Parque Provincial Ischigualasto
Parque Provincial Ischigualasto
Parque Provincial Ischigualasto
4.5
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
Ischigualasto Provincial Park, also called Valle de la Luna ("Valley of the Moon" or "Moon Valley"), due to its otherworldly appearance, is a provincial protected area in the north-east of San Juan Province, north-western Argentina, limiting to the north with the Talampaya National Park, in La Rioja Province. Both areas belong to the same geological formation, the Ischigualasto Formation (sometimes Ischigualasto-Talampaya Formation) Established on 3 November 1971, the park has an area of 60,370 ha (603.7 km2; 233.1 sq mi) In 2000 UNESCO included Ischigualasto and Talampaya National Park among its World Heritage Sites.
Duration: More than 3 hours
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
1,617 reviews
Excellent
1,147
Very good
385
Average
70
Poor
9
Terrible
6
Soraia
Rotterdam, The Netherlands1,003 contributions
Nov 2022 • Couples
Nice park but we were not completely overwhelmed. Not that expensive but you pay extra as a foreigner. Come with your own car so you can drive behind the guide. We had a guide that spoke a little bit English, so his effort was appreciated. We thought the tour was a bit to long. But the drive is absolutely beautiful.
Written 18 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
EduardoOliva
Montevideo, MN4 contributions
Apr 2022
Exelent experience. To get there you have a long trip from San Juan of 300 hundred Kms, of a very lonely and not a good route. No has in the way. The park is absolutely different to everything . The forms and shapes in the place are really very strange and difficult to imagine how they were formed. The guide was clear and king in a tour of aprox 3 hours. The place if you use your imagination, would be very similar to be walking in the moon.
Although of the difficulties to visit the park, it’s really worth going, it’s really different
Although of the difficulties to visit the park, it’s really worth going, it’s really different
Written 4 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mary T
Buenos Aires, Argentina2,728 contributions
Sep 2021
Go in the afternoon, preferably for the 2PM tour. You must go in your own vehicle. There is a guide who drives a park truck leading a caravan of tourists' cars. She stops at some 6 places where you get out, she explains, and you can walk around a little - always in the designated areas. The highlights are interesting, but perhaps the most stunning part of the park is the scenery, especially the backdrop of the red cliffs behind. The colors of the part itself are whites, beiges and greys, very interesting. The drive out of the park (17 kilometers from the last stop on the tour) has a greater palette and is quite spectacular. A definite must-see.
Written 14 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bor2lus
London, UK124 contributions
Dec 2019
You obv need a car to get here. Tours are about 3 hours long as you need to drive around the National Park. You'll get to experience world's history, living and breathing all around you, plus the fact you are stepping foot on Triassic land...it's a rain of knowledge. Lots of beautiful and incredible rock formations, and great story telling about mammals and dinosaur that occupied these lands.
Written 28 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tim252
Salisbury, UK724 contributions
Jan 2020
Do not miss the opportunity to visit this stunning park. If you have your own car just turn up at the entrance, pay your fee and join a convoy of vehicles on a 40 Km drive over reasonable tracks.
Written 28 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Shekhar
2 contributions
Oct 2019
The natural highlight of our trip to Argentina.
There is a system that allows your car (in our case with our driver, guide, and generally good person, Jorge Luis Ontevirus of Comechingones Viajes, Merlo, San Luis Province) in. The lead car has the guide, a very good one who managed to communicate with us just fine though we had no Spanish and he had a little English.
The park is very well managed, the views incredible. Two museums, at beginning and midway, the circuit took us around 3 hours, approximately 40 km.
Excellent organization, friendly staff, unforgettable experience.
There is a system that allows your car (in our case with our driver, guide, and generally good person, Jorge Luis Ontevirus of Comechingones Viajes, Merlo, San Luis Province) in. The lead car has the guide, a very good one who managed to communicate with us just fine though we had no Spanish and he had a little English.
The park is very well managed, the views incredible. Two museums, at beginning and midway, the circuit took us around 3 hours, approximately 40 km.
Excellent organization, friendly staff, unforgettable experience.
Written 6 November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tripodics
Middle Island, NY123 contributions
Jul 2019 • Couples
We visited Ischigualasto National Park, just before the Solar Eclipse.
These sites were very impressive, and made up for the tedious bus rides to get there from San Juan (over 3-hours each way).
The facilities are very well laid out, with long wooden walkways stretching over (and protecting) the desert beneath.
These sites were very impressive, and made up for the tedious bus rides to get there from San Juan (over 3-hours each way).
The facilities are very well laid out, with long wooden walkways stretching over (and protecting) the desert beneath.
