Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Despite the shortage of visitors here, access to the park is excellent: buses from San
Luis to San Juan will drop visitors at the park entrance and ranger station just beyond the
village of Hualtarán, about 110km northwest of San Luis via RN147 (San Juan is 210km
to the northwest). At this point, a 6km dirt road leads west to a viewpoint overlooking the
Potrero de la Aguada
, a scenic depression beneath the peaks of the sierra that collects
the runoff from much of the park and is a prime wildlife area. At the ranger station you
can hire guides; two-hour, 3km treks to see the famous dinosaur footprints leave hourly
between 9am and 4pm and cost AR$80 per person. Four-hour treks to a 150m-deep
canyon in the park leave at 1:30pm and cost AR$150. A minimum group size of two
people applies to both treks.
Other
hiking
possibilities in the park are excellent, but the complex canyons require a
tremendous sense of direction or, preferably, the assistance of a local guide. Even experi-
enced hikers should beware of summer rains and flash floods, which make the canyons
extremely dangerous.
There's a shady free
campground
near the overlook, and a small store with groceries
and drinks, including very welcome ice-cold beer.
Buses from San Juan to San Luis pass every hour or so, but they don't always stop. It's
sometimes possible to catch a lift from the park entrance to the overlook.
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Valle de las Sierras Puntanas
From San Luis the RP9 snakes its way northwards, following the course of the Río
Grande. Along the way, small villages are slowly developing as tourist destinations while
still retaining much of their original character. The picturesque mining town of Carolina
and nearby Inti Huasi cave are highlights of the region, and the landscapes higher up in
the valley, with their rolling meadows and stone fences, probably resemble the Scottish
highlands more than anything you've seen in Argentina so far.
Estancia Las Verbenas
Set in a gorgeous glade in the Valle de Pancanta, this
estancia
( 0266-429-6151;
www.lasverbenas.com.ar
; RP9, Km68; per person incl full board AR$320; )
does rustic to the
hilt, with plenty of hearty food served up among animal-skin decoration and rough-hewn
furniture. Rooms are basic but comfortable. Three-hour horseback-riding tours (AR$120
per person) to a nearby waterfall are bound to be a highlight of your stay here. The sign-
posted entrance to the property is located just after the bridge on the highway, from
