 |
 |
|
 |
  |
|
 |
  |
|
 Julián Varsasky  Sandra Bonetto |
||
| In the southwestern vertex of the map of San Juan, there is a great valley crossed by rivers and channels and surrounded by snow-capped mountains that hide some of the quietest and most beautiful sceneries in the Cuyo region. |
 |
|
The Calingasta Valley is located 180 kilometers from the city of San Juan and it has always had the constant surveillance of two stone guardians that seem to lie in wait for visitors during each journey: Mount Mercedario, of 6,770 meters of height, and the massive Aconcagua, which reaches the 6,960 meters.
The valley tourist resort is in the southern area, in the mild district of El Barreal, a town with dirt roads with a line of straight poplars on each side and a refreshing ditch with thaw waters. El Barreal is a tourist village located at the foot of the Ansilta pre-Andean mountain range, which contains several cabins resorts, inns and camping sites, as well as adventure travel operators that offer horseback excursions, landyachting, rafting and hiking. The Pampa and the Lion 40 kilometers from the town lies the El Leoncito natural reserve –under the National Parks Administration - , which is the main tourist attraction visited from El Barreal. There is the “barreal” itself, a quagmire after which the town is named. A dry plain measuring fourteen kilometers of length and five of width where a lake dried out some several millions of years ago. The view is extremely weird, radiantly white, with some traits of the lunar landscape. There is not a single bush or dry branch, and only an even soil with some cracks in the shape of pentagons are reproduced with the geometric accuracy of a web. |
 |
 |
|
Apart from being a beautiful landscape, the quagmire may be the best landyatching track in the world. The vehicle used for this activity has two car rear wheels, one motorcycle front wheel, two steel frames with fuselage and an aluminum mast that moves by the action of the wind.
Tourist operators of this sport discipline have a special vehicle for two people. The companion does not need to do anything but enjoy. But if they feel assured, they may learn how to maneuver the vehicle, which zigzags along forming curves of up to 200 meters. The feeling of going at top speed along a dry terrain may be compared with the idea of sailing full steam ahead across the desert, but in silence. If the companion is not afraid, the driver may make some pirouettes, such as bending the car to one side or lifting it so that it rides on two wheels. |
 |
 |
|
8,000-year-old Cultures
A few kilometers from El Barreal, an excursion is made on a 4x4-truck to Los Morrillos, a shelter in the heights that depends on the Fundación Vida Silvestre (Wildlife Foundation) and that provides visitors with an approach to the local fauna and the remains of the various cultures that dwelled the Calingasta Valley during 8,000 years. Los Morrillos is a private protected area where cave paintings, petroglyphs, bonfire remains and the remains of 17 mummies and small children were found underground. The cultures that inhabited this area were La Fortuna (6,500 to 6,000 years BC), Los Morrillos (5,900 to 2,000 BC) and Ansilta (1,800 to 500 BC). The tour to the shelter hides surprises such as the sudden apparition of a hundred guanacos with its sentry male in front. Furthermore, small groups of suris, a kind of very small local ostriches, may be spotted. The tour includes the visit to three caves decorated with abstract cave paintings. Many travelers usually choose to stay at the rustic cabin located in Los Morrillos in order to explore the area in depth on horseback. To Take into Account: How to Get There: A shuttle for four people leaves from El Barreal to the landyatching track. Timetable: To be arranged Duration: Three hours Level of Difficulty: Low Recommendations: Wear sun protection and sunglasses. |
 |
See also: Hotels in San Juan and other accommodation venues |
| Contact: Fortuna Viajes y Turismo (5400) San Juan - San Juan Tel/Fax: +54 (264) 8441004 |
| Back to San Juan |
© 2003-2008 Total or partial reproduction forbidden. Derechos de Autor 675246 Ley 11723