Description

Operational notes: Day 1: Early arrival in the morning is required. Day 3: Between June and October, the access to Brava Lagoon is subject to weather and roads conditions. In some cases, it turns impossible to reach Brava Lagoon, so it is necessary to return 10 km before reaching it. Day 4: The internal tour included in the Talampaya Experience is 2.30 hours. Departure flight must be after 9 PM. Day 1 San Juan. Arrival and reception at the airport; transfer to the hotel. At the appointed time, we will visit the city and its surroundings to see the most relevant points of the city Day 2 San Juan / Villa Unión. B We leave the city to drive towards De La Luna Valley, also known as Ischigualasto Provincial Park, declared Natural Heritage Site by UNESCO. Ischigualasto is the only place on Earth where it is possible to observe a full sequence of continental sediments, dating back to the Triassic Period. During the tour, we will be able to visit the most famous landforms of this Park: The Mushroom, the Submarine, the “Bochas” Court and Painted Valley. In addition, we visit the William Museum, where we can see real fossils and observe how archaeologists work with them. The traditional circuit finish when we visit the Interpretative Center, where we appreciate Ischigualasto’s scientific value and observe the timeline from the Triassic period up to present. Continue to Villa Unión. Travelled distance: 400 km (249 miles) Travel time: 9 hours Day 3 Villa Unión. B L Early in the morning, we leave Villa Unión towards De La Troya Gorge, passing by formations like the Pyramid, which are the result of wind and water erosion. Little by little, we begin the ascent to the Andes Mountain Range by the multi-coloured Del Peñón Gorge, to finally arrive to the Portezuelo’s Lagoon (4.350 MASL-14.271 ft.), access to Brava Lagoon. From October to March, we are able to contemplate the magnificent pink flamingos that feed on plankton of icy salt water. If weather allows, we reach the lagoon’s refuge, where we observe striking formations, which are the geysers of Brava Lagoon. Return to Villa Unión. Travelled distance: 376 km (233 miles) Travel time: 9 hours Day 4 Villa Unión / La Rioja or San Juan. B Today we visit Talampaya National Park, declared Natural Heritage Site by UNESCO. In this Park, we observe geological formations of the Triassic period, different from those seen in Ischigualasto. To visit its attractions, we take an internal tour making stops at different stations, where we appreciate how wind and water erosion shaped formations such as The Gothic Cathedral, The Monk, The Tower, among others. Finally, return to La Rioja or San Juan airports. Travelled distance: 210 km (130 miles) Travel time: 7/8 hours Notes All services are private, except for the internal tour of the Talampaya Canyon. Day 1: A City Tour will take place at noon in the city of San Juan. During the tour, the birthplace of Sarmiento will be visited, which is closed on SUNDAYS & MONDAYS. Day 3: Since access to Laguna Brava is subject to weather conditions and road conditions, we recommend not starting the trip during the months of June and July. Day 4: The internal tour of Talampaya is through the Classic Experience, which includes stops at the following stations: Petroglifs, Botanical Garden, Gothic Cathedral, and The Monk. The departure flight must be after 9 PM from the city of San Juan.