Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
only). You'll pass the
Del Toro Gorge
as well
as
El Balcón,
the 600-meter/1,968-foot abyss
where Darwin studied the petrified remains of
the Araucanian civilization during his journey
to Chile. The route leads to a mountain plain
populated by
ñandúes
.
Ñandúes
A member of the rhea family, as is the North
American ostrich, these tall flightless birds
are found throughout Argentina and are
known for their great speed.
Your first glimpse of Upsallata, next en route,
will be from
Cruz de Paramillos
. At 3,000
meters/9,840 feet above sea level, this is also a
fine vantage point from which to admire the
striking contrast between the
pre-cordillera
,or
foothills, and the Andes.
Tip
Los Caracoles is occasionally closed to
traffic. Make sure the route is passable
before setting out. You may want to
take an alternate route through the
Cajón del Río Mendoza, las Termas de
Cachueta and the Valle de Potrerillos.
Lovely
Upsallata
takes its name from the
Quechua word
Chuspallacta,
which means
enclosed town. It is set in a beautiful valley
formed by the Cordillera del Tigre to the west
and the Santa Elena Gorge and Cordón de
