Understand
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San Luis was founded in 1594, then abandoned, and re-founded in 1632. Is sits at the base of the Sierra Grandes at about 2400 feet. In 2010, it had a population of almost 170,000 people.
From a poor, administrative small town, San Luis rose in the 1980s and 1990s to a lively small industrial metropolis. San Luis is a modern city with good infrastructure, but few sights.
Get in
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By plane
[edit]The San Luis Airport lies about 3.2 km north of the city and has direct flights to and from Buenos Aires.
By car
[edit]The city is on the Highway 7 corridor between Mendoza and Buenos Aires, though much closer to the former, and also has connections to Cordoba to the north.
By bus
[edit]All intercity buses on the important long-distance route Buenos Aires - Mendoza - Santiago de Chile stop in San Luis. There are also connections to Cordoba.
- 1 Terminal San Luis (Bus station), Av. Santos Ortiz 1228 (intersection route 146 and route 147). Spacious, modern bus terminal with good connections to destinations throughout the region. Two sets of clean restrooms.
Get around
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Most of the city highlights are within walking distance downtown, but the Portrero las Funes and Balneario Hoya and other natural attractions will probably require transportation.
See
[edit]- 1 MUHSAL Historical Museum of San Luis, San Martín 611, ☏ +54 266 445-2000 ext 8326. History museum of the region. supposedly free.
- 2 Museo Dora Ochoa de Masramón, Colón 508, ☏ +54 266 445-2000. M-F 08:00-20:00. Another regional museum, this one with perhaps more of a natural history and archeology focus to it.
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- 3 Iglesia Catedral de San Luis, Rivadavia 740, ☏ +54 266 425-2784. M-F 10:00-12:30, 17:30-20:00. Neoclassical cathedral with two towers overlooking Plaza Pringles (with a statue of a colonel by that name - no chips, sorry).
- 4 Plaza Independencia. Here's a town square with a statue of General José de San Martín, who led Peru, Argentina, and Chile to victory from Spain, plus some cool colonial architecture around.
- 5 Pueblo Memorial Puntano (in a park called Camp Las Chacras). daily 09:00-20:00. A monument featuring a large sculpture on a pedestal, commemorating those citizens of San Luis who fought in the Independence Revolution. Lots of statues and historical markers. The surrounding park has walking trails and picnic areas (with grills). free.
Do
[edit]- 1 Quebrada de los Cóndores. You can explore this canyon-like corridor to a lake called Potrero de los Funes where boating and swimming are possible.
- 2 Balneario La Hoya, ☏ +54 266 437-7615. Riverine type swimming area below the fall of the Volcan River with interesting pools formed by cliffs and rock formations, somewhat developed.
- 3 The Milestone (El Hito). An impressive observatory of the surrounding area along Hwy 7 demarked by pyramids with observation platforms at top.
- 4 Cerro de los Venados (approach from Juana Kosley township to the east, inquire locally for hiking trail directions). A conspicuous hill offering views of area if you want to put a good hike in.
- 5 Parque IV Centanario, Av. IV Centenario. Large urban park with riverfront access, open spaces and a large waterfall.
Buy
[edit]Eat
[edit]- 1 Los Robles, 9 de Julio 745, ☏ +54 266 443 6767. Tu-Su 12:30 - 15:00 and 21:00 - 23:30, closed M. Upscale restaurant with a modern rustic dining room serving Argentinian cuisine. The grilled meats (asado) is the house specialty, though there are also some pasta and fish dishes. Excellent selection of good Argentinian wines.
- 2 La Tavola, República del Líbano 37, ☏ +54 266 513 5294. Tu-Su 20:00 - 00:30, also Su 12:00 - 15:00, closed M. Upscale modern restaurant with an extensive menu of Italian dishes including homemade pastas. Large selection of deserts. Outdoor seating area available where dogs are welcome.
- 3 Il Nonno, Av. del Fundador 2370, ☏ +54 266 464 3432. Daily 19:00 - 02:00. Large, modern restaurant specializing in pastas. Extensive selection of artesanal craft beers in their "Torre de la Cerveza". Ourdoor dining area available.
Drink
[edit]Sleep
[edit]- 1 Hotel Potrero De Los Funes, Ruta 18, Potrero de los Funes, ☏ +54 266 444 0038. Lakeside hotel with lots of amenities, including pool, spa, restaurant, and a beach.
- 2 Hotel el Amparo, Av Pte J D Perón 543, ☏ +54 266 443-1795. Quaint place with breakfast buffet. $27.
- 3 Gran Hotel San Luis, Dr. Arturo Illia 470, Fray Luis Beltrán, ☏ +54 266 442 5049. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 11:00. Modern hotel with spacious rooms that are not well-cleaned. Rooftop outdoor swimming pool available.