Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Rodeo
02647 / POP 2600 / ELEV 2010M
Rodeo is a small, ramshackle town with picturesque adobe houses typical of the region,
42km west of San José de Jáchal.
Rodeo has recently become famous - world famous - for
windsurfing
and
kitesurf-
ing
. The town is only 3km away from one of the best windsurfing sites on the planet:
Dique Cuesta del Viento
, a reservoir where, between mid-October and early May, wind
speeds reach 120km/h nearly every afternoon, drawing surfers from around the globe.
Even if you don't take to the wind, it's worth spending a day or two wandering around
Rodeo and hanging out on the beach absorbing the spectacular views and watching the
insanity of airborne windsurfers.
Inside the town hall, the
tourist office
(municipalidad_iglesia@yahoo.com.ar;
8am-8pm)
provides a list of places to stay and information on local attractions.
From San Juan's bus terminal, there are several departures daily for Rodeo (AR$30,
5½ hours).
Sleeping & Eating
Rancho Lamaral
HOSTEL $
( 0264-15-660-1197;
www.rancholamaral.com
;
dm/d AR$100/280)
On Playa Lamaral, on the
shore of the reservoir, HI-affiliate Rancho Lamaral offers simple rooms in a refurbished
adobe house. It also offers windsurfing classes and kitesurfing courses, and rents all
equipment.
50 Nudos
HOTEL $$$
( 011-15-5759-0525;
www.50nudos.com
; Puque s/n; s/d AR$238/420)
50 Nudos offers
charming, rustic rooms. Follow the signs from the main street to these. Optional are lar-
ger rooms with sitting area and breakfast served in your room.
La Surfera
INTERNATIONAL $
(Santo Domingo s/n; mains AR$50-90; noon-1am; )
La Surfera is on the main street in
the center of town. This laid-back restaurant/cafe/reggae bar is HQ for Rodeo's surpris-
ingly large hippy community. Vegetarian meals are predictably good; meat dishes could
be better.
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