Nature Tourism in Cuyo

Cuyo’s region is in the west center of the country. The Andes Mountain Range features a rocky landscape, with high peaks and an unequalled archaeological value. It has majestic destinations, including the highest peak in South America, the target of many climbers in the world.

Many internationally famous dinosaurs were found at Ischigualastro, while the wind sculpted extravagant figures at Talampaya, where archaeological paintings of the primitive men also challenged the passing of times.

The past is present at the Los Morrillos caves and the old spot El Leoncito (which is currently a Strict Natural Reservation). At the caves, nine mummies corresponding to the Ansilta culture were found.

The lacustrine system of the north of Mendoza is barely known although it has an important ecological and cultural richness. That was the means of life of the last Huarpes, native population of Cuyo, and it is the current scenery for creoles closely related to life in lagoons. 

For those loving altitudes, the roof of América is found in Mendoza: the Aconcaguamount with its 6,959 m. From Malargüe, in summer, it can be reached another privileged spot of the High Mendoza Andes: Valle Hermoso, just a step further the ski resort Las Leñas. This region offers a diversity of ecotourism options like walks in the virgin forests, ridings in the snow and rafting at its rapids.

La Payunia is the land of volcanoes. Traveling through its roads is an opportunity to confirm the modeling and sculpting force of its eruptions. Solidified lava flows are found everywhere, surrounded by the invasive expertise of the plateau vegetations. Its guanaco troops are among the largest.  

Llancanelo Lagoon hosts many aquatic birds. Easily accessible from the road that joins San Luis with San Juan, visitors should not miss a visit to Sierra de las Quijadas National park, which offers huge testimonies of the geologic, paleontological and archaeological past.  The woodland region also has many flora and fauna.