Talampaya National Park
Explore the trails of the native cultures and the first dinosaurs on Earth.
Discover a mysterious red desert that emerged from deep inside the Earth when the Andes Mountains were formed. You will be surprised by its walls that merge into the skyline. Watch the rocks and the curious figures shaped by the water, the sun and the wind in millions of years. Enjoy a trip to our origins at the Talampaya National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Here you will discover one of the most appealing natural formations of Argentina: the Talampaya Canyon, where fossils of the Lagosuchus Talampayensis, one of the first dinosaurs on Earth, were found. Get a close look at its footprints, which have been marked on the rocks for 250 million years. See the petroglyphs that the Diaguita and Ciénaga cultures carved into the stones between the 3rd and the 9th century. A millenary adventure is waiting for you.
How to get here: From Villa Unión (77 km), province of La Rioja, via Ruta Nacional 76. Also, from San Agustín del Valle Fértil (99 km), in the province of San Juan, via Ruta Provincial 510 and then Ruta Nacional 76.
Area: 215,000 hectares.
Altitude: 1,300 above sea level.
Climate: arid (desert). Temperatures can reach -9°C in winter and 50°C in summer.
Ideal time of the year: March through June and September through November.
Recommended length of stay: 2 to 4 days.
Recommended clothing: a light jacket, comfortable preferably light-colored clothes, sunscreen, sunglasses, hat or cap, and appropriate footwear according to the activity.
What to do: take a bicycle or a 4x4 ride around the park. Enjoy a full moon night view. Visit Chimenea, El Monje, El Ascensor, Los Cajones, La Catedral, Ciudad Perdida and Arco Iris circuits.
Tips: due to the fragility of the environment, visits to the National Park are only allowed in tours with authorized vehicles and guides.