then take Ruta 307 (between Amaicha del Valle and Acheral), and then Ruta 38.
- Coming from South: Ruta 157 from Córdoba
- Coming from South East: Ruta 9 from Santiago del Estero, Córdoba, Rosario, Buenos Aires
- Coming from East: Ruta 34 from Santiago del Estero, Rosario, Buenos Aires
- Coming from North East: Ruta 34 (12 --> 16 --> 34) from Posadas, Corrientes, Resistencia
There are two tolls of AR$1.80 on Ruta 9: one in Leocadio Paz (15 km from the Border to Salta Province) and one in the Border to Santiago del Estero Province. Emergency phone number is *767 (*SOS) from any mobile telephone. Just on Ruta 9 (a tolled Route).
By bus
Several bus companies provide services from Tucuman City to almost all major and mid-size cities in Argentina. The city boasts one the largest bus stations in the country and it is walking distance from downtown and the main hotels. Bus routes Nr. 4, 8, 10, 102, 103, 110, 118 runs from around the bus station into downtown; Nrs 4, 8, 10, 102, 106, 110 does it in the opposite direction.
Get around
The best way to visit the historic area and downtown is on foot. Most attractions are walking distance from each other. Besides, the traffic is quite heavy and disorganized so renting a car or taking a taxi would be a waste of time and money. Taxis are white, with yellow and black stripes. Don't take any other taxi, because they are illegal.
Public transport (bus) is always a good choice. There are around 40 bus lines, which serve the downtown. A one way ticket costs AR$2 and must be paid to the bus driver in coins. Bus lines 102 and 118 go to Yerba Buena, a beautiful tourist destination in Tucuman Metropolitan Área. The 118 can be caught from Santiago del Estero street (north of the center), and the 102 from San Lorenzo street (south of the center). A ticket from the center to Yerba Buena costs AR$1.80. Bus line 121 to the Airport can be reached on Av. Avellaneda and Av. Gobernador del Campo. A one-way ticket costs AR$1.60, and departures are every hour.
See
- 🌍 Independence House (Museo Casa Histórica de la Independencia), Congreso 141. The most important tourist and historic spot in the city. The Independence of the country was declared here on July 9, 1816, by representatives from the different provinces. The only part of the house that remains of the original building is the room where the congressmen gathered and the declaration took place. The facade was rebuilt after the original one based on photographs of the 19th century. Every day at 20:15. There is a theater play in the Historical House with actors who represent the historical time and events. It is a light and sound show too. Sometimes there is another brief play early in the afternoon.
- 🌍 Government House, 25 de Mayo 90 (across from the main square "Plaza Independencia"). This magnificent building was built where the old Cabildo used to be.
- Plaza Independencia, the city's main square. One of the best places to see local people and a start point to tour the downtown area. There is a beautiful "Statue of Liberty" in its center made by the famous local artist Lola Mora.
- 🌍 San Francisco Church (Parroquia San Francisco), 25 de Mayo 110 (at Plaza Independencia). The interior is beautifully decorated.
- 9 de Julio Park, 5 blocks east of downtown, across from the bus station. One of the largest public parks in the country (100 hectares) designed by French architect Charles Thays, who also designed the public parks in Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Rosario and Mendoza. Among its many attractions are the San Miguel Lake, Bishop Colombres's House (a colonial-style house which includes a museum of the sugarcane industry), the Flower Clock and several sculptures scattered around the park. There are some good bars and restaurants as well.
Learn
- Unilanguage School. Spanish courses.
Eat
Budget
Find where the locals eat! This includes an indoor market somewhere on the corner of Muñeca & Mendoza: empanadas, tamales, pizza, fresh fruit & vegetables, all very cheap.
Sleep
Budget
- Hotel Sol San Javier, +54 3814929004, Ruta 340 KM 23. On top of San Javier Hill, surrounded by the imposing “yunga” (forest) and with an exceptional view of the city of San Miguel de Tucuman. It’s in the Hotel Sol San Javier. Very good alternative to stay in Tucuman, overlooking the city but without the hassle of the city
Go next
If you want to visit the surrounding areas, there is a route that ascends slowly in the nearest hills and you’ll get into the Yungas Cloudy Forest. That is an exciting experience because of the exuberant vegetation, the calm, peace, and wonderful amazing landscapes, especially from San Javier Hill.