Provincial Park Ischigualasto in Argentina
Drive Through Valle de la Luna, or Moon Valley, in San Juan Province
Apr 3, 2009
In northwest Argentina lie two major, contiguous, natural parks; they are linked by history, geography and the fact that UNESCO declared both locations one UNESCO World Heritage Site: National Park Talampaya and Provincial Park Ischigualasto. Provincial borders divide the parks: Talampaya lies in La Rioja Province while Ischigualasto lies in San Juan Province.
Dinosaur Fossils in Ischigualasto Provincial Park
Ischigualasto Provincial Park is Argentina's richest area in terms of dinosaur fossils, and the world's oldest dinosaur thus far was found here. The small animal is less than one meter long, and a replica is displayed in the well set-up museum of the park, along with several other replicas of dinosaurs and dinosaur fossils.
"Museo de Ciencias Naturales” ["Museum of Natural Science"], at the entrance of Ischigualasto Provincial Park, gives a good insight into the size and habitat of dinosaurs. The museum has explanatory panels [Spanish only] about the discovery of dinosaur fossils and bones, as well as about theories of the dinosaur's extinction.
Circuito Vehicular in Valle de la Luna
Ischigualasto Provincial Park's utterly bare, eerie and uninhabitable appearance has gained the park the name of "Valle de la Luna" ["Valley of the Moon"]. Valle de la Luna in itself is not an unusual epithet for a landscape in South America – the Atacama Desert in Chile, for instance, has a Valle de la Luna as well. Nevertheless, the name is apt: In Ischigualasto Provincial Park, forty kilometres of unpaved roads climb and descend through an undulating region of absolute nothingness. At the end of the day, with the sun low at the horizon, small lizards may cross the path but other than that, life appears to be extinct.
The aridity of the region, the rough rocks and the barren landscape make it impossible to imagine that creatures like dinosaurs once dominated a green and lush landscape, as the numerous dinosaur fossils and bones testify. The excursion through Ischigualasto Provincial Park leads past towering, red-stoned walls as well as bizarre, white-greyish stone formations. The latter have fitting names like "Cancha de Bochas" ["ball court"], "El Esfinge" ["sphinx"], "El Hongo" ["mushroom"] and "El Submarino".
Ischigualasto Provincial Park can be visited by a daily, two-hour excursion through the park in convoy: visitors without private transport board a bus, people with their own vehicle follow. The convoy will stop at regular intervals, when a guide gives an animated explanation of the meaning of rock art in Ischigualasto Provincial Park. Rock art consists of geometric figures, human figures and animals, as well as of dinosaur fossils and the geographical history of the lunar landscapes.
Valle de la Luna – Opening Hours and Entrance Fee
- Opening Hours: 9am-4pm April-September; 8am-5pm October-March.
- Entrance Fee: 35 pesos [US$ 10], including Museum and Circuito Vehicular.
- For the ultimate time of the day to take photos of Ischigualasto Provincial Park's lunar landscape, check with the park rangers which time is best to take a tour – this varies per season.
Ischigualasto Provincial Park – Accommodation and Transportation
- Camping at Ischigualasto Provincial Park is permitted at 3 pesos [US$ 1]. The site is very basic and has no shade. There are toilets and showers. For other accommodation, a stay at San Agustín is recommended [hosterías and bed & breakfasts].
- Ischigualasto Provincial Park lies 80 kilometres north of San Agustín along Ruta 510. There is no public transport and the park is best visited by private vehicle or on an organized tour from San Agustín or San Juan.
Argentina – Country of Dinosaur Fossils
Readers interested in dinosaur fossils may be interested in the dinosaur museums in the province of Neuquén. Travellers to west Argentina may be interested in other highlights of San Juan Province.
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