ANDEAN VALLEYS

LA RIOJA, SAN JUAN & MENDOZA, ANDEAN VALLEYS OF CUYO
(5 Days – 4 Nights)

SERVICES / ITINERARY
Total Distance 1.400 km

  • Day 1 La Rioja, Transfer IN. Accommodation in La Rioja.
    Reception at the airport or bus terminal and transfer to Hotel in La Rioja.


  • Day 2 La Rioja – Valle de la Luna – Villa Unión
    Excursion to Ischigualasto Provincial Park (Moon Valley) in San Juan. Accommodation in Villa Union (La Rioja). Depart from La Rioja to Ischigualasto Provincial Park (Valle de la Luna, Province of San Juan), which together with Talampaya National Park (La Rioja) were declared by the UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site by its landscape, scientific, archaeological, paleontological and geological value. We enter with our vehicles to a 3 hours circuit with 5 stops, observing unusual geo sculpted by wind and rain forms such as the Worm, bocce court, the submarine, the mushroom and the red canyons. In the afternoon transfer to Villa Union.


  • Day 3 Villa Unión – Talampaya – Villa Unión.
    Excursion to Talampaya National Park. Accommodation in Villa Union. Depart from Villa Union to Talampaya National Park, also a World Heritage Site for being the only place on Earth where on surface are exposed sedimentary layers of the entire Triassic Period. We enter the circuit in park vehicles on groups “Talampaya Canyon” 2.5 hours, entering the dry riverbed of Tala, between straight and imposing cliffs 150 m high, the Grand Canyon, with 4 stops, watching petroglyphs, palpable evidence of the passing of former inhabitants of the region, representative vegetation, fauna and varied geo carved by erosion over millions of years, such as the Wizard king, the Gothic cathedral, the tower and the Monk forms, among others. In the afternoon we return to the hotel in Villa Union.


     

  • Day 4 Villa Unión – Rodeo – Calingasta – Barreal.
    Excursion to the Valleys of Iglesia and Calingasta. Accommodation in Barreal (San Juan). Leaving Villa Union to visit the Enchanted Vallecito with exotic geo-forms near Guandacol, last Rioja village before moving to the Valley of Calingasta in the Province of San Juan, where we visit Huaco, its ancient Mill, Jachal, Cuesta del Viento Dam and Rodeo. After lunch we cross the Quebrada of San Juan River to Calingasta Valley, where we visit the Alcazar Mountain, shaped by erosion, opposite of the Hilario ruins, old metal foundry. Finally we come to the peaceful Barreal with its long boulevards lined by the clear cool waters of Los Patos River and guarded by large rocks such as Cerro Mercedario (6.770m) And the imposing Aconcagua (6.959m).


  • Day 5 Barreal – Uspallata – Aconcagua – Mendoza.
    Excursion to El Leoncito National Park, Uspallata and the Aconcagua Provincial Park. Ending in Mendoza. Excursion to Leoncito and High Mountain: Starting from Barreal to the Pampa of Leoncito old plain with lake sediments where activities in blow cart (sail carts) can be practiced. We visit El Leoncito National Park, the Astronomical Complex Carlos U. Cesco 2,250 meters whose facilities have been acknowledged internationally for the clearness of the atmosphere for astral observation. We continue to the town of Uspallata, Province of Mendoza, where we take the international route to Chile to the high mountains of the Andes, to visit the Puente del Inca (Inca Bridge), curious rock formation with thermal water springs and the Aconcagua Park, where we can observe close this majestic Hill of 6,959 meters Summit of the Americas, Sentinel of the Andes. In the afternoon we start the descent to the city of Mendoza, on the banks of the mighty rivers Mendoza and White, through the Villa and the Potrerillos Dam, between the Pre-Andes and the Cordon del Plata. End of services.