Written 14 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nemone
Fribourg, Switzerland63 contributions
Mar 2019 • Couples
The landscapes in the park are absolutely beautiful, and even more so if you’re remotely interested in geology. Our guide was very knowledgeable and quite easy to understand with my limited knowledge of Spanish. The visit to the museum with the actual fossils was interesting, it’s only a shame that the round form of the building makes the sound really loud and the speakers difficult to understand.
The only downside to this park (and the reason I’m giving it 4 stars instead of 5) is that it’s really not ecological to have everyone do the 40 km loop in their own car! Most were only occupied by 2 people, such a waste. Plus you always have to wait for some that take pictures along the way, making the tour much longer than it would be if we all piled up in a minivan.
The only downside to this park (and the reason I’m giving it 4 stars instead of 5) is that it’s really not ecological to have everyone do the 40 km loop in their own car! Most were only occupied by 2 people, such a waste. Plus you always have to wait for some that take pictures along the way, making the tour much longer than it would be if we all piled up in a minivan.
Written 20 March 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Plymouthtraveller8
Plymouth253 contributions
Dec 2018 • Couples
This park was about 1 hours drive from our aparthotel in Valle Fertil and it was well worth the time and effort to get there. You drive into the park in your own transport and in convoy with other visitors. One car must take the park guide and that privilege fell to us as the other 5 cars did not have any spare seats.
At the first stop our guide, who spoke good english, politely indicated that we were not driving fast enough for the tour to be completed within the designated time and he offererd to drive our car himself. We reluctantly agreed and as there are no surfaced roads in the park we experienced a tour that at times could have been a warm up for a motor rally. However the car survived the experience admirably and was only in need of a good car wash as some of the clay from the "road" managed to reach the roof of the car!
The "lunar landscape" is composed of clay and all the roads or tracks are made of battered clay. These tracks become impassable at times of rain and the day of our visit was the first day in that week that the park was opened to visitors.
The scenery is certainly impressive, the Argentines have a delightful habit of naming rock formations after various physical objects such as "a sleeping indian, the bowling green, the mushroom to name just 3 rock formations. A certain degree of imagination is required and it all adds to the overall experience!
This park has had more dinosaur finds per square mile than any other place on earth and in the small but very interesting museum close to the entry barrier there are skeletons of various dinosaurs that have been found in the park, or should I say, copies of skeletons as I understand the originals are in a museum at St Juan which we did not have time to visit. The driving tour which takes about 3 hours includes a visit to the on site museum come viewing gallery which has been built over 2 skeletons of donosaurs and which are being exposed little by little as an educational experience.
The cost of the tour (excluding the car wash) was 300 AR$ per person and is suitable for people with impaired movement provided they appreciate a pre rally warm up!
At the first stop our guide, who spoke good english, politely indicated that we were not driving fast enough for the tour to be completed within the designated time and he offererd to drive our car himself. We reluctantly agreed and as there are no surfaced roads in the park we experienced a tour that at times could have been a warm up for a motor rally. However the car survived the experience admirably and was only in need of a good car wash as some of the clay from the "road" managed to reach the roof of the car!
The "lunar landscape" is composed of clay and all the roads or tracks are made of battered clay. These tracks become impassable at times of rain and the day of our visit was the first day in that week that the park was opened to visitors.
The scenery is certainly impressive, the Argentines have a delightful habit of naming rock formations after various physical objects such as "a sleeping indian, the bowling green, the mushroom to name just 3 rock formations. A certain degree of imagination is required and it all adds to the overall experience!
This park has had more dinosaur finds per square mile than any other place on earth and in the small but very interesting museum close to the entry barrier there are skeletons of various dinosaurs that have been found in the park, or should I say, copies of skeletons as I understand the originals are in a museum at St Juan which we did not have time to visit. The driving tour which takes about 3 hours includes a visit to the on site museum come viewing gallery which has been built over 2 skeletons of donosaurs and which are being exposed little by little as an educational experience.
The cost of the tour (excluding the car wash) was 300 AR$ per person and is suitable for people with impaired movement provided they appreciate a pre rally warm up!
Written 1 February 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Millet02
Atlanta, GA516 contributions
Jan 2019 • Couples
We rented a car in Mendoza and spent the night in San AgustÃn de valle fértil. We got to the park at 9am and joined the queue to follow the ranger. There are 5 stops, all vertigo and interesting.
Take a lot of water!!! It's very hot and the aren't any services until the 4th stop, most of the way through the 3 hr visit.
While the tour is cooler and more comfortable in the morning, if you want good pictures of the barrancas doradas the afternoon would be better for the angle of the sun.
Ranger spoke a tiny bit of English but if you don't speak Spanish and want the full explanation, consider hiring a tour.
Take a lot of water!!! It's very hot and the aren't any services until the 4th stop, most of the way through the 3 hr visit.
