How to get to and visit the Valley of the Moon

Today we'll travel back thousands of years to explore one of Argentina's most historic corners. In this post, I'll tell you how to get there, what to expect, and what it's like to visit Valle de la Luna (Parque Provincial Ischigualasto) in the province of San Juan.

If you're visiting the province of San Juan or La Rioja, don't hesitate to take a day or two to visit this beautiful Prehistoric Park.

Vista Panorámica del Valle de la Luna, San Juan Argentina
Panoramic view of the Valley of the Moon, San Juan, Argentina

Throughout the visit to Ischigualasto Park you will understand the evolution of the lands Triassic through the marks that history leaves engraved in the rocks and fossils of animals and plants.

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If you like these arid and desolate landscapes, you might also be interested in Sierra de las Quijadas National Park in San Luis.

In the last 40 years, a great variety of species have been found in the Park. fossil remains of vertebrates, being a very important contribution to the scientific community.

Jurasic Park en Parque Ischigualasto
Jurassic Park in Ischigualasto Park

Furthermore, during the tour of Ischigualasto Park, we will be amazed by magnificent rock sculptures that water has carved in this valley for thousands of years.

Join me as we witness a segment of the planet's history.

In this article I tell you how to visit the Valley of the Moon on your own, but if you prefer a more comfortable option, which also includes a tour of the Leoncito National Park, you have this 2-day tour departs from the city of San Juan.

Por algo le dicen el Valle de la Luna :O
There's a reason they call it the Valley of the Moon :O


Where is the Valley of the Moon located?

The Valley of the Moon or Ischigualasto Provincial Park It is located northeast of the province of San Juan, in the departments of Valle Fértil and Jáchal, bordering the province of La Rioja to the north.

How to get to the Valley of the Moon

If they are with own mobilityFrom San Juan, take National Route 141 and then Provincial Route 510, traveling approximately 300 km until you reach Ischigualasto Park.

If they are on your own and without transportation, the most common way is to take a bus from San Juan capital to the last town before the park, Saint Augustine of the Fertile Valley (or Fertile Valley). This tour can take approximately 4 hours.

Since there is no bus service to the park, you can hire private taxis or a tour from a travel agency in Valle Fértil. Both options will take you to the park and accompany you throughout the tour. You can also book a tour from San Juan City, but since it's a round trip on the same day, you'll be traveling for several hours.

Cuando fuimos hace unos años, no teniamos movilidad propia, por lo que decidimos contratar un remis particular, y arreglamos con el chofer recorrer en el mismo día el Ischigualasto Park and Talampaya National ParkThe two are very close, and it's possible if we optimize our time. I'll probably tell you more in detail in another post.



How to explore Ischigualasto Park

Bienvenida al Parque Jurasico :P
Welcome to Jurassic Park 😛

He Ischigualasto Provincial Park offers different options to visit it and each one of them with different modalities.

He traditional route and the full moon circuit They are carried out in the same vehicle with which we arrived at the Park, and it is mandatory to enter accompanied by a park guide, whose main objective will be to explain the importance of the place and answer any questions that the group may have.

Caravana de autos que comenzamos el circuito tradicional
Caravan of cars that begin the traditional circuit

Let's look at each circuit in a little more detail.

Traditional Circuit of Ischigualasto Park

Along a 40-kilometer circuit, there are five stopping points known as stations. At each station, you can observe natural wonders in their purest form, free from human intervention. What's interesting is that each station offers a unique and captivating landscape, distinct from the one before it.

The entire route can be completed in about three hours, allowing you to enjoy the diverse scenery this route offers at your leisure.

First Season: The Worm

Formación El Gusano en Valle de la Luna
El Gusano Formation in Valle de la Luna

The first stop is at the landform known as the Worm, where the brown sandstones and black coal levels begin to tell us what the Ischigualasto Park was like in the Middle Triassic, at the time when the unit called Los Rastros Formation was forming.

Second Station: Painted Valley

Valle Pintado en Ischigualasto
Painted Valley in Ischigualasto

Then, you travel up in geological time through the Los Rastros Formation to the next station, called The Balcony of Valle PintadoStanding on this balcony, you can admire the magnificence of the second geological formation, the Ischigualasto Formation, which houses the greatest fossil wealth in the Park.

