San Luis (city, Argentina)

San Luis is the capital of San Luis Province. For travellers, the city is primarily of interest as a starting point for the charming valleys of the Sierras de San Luis. There are reservoirs and deep gorges in the metropolitan area just a few kilometers from the center.

Understand
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.

By plane
The San Luis Airport lies about 3.2 km north of the city and has direct flights to and from Buenos Aires.

By car
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
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.

Get around
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.