Catamarca, Argentina

Capital City

With a population of just 186,947, Catamarca is a sleepy provincial capital that moves at a glacial pace. The city's colonial architecture may charm tourists, but the reality is a bureaucratic headache and a scorching climate that can reach over 43°C in the summer. Irrigation is a constant battle due to low rainfall, and the surrounding mountains can plunge to -30°C in winter. While Catamarca serves as a hub for hiking and wine tasting, those seeking an energetic urban center would do better to look elsewhere.