While the tour is cooler and more comfortable in the morning, if you want good pictures of the barrancas doradas the afternoon would be better for the angle of the sun.
Ranger spoke a tiny bit of English but if you don't speak Spanish and want the full explanation, consider hiring a tour.
Written 31 January 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
hay lugar para pernoctar con una camper?
Walter Carattoli
La Plata, Argentina7 contributions
Yo no he visto lugar para acampes, ni tampoco instalaciones de sanitarios o instalaciones similares, como para poder quedarse allÃ.
Es un sitio que se visita entre dos y cuatro horas, dependiendo de la época.
Carolina V
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Busco 2 personas más para dividir gastos de vehÃculo para realizar las excursiones el fin se semana largo de octubre 7/10 al 10/10. Somos 2 nosotras.
Mi idea es hacer
excursión luna llena (ischigualasto) el 7/10 o el 9/10
Talampaya el 8/10 a la mañana y circuito tradicional de Ischigualasto por la tarde.
9/10 por la mañana Cañon Arcoiris y Ciudad Perdida (talampaya)
10/10 por la mañana tal vez Rio Salado (Ischigualasto).
Si hay alguien con planes parecidos en algún caso podemos dividir el remis.
Gracias
Negralabour T
Balcarce, Argentina2 contributions
hola me pueden contar porque ruta es mejor ir desde ischigualasto a san juan capital?? voy a ir en auto.
Claudio S
Quilmes, Argentina66 contributions
Ruta 40
Adrián Sacarelo
Buenos Aires, Argentina1 contribution
Se puede hacer en auto o al menos contratar excursión desde la entrada del parque mismo? Que precio tiene en ese caso?
Silvia M
Durazno, Uruguay290 contributions
Hola Adrian, puedes ir en tu auto hasta el Parque, allà abonas la entrada ($1.200 por persona) y luego, siempre en tu vehÃculo, realizas el recorrido (Circuito tradicional). Son 40 km que se hacen en caravana, cada uno en su vehÃculo, con un guÃa que va en el primer auto. Se realizan 5 paradas para sacar fotos y en las cuales el guÃa va explicando. La primera salida es a las 9.00 am y el circuito demora aproximadamente 3 horas y media.
Que lo disfrutes!
Saludos
Silvia
jorhponce
Isidro Casanova, Argentina27 contributions
Buenas.
Estoy averiguando para pasar la noche en la zona de acampe del parque.
Pero escuche que la "remodelaron" en el 2018 aprox y ahora es todo piedra y cemento y no se puede estacar las carpas.
QuerÃa saber si alguno estuvo acampando en el ultimo tiempo con para darme info o recomendaciones. Gracias!
Hola buenas tarde, querÃa saber Desde San Juan nos combiene ir por Guaco o por San AgustÃn del valle fértil, para conocer los dos parque y dónde dormir
Alejandra V
Buenos Aires, Argentina98 contributions
Considero mejor el camino del Guaco, la 150, creo que es más cerca desde San Juan. Para los parques lo más cerca y confortable es Villa Unión. Los mismos parques también tienen camping en el estacionamiento. En el Chiflón también se puede parar aunque yo no encontré hospedaje de mi gusto y creo que es muy desolado.
Mariana C
Buenos Aires, Argentina33 contributions
Hola! Quisiera saber si se puede recorrer el parque Ischigualasto en auto o debe ser en camioneta? El camino de recorrido es de ripio? Está en buen estado? Tengo mi auto pero es algo bajo y para la ciudad 😞 temo no poder recorrerlo asÃ. Es un solo guÃa por caravana? Gracias!
Dónde se puede acampar cerca del recorrido de Ischigualasto en noche de luna llena?
Alejandra V
Buenos Aires, Argentina98 contributions
Tal cual. Julio 2021 hay zona de acampe en el parque. Si no, lo más cerca es parque el chiflon que tiene un apart o el pueblo de Villa unión
pablo val
Buenos Aires, Argentina
hola! estoy planeando un viaje en pareja para julio/agosto de este año, queria saber si desde san agustil del valle se puede contratar alguna excursion o algun medio de transporte para hacer los dos parques en el mismo dia, no cuento con auto propio ni planeo alquilar, gracias!!
MARIA B
Rosario, Argentina30 contributions
Hola! No puedo contestar si desde esa localidad hay transporte, seguramente que si pero es un poblado muy pequeño. En invierno los parques cierran 16.30 con lo cual no te recomiendo hacer los 2 en un dia. En cada parque los recorridos son de 3/4 horas.
Ivelto.k
Urubici, SC1 contribution
Bom dia !!
Pretendo visitá-lo amanhã dia 18/03, porém não consegui efetuar reserva pelo site . Consigo fazer a visita sem reserva ?
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