Dique de Collagasta

Updated April 15, 2024

# Dique de Collagasta (El Alto, Catamarca): what to expect, how to get there, and what’s actually worth doing

If you’re building a Catamarca itinerary that goes beyond the capital’s quick hits, Dique de Collagasta is a strong “slow travel” stop: a reservoir in Departamento El Alto that’s positioned as one of the area’s “imperdibles” (can’t-miss) by Catamarca’s tourism platform. Catamarca

It’s not a theme-park attraction. The value here is the landscape + quiet + outdoorsy options—with a couple of practical caveats that matter more than the scenery: road conditions, seasonal water levels, and activity rules (especially around fishing).

—

## Quick facts you can rely on

– Name: Dique de Collagasta (also shown as Dique Collagasta)
– Where: Departamento El Alto, Catamarca Province, Argentina Catamarca
– Coordinates (given): -28.3356695, -65.3022494 (use for maps/GPS)
– Distance from Villa de El Alto: about 9 km to the southeast (commonly cited figure)
– Road surface for the last stretch: frequently described as unpaved (and sometimes deteriorated)
– Recognized for “active tourism” (canoeing): listed as an activity location by a Catamarca government quality/tourism registry page for canotaje/paracanotaje

—

## Where Dique de Collagasta fits in a Catamarca trip

Catamarca is huge and varied, and “what to do” changes fast once you leave San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca. The Ancasti–El Alto–La Paz–Santa Rosa zone is positioned around sierras, reservoirs/diques, trekking, and water sports—and Dique Collagasta is explicitly included in that short list of headline stops. Catamarca

So think of Collagasta less as a single “attraction” and more as:
– a scenic break on a day that includes El Alto and nearby nature routes, and/or
– a base point for low-cost outdoor time (short paddles, picnic time, photography).

—

## How to get to Dique de Collagasta (and why the last kilometers matter)

Multiple sources converge on the same practical detail: the final approach is roughly 9 km from Villa de El Alto and is typically not paved.

That changes your planning in real ways:

### Practical routing expectations
– Use offline maps or download the area in Google Maps before you go (mobile signal can be inconsistent outside towns).
– Budget extra time for the last segment if it has been raining recently.
– If you’re in a low-clearance car, drive conservatively and assume you may need to slow way down on rutted sections.

### Best timing for the drive
– Daylight is safer and more enjoyable—unpaved surfaces plus lake-edge turns are not the place to learn the road at night.
– After heavy rains, conditions can shift quickly. Road quality is not a constant; treat any “it was fine last month” advice as non-binding.

(That’s not drama—just how these access roads work.)

—

## What to do at the reservoir: realistic options

### 1) Canoeing / kayaking (the most “real” activity signal)
If you want an activity that’s supported by something more solid than casual mentions, paddling is it. A Catamarca government quality registry page for an operator offering canotaje/paracanotaje explicitly lists Dique de Collagasta among the places where the activity is carried out.

What that means for you:
– This is one of the better bets in the area if you want time on the water rather than just a viewpoint stop.
– Ask locally about wind and water-level conditions before you commit; small reservoirs can feel very different week to week.

### 2) Fishing (but check rules and recent ecological decisions)
Fishing is often associated with reservoirs in Argentina, and Collagasta specifically has had management actions and updates that should shape your expectations:

– In March 2023, reporting notes a temporary ban (“veda”) on sport fishing at Dique Collagasta until ecological conditions recovered. Inforama – Catamarca
– On 12 November 2025, local reporting states 200,000 pejerrey fingerlings (Odontesthes bonariensis) were stocked in the reservoir to promote fishing and tourism, with fish brought from Córdoba and Buenos Aires. Ancasti

How to interpret that responsibly:
– Stocking ≠ “fishing is automatically allowed right now.” Rules can be seasonal, conditional, and enforced locally.
– If fishing is part of your plan, verify current regulations with the municipality/department authorities or posted signage before you set up.

### 3) Low-key nature time: viewpoints, photos, mate-and-picnic hours
Even if you do nothing “structured,” the reservoir setting is the point. This part of Catamarca rewards travelers who enjoy:
– wide landscape frames (water + hills/sierras),
– birdwatching-style scanning (bring binoculars if that’s your thing),
– a calm stop that doesn’t require tickets, queues, or a timetable.

I’m keeping this general because specific facilities (bathrooms, grills, opening hours, rentals) are not consistently documented in authoritative sources. If you need amenities, confirm locally.

—

## Water use and why this dique exists beyond tourism

One easy mistake in travel writing is treating every reservoir as “built for visitors.” Collagasta shows up in provincial context as part of Catamarca’s broader water infrastructure, and a provincial PDF about Departamento El Alto mentions agricultural irrigation tied to the dique (including small producers in Achalco). Catamarca

That matters for visitors because:
– access and rules sometimes prioritize water management needs,
– water levels can fluctuate for reasons unrelated to tourism.

—

## Accessibility and inclusivity notes (what I can and can’t claim)

– Mobility access: I can’t confirm accessible paths, ramps, or adapted restrooms from reliable sources. If you’re traveling with a wheelchair user or limited mobility, assume uneven ground and ask locally about the most accessible shoreline spot before you drive out.
– Family-friendliness: As a nature stop, it can work well with kids, but supervision matters near open water—especially if the shore drops off quickly.

—

## Smart add-ons nearby (so the day feels complete)

Catamarca’s tourism materials group Collagasta with other “imperdibles” in the same regional cluster—use that as your mental model: dique + caves/archaeology + small towns + sierras. Catamarca

If you’re building internal navigation on RealJourneyTravels.com, these are the two contextual links that usually convert well for readers planning a Catamarca loop:
– Catamarca Province travel guide: /argentina/catamarca/
– El Alto / eastern Catamarca nature route overview: /argentina/catamarca/el-alto/

(Those slugs are suggestions—adjust to your actual site structure.)

—

## What might be outdated (and how to verify fast)

– Fishing rules: the 2023 temporary ban and the 2025 pejerrey stocking are real signals that management changes happen. Always confirm current status before fishing. Inforama – Catamarca
– Road condition: “unpaved/deteriorated” descriptions can be true and still change after grading or storms. Expect variability.

—

## Bottom line: who should go (and who should skip)

Go if you want:
– a quiet reservoir landscape in eastern Catamarca,
– a potential kayak/canoe outing with at least some formal activity footprint in the province,
– a stop that feels “local infrastructure + nature,” not curated tourism.

Skip if you need:
– guaranteed paved access,
– confirmed on-site services without calling ahead,
– a tightly scheduled, ticketed attraction.

Key Highlights

Dique de Collagasta

Location

Places to Stay Near Dique de Collagasta

Find and Book a Tour

Explore More Travel Guides