Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
to the hollow-log bathtubs. Prices drop on weekdays and from April to mid-Decem-
ber.
Transporte Silver minibuses connect Villa Ventana with Sierra de la Ventana
(AR$11.50, 25 minutes) three to five times daily depending on the season; remises
(taxis) cost AR$80. The
tourist office
(
0291-491-0095;
8am-6pm Mon-Thu, to 7pm Fri-
Sun, to 8pm daily Jan & Feb)
is located at the town's entrance.
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Parque Provincial Ernesto Tornquist
This 67-sq-km
park
( 491-0039; adult/child AR$10/4; 8am-5pm Dec-Mar, 9am-5pm Apr-
Nov)
, 22km from Sierra de la Ventana, draws visitors from throughout the province.
There are two entrances. The first is 5km west of Villa Ventana and home to the
Centro
de Visitantes
, which has a small display on local ecology. The main hike here is
Cerro
Bahía Blanca
(two hours roun-trip), offering great views. There are also
Cuevas con
Pinturas Repustres
(cave paintings), but you can only visit these with a guided tour,
available from various agencies around Sierra de la Ventana.
The park's highlight, however, is at its other entrance, 3km further west. The five-hour
(round-trip) hike to 1150m
Cerro de la Ventana
leads to a window-shaped rock forma-
tion near its peak. The climb offers dramatic views of surrounding hills and the distant
pampas. Register with rangers before 11am at the trailhead, and take plenty of water and
sun protection.
Less demanding destinations accessible from the Cerro de la Ventana trailhead include
Piletones
(2½ hours round-trip) and
Garganta Olvidada
(one hour round-trip). To visit
the gorge and waterfall pool at
Garganta del Diablo
(six hours round-trip), you must go
with a tour company.
Transportes Silver minibuses head to the park three to five times daily from Sierra de
la Ventana (AR$16, 40 minutes) and Villa Ventana (AR$11, 15 minutes). For better tim-
ing to catch the park opening, arrange for a
remise
(taxi) to take you to the park from Si-
erra de la Ventana (around AR$140).
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Santa Rosa
02954 / POP 103,000
