Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ESSENTIALS
GETTING THERE Aeropuerto Vicente Almandoz Almonacid ( & 3822/439211 ) is
7km (4 miles) fr om the city center . Aerolíneas Argentinas ( & 0810/222-86527 ) flies
from Buenos Aires for $250 (£169) and $300 (£203), depending on the season and aail-
ability.
The Terminal de O mnibus, or main bus station, is located at O rtiz de O campo
Avenue and Cir cunvalación ( & 3822/425453 ). B uses arriv e fr om B uenos Air es and
travel to S alta, Catamar ca, and other cities in the r egion. E mpresa La Riojana
( & 3822/435279 ) offers buses daily to locations within the pr ovince such as Chilecito.
If you opt to rent a car, try Winer Rent, Santa Fe 642 ( & 3822/425453 ).
VISITOR INFORMATION & FAST FACTS The regional visitor center is located at
Av. Pelagio B Luna 345 ( & 3822/426384 ). It is open weekdays from 7am to 9pm and
weekends from 9am to 9pm.
Banco Río faces the main plaza and has a 24-hour ATM. The bank is open weekdays
from 9am to 2pm.
TOUR OPERATORS Runacay, Villa U nion ( & 3825/470368; www.runacay.com),
and Rolling Travel , 25 de M ayo 36, 2nd floor , Cór doba ( & 351/5709909; www.
rollingtravel.com), are the two local agencies that conduct 1-day tours of the national
parks. Always make sure your guide is bilingual before booking.
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SEEING THE SIGHTS
You might find yourself with an afternoon to spare in the city between tours to the parks.
Convento de Santo Domingo, at Pelagio B. Luna and Lamadrid (no phone), is worth a
visit. Built in 1623, this chur ch is one of the oldest buildings in Argentina and a fitting
memorial to the local indigenous folk who built it. While the Spanish preferred adobe,
this church is entirely built of stone, with a wooden r oof that has withstood the test of
time. Especially interesting are the elaborately carved carob doors. It is open Monday to
Friday 8am to 12:30pm and 4 to 8pm; S aturday to Sunday 9am to 1pm and 4 to 8pm.
Mercado Artesanal, at Pelagio B. L una and Catamar ca (no phone), is a crafts mar ket,
where you will find genuine textiles and ceramics made in the ar ea. It is open M onday
to Friday 8am to 12:30pm and 4 to 8pm; Saturday to Sunday 9am to 1pm and 4 to 8pm.
Museo Folklórico, Pelagio B. Luna 811 (no phone), is a rambling house of dar k rooms
and pretty courtyards built in 1692. The museum offers a ramshackle display of local
mythology and customs, be it photographs of giant, holy r ocks in the deser t, or proces-
sions of Indians with mirrored headdresses. Interesting is the medieval-looking wine press
made from cow skin or the side r oom containing silverware from a famous local silv er-
smith. Open daily 9am to noon and 3 to 8pm.
WHAT TO SEE & DO
Parque Nacional Talampaya The Triassic period is known as the age of dino-
saurs. The 50-million-y ear-old era saw the first emergence of r eptiles and flo wering
plants, and Talampaya National Park has captured it all like a perfect geological etching.
Multiple layers of sediments hav e fallen on what used to be a tr opical zone, allowing
scientists to date and study , indeed disco ver, what life was like 200 million y
8
ears ago
through fossilized remains.
It also makes for some pr etty spectacular scenery in a UNESCO World Heritage Site
that covers more than 215,000 hectar es (a half-million acr es). The 150m-high (492-ft.)
red sandstone walls ar e as sharp as diamond-cut marble. The park tour bus takes y ou
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