Ischigualasto Provincial Park
Feel the mystery of a landscape that seems to be from another planet, declared a World Heritage Site.
A mysterious experience. Lunar-looking soil. Unusual shapes that have been sculpted by the water, the sun and the wind for millions of years. Visit the Valley of the Moon in the Ischigualasto Provincial Park and watch the evolution of the Earth. Step on the same ways the dinosaurs did millions of years ago. Take your senses to the Triassic Period of the Mesozoic Era. Discover the secrets of a World Heritage Site.
Start your journey in a small village, San Agustín del Valle Fértil. Climb Cerro Morado up to the top. Watch the condors fly and the special vegetation of the area with mountain species, cacti, broom and jarillas. You will see guanacos, foxes and vizcachas. Take a ride around the park and visit the Valle Pintado; you will be stunned by its unusual mysteriously shaped stones. Enjoy a journey from out of this world.
How to get here: from San Agustín del Valle Fértil (99 km), Province of San Juan, via Ruta Provincial 510 and then Ruta Nacional 76. Also from Villa Unión (77 km), Province of La Rioja, via Ruta Nacional 76.
Area: 62,000 hectares.
Altitude: 879 meters above sea level (average).
Climate: arid (desert). Temperatures can reach -9°C in winter and 50°C in summer.
Ideal time of the year: March through June and September through November.
Recommended length of stay: 2 to 4 days.
Recommended clothing: a light jacket, comfortable preferably light-colored clothes, sunscreen, sunglasses, hat or cap, and appropriate footwear according to the activity.
What to do: Visit the interpretation center at the entrance of the park, which showcases replicas of the most important fossils found in this place. Enjoy night walks under the full moonlight.
Tips: due to the fragility of the environment, visits to the National Park are only allowed in tours with authorized vehicles and guides.