This department holds a beautiful mountain range that attracts both visitors and Uruguayans, especially the Cerro del Arequita and its cave, and the Cerro del Verdún where the Virgin of Verdun is visited by thousands of people all year round. It also has a wonderful, quiet, and peaceful camping site on the mountain side.
On the Cerro Artigas, in Minas, stands an 18 meter high statue of National Hero Artigas. Its construction was begun by the sculptor José Belloni and finished by his son, Stelio Belloni. Parador Salus and Puma Fountain are near the capital city and they are both wonderful places to visit and enjoy their wooded parks.
AREQUITA HILL (CERRO AREQUITA).
10 kilometers north from the city of Minas, “Cerro Arequita” stands like a giant made of granite. A 230 meters elevation of volcanic origin. The “Mirador” restaurant offers guided tours of the cave and mountain climbing. There is a municipal campsite very close by with capacity for 3000 people.
PENITENTE FALL (SALTO DEL PENITENTE).
At the Kilometer 125 of Route Nº 8, the visitors will find the entrance to the “Salto del
Penitente”, a 50 meters high waterfall surrounded by a beautiful and peaceful natural environment.
The “Parador Penitente” offers a restaurant, a campsite, horse riding activites, showers, and rest rooms. Tel.: 4440 3096.
LAGUNA DE LOS CUERVOS.
Detrás del Cerro Arequita se encuentra el Cerro de los Cuervos. Este tiene una similitud con el anterior, siendo su tamaño bastante menor. A los pies de este Cerro es que se formó, con los años, una laguna llamada "La Laguna de los Cuervos".
Sus aguas puras y el paisaje que adorna esta zona, brinda al turista un ambiente indescriptible.