A tour of Colón offers the possibility of living its history, its nature, the idiosyncrasy of the people, who are really kind and the beautiful landscape surrounding the Uruguay river. A riverside Avenue, alongside the winding river, joins the Sports Center at Dr. "Herminio Quirós Park", the Tourism Secretary building and the port, where the Swiss, French and Italian immigrants arrived. If you continue towards the north you will find the Hot Springs Complex next to the Golf Club.
There is an important commercial center with a great variety of services and the most convenient option for visitors. Historical buildings allow you to live the local past: the Fiat Lux Library, the Nation Bank, the "Centenario Cinema-Theatre", the Civil Register (the first in the country). One important Museum offers the tourist the opportunity of knowing a little more about the immigrants and the life of a visionary man called Herminio Juan Quirós. The work of artisan hands, which is on display at "La Casona", expresses the deep contact of the people of Colón with their soil and the use of regional raw materials. Restaurants, hotels, bungalows, camping-sites are part of a wide range of accommodation facilities. Circuit B: Sand, nature and adventure. The Uruguay river offers its beauty and generosity in ten kilometers of beaches as well as the possibility of practising water sports, fishing (dorados, surubÃes, etc) or walking along the riverside contemplating the local flora and fauna of a natural park and a protected area. The islands and the marvellous sand banks of the Uruguay river deserve a special mention. The lush green subtropical jungles that teem with life on these magnificent islands constitute natural ecosystems with an important environmental value. You can enjoy this by making adventure excursions by water and land with people who are in charge of showing the tourists the magnificence of nature. Elements you can't forget: a camera, a hat, binoculars and repellent. Circuit C: Discovering origins. Living testimonies of ethnic, geological and natural origins serve today for the remembrance and the enjoyment of this circuit. Forclaz Wind Mill: a historical monument, a symbol of the effort and work of the immigrants. A history of progress and frustration… Semi precious Stones: a place called "Petrified Trunks" due to the samples of fossil remains found there. Here you will appreciate the unexpected beauty of agates, jaspers, quartz crystals shown at a captivating display. Natural Science Museum: An antique and picturesque big old house where you'll see fossils of l3 or l5 million of years ago. San José Town: "the cradle of colonization". A regional historical interactive Museum, which is the symbol of the heritage of our immigrants. Liebig Village: a peculiar village with an architectonic and social testimony of an English factory in Argentina between the years l900 and l950. You can visit this meat packing factory with a local guide and you can also see the handcrafts , visit a Tea House or go on fishing. Villa Elisa Town: a very nice place where you can visit a museum that keeps in its rooms part of the immigrant's history. There is also a historical train and a complex of Hot Springs. In Hocker Colony you can enjoy a beautiful country day. National Park "El Palmar": It was declared a national park in l966. There are different types of landscapes each with its special flora and fauna. The most contrasting areas are the huge forest of palm trees that grew in the high grounds and the subtropical jungle situated along the streams and the Uruguay river. It is very interesting to see some animals in this park like vizcachas, lizards, foxes, capybaras, deer, rheas and colourful birds. You will also discover astonishing landscapes following different paths on foot or by car.. There is also a historical site -The Barquin's limestone quarry and a Visitors' Center. "La Aurora del Palmar" (Palmar Dawn): It is a farm situated near the National Park. It is a Wild Life Reserve that protects an important forest of "yatay" palm trees. Different activities such as cattle raising and forestry (pine trees, eucalyptus, citrus) are carried out here. Other activities in close contact with nature are: horse riding, trekking, bird watching and photographic safaris. Circuit D: Rural Roads This circuit invites you to travel through a rich area of rural roads where you can appreciate the economic alternatives of the region: sown fields, an agro-technical school, rural primary schools, flora and fauna in the middle of an authentic local landscape. You can also visit the ecological tourism complexes where the possibility of breathing pure air and enjoying silence in the heart of nature is combined with excellent services. Among the alternatives we recommend you to visit: Agro-technical School: From 8 to l6 you can visit this school and buy regional products. You can also appreciate the different activities done by the students such as the large vegetable garden production, garden center, poultry farming, dairy products and so on. San Anselmo Chapel: a symbol of Christian devotion of rural people. This very valuable stone building was finished in l939 And it was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Ecological tourist Complexes: boat sailing, horse riding, controlled fishing, flora and fauna watching, accommodation and restaurants, as well as the sandy beaches of the Uruguay river. Rural areas that still keep the calmness, the quiet and the laborious spirit of the immigrants. Circuit E: Urquiza' s paces A very important personality in our country was General Justo José de Urquiza who lived between l80l and l870. Today we can revive part of that time through this circuit. "Guarumba", tourism and tradition: a farm where you can enjoy a nice country day. Different activities such as horse riding, trekking and bird watching are carried out in this place. The Ruins of the Old Mill: They are situated by the Urquiza's Stream. The ruins of an old hydraulic mill are placed here. Nature and history are combined in this peaceful place, where you can also enjoy facilities including a camping-site, a restaurant, sports and so on. Villa Teresa Farm: this farm known as "Urquiza's corner", belonged later to one of his daughters called Teresa. Nowadays this rural establishment is used for cattle raising and agricultural activities, adding also the tourist exploitation with excellent possibilities due to the beauty of its scenery. San José Palace: it has been the private residence of Urquiza's family, the place where he spent his last twenty years. It is today a Historical National Monument and a Museum. It has 38 rooms with excellent furniture of the time and three important gardens among other historical places.
Traducción al Inglés: Paola Melano |