Ischigualasto Provincial Park

El Submarino

Ischigualasto Provincial Park is in the Cuyo region of Argentina. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site with Talampaya National Park in La Rioja.

Understand

History

The park shows layers of ground that the Andes Cordillera pushed so that it is now horizontal and in the surface. The rocks are from the Triassic era (240-195 million years ago) which is the beginning of the dinausors era.

Climate

The park can close some days in February and March due to rain but the sky is rather clear the rest of the year.

The temperatures can be as high as 60ºC during summer afternoons and as low as -15ºC during winter nights.

Get in

The nearest place to get in from is Valle Fértil (45 minutes), either with your own car or bus travel agencies in Valle Fértil. As many people go with their car, another option is to hitchhike. You can also get in the park from San Juan (around 4 hours).

Fees and permits

the park entrance costs AR$70 (AR$35 for Argentinians). It is open from 09:00 till 16:00 during winter and 08:00 till 17:00 during summer. It can also be visited during full-moon nights.

See

There are 5 main view points in the park:

• El Gusano, rock formations that look like a worm
• Valle Pintado where you can see the different parts of the Triassic based on the landscape colors
• Cancha de Bochas, rocks shaped as balls that formed by adherence in a river
• El Submarino, rocks that look like a submarine viewed from a certain angle
• El Hongo, a single rock that looks like a mushroom

Do

A bike tour and a trek to a mountain that offer a panoramic view of the park.

Buy

There is an artesanal shop at the entrance of the park.

Drink

Even though the tour through the provincial park doesn't last longer than 2½ hours, bring at least a 1.5 liter bottle of water as the climate is characterised by dazzlingly dry warmth. There is a kiosco at the entrance of the park where you can buy snacks and drinks.

Sleep

There are no hostels or camp sites at the provincial park. The best thing to do is to stay at a hostel in Valle Fértil and go to Ischigualasto by car or book an organised excursion from there to Ischigualasto.