Trip Outline
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1 About
About
Is a provincial park in San Juan Province covering an area of 63,000 hectares, more commonly known as “Valle de la Luna” (Valley of the Moon). Together with Talampaya, it forms a single continuous unit: the Ischigualasto–Talampaya site, where the complete Triassic period can be observed at the surface. The site has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The natural boundary between the two parks, which also serves as the interprovincial boundary, is the summit of the low mountain formation known as Sierra Morada, which drops abruptly toward the west. For this reason, when viewed from Valle de la Luna, it is known as “Las Barrancas Coloradas” (The Red Cliffs).
The area open to tourism is organized into a single 3-hour circuit, carried out by vehicle with several stops along the way. Visitors can see geological formations such as El Gusano (The Worm), where fossilized ferns can also be found; Valle Pintado (Painted Valley), the area that gave Valle de la Luna its name due to its distinctive landscape; Cancha de Bochas (Bowling Ball Court), accessed via a short hike of approximately 40 minutes; La Esfinge (The Sphinx), El Submarino (The Submarine), El Hongo (The Mushroom), and Las Barrancas Coloradas (The Red Cliffs).
2 Included
Included
Includes the official Ischigualasto vehicle circuit, with intermediate stops to observe the park’s main geological formations, as well as the short hike to Cancha de Bochas (Bowling Ball Court).
3 Excluded
Excluded
Park entrance fees are not included, nor are additional services such as meals, guides in other languages, or any other services not mentioned.
4 Recommendations
Recommendations
Comfortable footwear, a hat or cap, sunscreen, water, light clothing, and a warm layer for the return are recommended. It is also suggested to bring a camera to make the most of the geological landscapes.
