San José de Jáchal Voyage Tips and guide

San José de Jáchal is a city in San Juan province, in the central-west Cuyo region of Argentina.

San José de Jáchal (often shortened to Jáchal) is a growing town of 10,993 inhabitants in the northeast of the province of San Juan, Argentina. It is the head town of the Jáchal Department.

• City map of San José de Jáchal

By Car

San José de Jáchal is on National Rte 40, south of the Jáchal River.

No public buses go to Chile, but La Serena Jeep Tours - Tel. +56 5121 4305, occasionally do the trip. The pass is only open in summer.

By Bus

La Rioja - There are a number of night buses from La Rioja but 20 DE JUNIO is the only company with a day bus. It leaves La Roija at 17.30 and takes 4½ hours.

San Juan - There are many buses to and from San Juan each day. There is usually no need to book just go to the counter at the bus station in good time before the bus is due to depart. Bus companies include Vallecito, Clasur and TAC, Tel. 0264 4214108

Guandacol & Villa Unión- La Rioja Transportes Fernández (Monday, Wednesday and Friday)

The bus terminal is at Presidente Perón and Laprida, six blocks east and three blocks south of the plaza.

The tourist information office is on the plaza’s north side. Tel. 02647 420003, int. 311. Staff are helpful and have a useful pamphlet with information about key cultural sites. Many of the sights and activities are out of town but the office can organise a driver if you wish.

• Templo de San José. The church faces onto the main plaza it was declared a national historical monument, for the evangelization tradition it represents in the Cuyo region. The temple was authorized in 1785 and its parish hall was the scene of many major historical events. 

The drive over and through the mountains from La Rioja is a memorable excursion in its own right.

• Los Cauquenes Dam. Water reflecting like a mirror, with mackerel fish in abundance for fishing. Practice boating and water skiing. Ample room for camping. 
• La Ciénaga (25 km from Jáchal). Beautiful, green area with camping facilities. 
• Huerta de Huachi. A lovely place to spend a weekend, enjoying the beautiful landscape. It looks like a garden between the hills with a large amount of fruit trees and a swimming pool. 
• Ischigualasto Provincial Park.  
• Pachimoco Dam (10 km out of Jáchal on Rte 150).  
• Termas de Agua Hedionda - Huaco (Hot springs) (On Rte 491, 30 km from Jáchal). At 1,100 m elevation in the narrow and colourful Huaco Ravine. The thermal baths temperature is around 24°C, only open in summer. Nearby is a 300 year old mill. 
• Termas Agua Negra (Hot springs) (10 km out of Jáchal). Water temperatures around 24°C. Open in summer. 
• Termas de Pismanta (Hot springs).  

• Super Mario Ruiz, cnr San Juan and Juan de Echegary (NW corner of the plaza). Old time grocery store with timber floors (updated Mar 2026)

The restaurants around the plaza take the rule about not opening until late in the evening very seriously.

• 1000 Ochocientos, Juan de Echegaray 573 (Calle San Martín and Echegaray), ☏ +54 264 543-0845. Interesting drinks and entrees and artifacts to look at while you're eating. 
• Confiteria Garces, Juan de Echegaray (a couple of doors north of the plaza). It may be an exaggeration to say that this place alone is worth the trip to Jachal but it is great. The cafe has been operating since 1928 and clearly has not had a single fixture added or removed since that date. Even the staff and customers might have been there since then.
  The coffee is good but do try the patay which is a traditional food made by the African slaves. (updated Mar 2026)
• Patio Cervecero CASTA, Sarmiento 40 (on the eastern side of the main plaza). Really a bar but serves a good pizza if you are looking to eat before the restaurants on the other side of the plaza open. There is a pleasant eating area out the back. (updated Mar 2026)

There is not a lot of accommodation in the town itself so it is best to book a few days ahead.

• Apart Hotel Hualta Picum, Sarmiento 749, ☏ +54 2647 420774.  
• Hostería Huaco, Calle la Paz s/n, ☏ +54 264 4219528.  
• Hotel Plaza, Domingo Faustino 344 SUR, ☏ +54 264 422-5179. a traditional sort of place. USD9–17. 
• Hotel San Martin, Echegaray 367, ☏ +54 2647 420431, [email protected]. Has an attractive exterior and foyer but very popular and often sold out AR$75,000. 
• Municipal El Vivero Campsite (3 km outside San José de Jáchal), ☏ +54 2647 420003.  
• Pension La Casona, Rawson 596, ☏ +54 2647 421038.  

• San Juan Clasur and TAC, Tel. 0264 4214108
• Guandacol & Villa Unión, La Rioja Transportes Fernández (Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday)