Salsacate is located in the western zone of the Cordoba Province, in the Traslasierra Valley, and in part of the north-western zone, according to the tourist partition, which is between the localities of San Carlos Minas and Cura Brochero Village, 50 kilometres apart from each other.

It is the head city of the Poncho Department, situated at the West of the Cordoba Province.
Its altitude is 1.050 m.a.s.l., encrusted in the rocky massif Los Gigantes. The Jaime River, with its sweet waters jumping from many cascades unites here with the Chimayo Stream, with its muddy and salty waters, believed to have medicinal properties that is born in the Poncho Lagoon.

Salsacate or 'Valle de la Campana' (the Valley of the Bell) as named by the Spaniards when they noticed how the indigenous people put an accent in the first syllables of each word, which reminded them of the sound of bells tolling, extended from the Ticas, at the North of the Minas Department, to the Concarán Valley, South of the San Luis Province.

When Cordoba was settled and the first Spaniards entered the Salsacate Valley, this place was already inhabited, its chieftain being Cusambich. It was not officially founded as most of the towns previously inhabited by indigenous people; instead, it grew up with the passing of times with the effort and stubbornness of the criollos.

Salsacate offers a varied range of hotels, camping sites, cabins and house rentals, available to the visitor during summer season.

Climate
The weather of this region belongs to the semi-desert domain, with average yearly temperatures of 18°C and scarce rainfalls varying between 300mm in the West and 600mm in the East. On this account, they are one of the drier areas in the provincial territory. During Summer months, daily temperature reaches 35°C and descends to 18°C by night time. On Winter time, the daily temperatures are of 12°C and -4°C by night, with the exception of the month of July, during which temperatures can drop to -12°C approximately.

Weather conditions are a clue factor for vegetation, which varies between those of the Chaqueño forests (at 500 metres of altitude) the sierra forests (between 500 and 1.300 m.a.s.l.) or the 'romerillal' forests (from 1.300 to 1.700 m.a.s.l.) which is trewn with palm trees, grasslands or small heighten woods.

Attractions

Minas de Cuchillaco - Mines
Located at only 8 kilometres from this locality, it was an ancient mining exploit from the Jesuits during the year of 1558, whence they obtained gold, silver, lead and zinc, using for these means indigenous workers. There can still be seen more than 20 holes drilled into the mountain, arranging a complex maze of tunnels.

Capilla de las Palmas - Chapel
Over the Route N° 28, at 23 kilometres from Salsacate, it was constructed in 1645, along with the Las Palmas Hamlet, the are the oldes edifications in the region. Made of adobe, it shows simple lines in a typical Spanish style.

Capilla de Pocho - Chapel
At 35 kilometres from Salsacate, this chapel was built in the year 1746, its general aspect shows likeliness with other chapels from Rioja and Catamarca. It has a square shaped tower, a flat roof and masonry major altar where two antique Spanish images can still be seen.

Los Tuneles
Over the Route N° 28, at 35 kilometres from Salsacate. This is an important work of road engineering, constructed in the thirties at altitudes surpassing 1.050 m.a.s.l., it is exciting and thrilling to drive through and at its ending point the traveller will have a splendid view of the uncouth flatlands of Chancaní laying below. Chancaní is a voice in the indigenous language meaning 'the end of the mountainous skirts and beginning of the La Rioja Flatlands'.

Chancaní National Park and Forest Reserve
It is situated to the West of Salsacate by the Provincial Route N° 28. Once the first tunnels of the Cuesta de Chancaní descent are left behind, the traveller will witness all the colourful hues of the La Rioja Valleys. Always attaining a privileged viewing point, we arrive to the National Park and Forest Reserve, created by a decree on October, 1986. The extension of the Reserve comprises some 5.000 ecological hectares, geographically representatives of north-western Cordoba.

Activities

Ascent to the Poca Mountain
Some six kilometres away from this locality, the people from Pocho use to swarm on Saturdays to this place, making early preparations like haversacks and their always present asado (steak) to lunch at 1250 m.a.s.l., with an extraordinary sight of all of the Pocho Valley.

Traditional Events

The Corn Festival (first fortnight of January)
Following an old tradition, the Festival Regional del Maíz de la Pampa de Pocho takes place during the last week of January, linking the hopes of all the region's hard working people with their land, within the joy and simplicity of our native folklore, music, songs, the parade of the gauchos, the farming machinery exhibitions and handcrafts endow this festival with its characteristic spirit.

9th of July
Besides the festivities due to the Independence Jubilee, the main trait of this celebration is to gather with your friends. After the patriotic ceremonies, sport events take place between locals and visitors. The race of the rings, soccer matches, car races with obstacles, parading of the gauchos, fireworks, ending up with the typical asado criollo (beef steaks) for all the attendants.

Festivities of the Patron Saints (Fiestas Patronales)
These festivities take place in October the 7th. As happens in all the towns of this Province, large numbers of residents from all around the Department of Cordoba gather here with the aim of worshipping the Patron Saint of the Town, to partake in sport events, handcraft expositions and the ever present parades of the gauchos from Pocho.