Valle Pintado del Parque Ischigualasto en San Juan
Painted Valley of Ischigualasto Park in San Juan

Third Station: Bocce Court and Sphinx

Formación El Esfinge
The Sphinx Formation

At this stop you take a 300 meter walk through which you can see The Sphinx, una de las figuras mas reconocidas del Parque a nivel nacional. Luego se alcanza una planicie en la que se destacan esferas de areniscas que la erosión va dejando al descubierto, asemejándose a una stone bocce court.

Cancha de Bochas en el Valle de la Luna
Bocce Court in the Valley of the Moon

Fourth Station: The Submarine

Formación el Submarino en Ischigualasto
Submarine formation in Ischigualasto

Standing on the same Ischigualasto geological formation, we will find another of the famous geoforms of the Park, The submarine, named for the similarity that the 2 formations have with the upper layer of a submarine.

Otra vista del Submarino
Another view of the Submarine

That day we visited, they were just giving a tango show at the foot of the Submarine (this doesn't always happen).

Tango al pie de la formación
Tango at the foot of the formation

Fifth Station: The Mushroom

Formación El Hongo
The Mushroom Formation

Last but not least, a stop in front of the geoform called El Hongo.

After seeing the last formation of the circuit, we begin the return walk along the reddish stone wall in the background of the photos. Unlike the Game of Thrones wall, this one is red, and on the other side there are no White Walkers, but rather landscapes of Talampaya Park :D.

Return along the stone wall

In summary:

  • Route: 40 km.
  • Stations: 5 stops.
  • Approximate Duration: 3:00 hrs.
  • Modality: in mobility.

Full Moon Circuit

This circuit is similar to the traditional one in terms of the route taken.

It is carried out only four nights per month, taking as a parameter the day of the lunar phase change, being possible to do it two nights before and the night after the phase change to a full moon.

This tour requires advance reservation by calling 0264-154570879, two days in advance of your desired date. The tour is subject to weather conditions at the time of departure. The tour lasts approximately two and a half hours (2:30 hours).

Bicycle Circuit

This tour option allows you to explore a lesser-known area of the park, giving you a different perspective on the shapes and colors of the area, as well as the flora and fauna of Ischigualasto.

This 12-km circuit is covered with a local guide. The park offers bicycles specially adapted for this terrain, which are available to tourists wishing to participate in this tour.

In summary:

  • Distance: 12 km.
  • Approximate Duration: 2:30 hrs.
  • Modality: Bicycle.
  • Hours: 9am and 11am (fall-winter)

Hiking Circuit to Cerro Morado

This circuit allows you to ascend to the top of Cerro Morado, which, being the highest point in the Park (1,800 meters above sea level), offers a panoramic view where you can appreciate a multitude of colors.

During the climb, you can experience the native flora and fauna firsthand.

The duration of the tour is approximately three hours, during which time the person will spend at the summit.

In summary:

  • Distance: 5.73 km.
  • Height: 1,790 meters above sea level.
  • Approximate Duration: 3:00 hrs.
  • Modality: Trekking
  • Schedule: 3pm (autumn – winter)
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If you're as passionate about hiking as I am, be sure to read about El Chaltén, the trekking capital of Argentina.



What are the Ischigualasto Park hours?

  • Spring-summer hours from September 21 to March 20: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  • Fall-winter hours from March 21 to September 20: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
  • December 24th: last entry to the park 12:00 pm.
  • December 25: Holiday – Closed.
  • December 31st: last entry to the Park 12:00 pm.
  • January 1st: Holiday – Closed.

What are the rates for Ischigualasto Park?

The values are updated every year. To see the updated rates, click here. click here and will take them to the official website.

What is the best time to go to the Valley of the Moon?

Although Ischigualasto Park can be visited year-round, summer temperatures are very high, reaching nearly 50°C, and winter lows are 0°C or sometimes lower.

Interesting Facts

  • The Park was declared a Protected Area mainly for its paleontological value, which was later confirmed with the Declaration of World Heritage by UNESCO in the year 2000.
  • All tours are guided; free movement is permitted only in the service areas, museums, craft fair, and viewing point.
  • Camping is available and costs $200 per person per day. The camping area is located in the service area. There are hot showers and a restaurant with supplies for guests who choose to camp.
  • The Traditional Circuit tour is done in your own car in a convoy with other vehicles and an accompanying guide. There is an entry to the Traditional Circuit every hour.

Remember that if you want to see more images of Argentina, you can see them from the Photo Gallery.

If you have any questions or queries, please feel free to comment below.

Until the next story!

Los espero muajaja
I'll wait for you muajaja

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