Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
At the confluence of the Río Neuquén and the Río Limay, Neuquén is the province's
easternmost city. Most travelers hit Neuquén en route to more glamorous destinations in
Patagonia and the Lake District - the town is the area's principal transport hub, with
good connections to Bariloche and other Lake District destinations, to the far south and
to Chile. Paved highways go east to the Río Negro valley, west toward Zapala and south-
west toward Bariloche.
Sights
Wineries
WINERY
Just outside of town are three of the most important Patagonian wineries -
NQN
(
0299-489-7500;
www.bodeganqn.com.ar
; RP7, Picada 15; 9am-1pm & 2-4pm Mon-Fri,
10:30am-4:30pm Sat & Sun)
,
Fin del Mundo
( 0299-555-5330;
www.bodegadelfindelmundo.com
; RP8, Km9, San Patricio Del Chañar; 10am-4pm Mon-Fri,
Patricio del Chañar; admission AR$30; 9am-5pm Mon-Fri, 10:30am-5:30pm Sat & Sun)
. Access
to the vineyards is almost impossible without your own vehicle, but Turismo Arauquen
can get you out there, often in combination with a paleontological tour.
Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes
MUSEUM
(cnr Bartolomé Mitre & Santa Cruz; 10am-8pm Mon-Sat, 4-8pm Sun)
Showcases fine arts
from the region and often features traveling exhibitions.
BIG, BIG BONES
In 1989 a local Neuquenian named Guillermo Heredia discovered a dinosaur bone
on his property 7km east of the town of Plaza Huincul. Paleontologists investigated
the site and later unearthed a dozen bones belonging to what they named Argen-
tinosaurus huinculensis- the largest known dinosaur in the world. The gargantuan
herbivore, dating from the mid-Cretaceous period, measured an incredible 40m
long and 18m high.
The sheer size of the Argentinosaurus huinculensisis difficult to fathom, which is
why stopping to gawk at the replica skeleton at Plaza Huincul's
Museo Municipal
Carmen Funes
(
0299-496-5486; Córdoba 55; AR$10;
9am-7pm Mon-Fri, 10:30am-8:30pm
Sat & Sun)
is a humbling lesson in size.
Along with Parque Provincial Ischigualasto in San Juan province, Neuquén is one
of the earth's dinosaur hot spots. Here, three important paleontology sites ‒ Plaza
