San Juan
The Moon on Earth
San Juan’s landscape is kind of similar to the northern area but with a different style and culture. In the area of Ischigualasto National Park the land presents a very particular topography: white soils and strange rocky formations. Also, the sky is always deep blue. In a few words, it is like walking on the moon. That’s why it is called “Valle de la Luna” (Moon Valley).
Ischigualasto National Park used to be inhabited by dinosaurs, so when walking around the park it is common to find dinosaur fossils. It is a great place to explore and discover how the earth used to be during the Triassic Period.
San Guillermo National Park is another place to visit in San Juan province. This is the biggest natural reservation of the country of “vicuñas” (a type of camelid that’s famous for its thin fur fiber). Also, this park used to be part of the Inca trail.
Argentina is known for its many religious pilgrimages, many of which are on horseback. This type of pilgrimage gathers lots of riders that turn up with their best criollo horses and their “recados” (gaucho saddle) to go on these long cavalcades. The Pilgrimage of “la Difunta Correa” (a character of the Gaucho culture) takes place in San Juan and gathers more than 5.000 people (riders and carriages). Together, they ride for 60 km starting from the city of San Juan to the Difunta Correa sanctuary.