24 hidden destinations in Argentina

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Argentina is very vast and has many places that are unknown even to the local travelers, they are hidden places that unique and incredible, some very difficult to reach. In this post I wanted to show a journey through 24 hidden destinations in Argentina. Enjoy. 1. La Ciudacita Province of Tucuman More than 4,000 meters above sea level rise the ruins of the Inca stronghold only in Tucuman. It consists of two stone buildings separated by a road: on one side there is a ceremonial room of 300 m2, facing the east, whose front door is aligned with the sun during the winter and summer solstices, and in the other a group of stone corrals.  2. Parque Nacional Baritú (Yunga Salteña)  Province of Salta  One of the most pristine National Parks and least visited of Argentina. Created in 1974, its 72,400 hectares protect mountain forest of northeastern Salta.  Lacks of any paths and infrastructure, so to follow it is necessary to have several days in advance and contact with the Park Rangers, whose detachment is in the town of El Lipeo.  3. El cono de Arita  Province of Salta  Located in the middle of Arizaro salt flats is the Arita cone, Arizaro is the largest salt flats in Argentina and the third in the world after the Uyuni in Bolivia and the Atacama in Chile.  In the Aymara language, Arita means sharp or stabbing.  As for the name of the salt flats Arizaro means "vulture roost", named for the Condors that hovered overhead looking for the dead bodies of the cattle that were falling on the long journeys that must endure when it was moved to Chile, where it was sold.  4. Dunas del Nihuil  Province of Mendoza  It is a desert of 30.000 hectares, within it these huge dunes are hiding, whose steep hills reach 200 meters.  It is a place that is not easily accessible (no roads) and that we must go with special vehicles and guidance of an expert.  In this place nothing is easier than running the risk of an accident, there are wells and too soft areas, characteristic of this type of desert and it is a place were it is easy to get lost. 5. La Payunia  Province of Mendoza  450.000 hectares of barren land covered by a thick mantle of volcanic ash of the intense activity that convulsed the whole area for millions of years.  It is surrounded by 800 peaks with no actual volcanic activity, where we can highlight the Matrú Payún with a boiler of nine kilometers in diameter and a lagoon in the middle, and the Payún Liso, 3680 meters in height  6. Península Mitre  Province of Tierra del Fuego  Desolated, a land area of ​​Tierra del Fuego that the lack of roads has isolated from the rest of the province.  The series of deserted beaches alternate with extensive peat bogs and rivers of crystal clear water. Ancient shipwrecks, abandoned factories and wild horses running free by the sea complete this enigmatic end of the world.  In the area you can also find remains of the ethnic Indians "Haush", you can also find a variety of wildlife such as cormorants, sea lions,foxes, condors, geese and bustards, among others.  7. Piedra Parada  Province of Chubut  It is a huge and impressive mass of volcanic rock, which stands alone in the midst of a vast plain. It has about 100 base and 240 feet high.  Nearby is the entrance to Canyon of the Buitrera, a "funnel" five miles long accompanied by a stream all the way.  Recently an archaeological excavation established the existence of ancient aboriginal rests that lived in the area more than five thousand years ago, the earliest human occupation of the area.  Piedra Parada was declared Protected Natural Area in November 2006.  8. Parque Nacional Perito Moreno  Province of Santa Cruz  This National Park preserves a rich collection of paleontological flora and fauna. The seven lakes, Belgrano, Escondido, Mogote, Volcan, Peninsula Nansen and Azara, are one of the few that were not planted with trout so that still retains native fish species.  Because of its difficult access it is very rarely visited, so that, according to experts in the area are hidden intangible specimens of the last Huemul of the Argentinian Patagonia.  9. Pampa de Pocho  Province of Cordoba  Natural forests of Caranday palm trees and a cord dormant volcanoes, make up this strange tall pampas, where also you can discover a brackish waters lagoon and two Jesuit chapels (from the eighteenth century), called Pocho and Las Palmas.  10. Parque Nacional Sierra de las Quijadas  Province of San Luis  The 150 000 hectares which includes the park, created in 1991, is a and reddish desert vastness formed 25 million years ago.  Sandstone walls carved by the effect of wind erosion and water, petrified logs and fossils of dinosaurs are the riches you can find in this incredible place.  It is an ecosystem that is home to endangered species now, like the pilgrim Hawk. You have three circuits that you can make to know this place.  The first one leads to the footprint of a Pterodaustro (flying reptile) and takes two hours to do it, the other leads to deep into the cliffs, through the Potrero de la Aguada, is the best way to know this habitat if you tolerate the four hours walk that it takes to do it.  The guidance of a local guide is essential in both cases. If just look to appreciate the whole area without having to move much the viewpoints gateway is the third possibility.  11. Laguna Galarza  Province of Corrientes  With its 19 km2, is one of the smaller lakes of the Iberá system. Its only access is from the San Lorenzo stay, connected to it through a narrow channel of 2 km open in the middle of a large reservoir (a web of interwoven plants, looking carpet).  The route allows a close spot of alligators sorrel, jacanas, herons, capybaras and even the elusive marsh deer, in a dense floating vegetation. The walk follows the Isirí creek, which links the Laguna De Luna.  12. Laguna Diamante  Province of Catamarca  Lies, hidden inside the volcano Galán, sheltered from the winds and populated by flamingos. To discover this incredible place you have to climb the 5,000 meters volcano to the edge of the crater, a mouth of 35 x 20 km.  Once above, you can see the enormous diameter of the boiler, together with the lake rises a the Cerro Galan of 5912 meters.  A less risky plan is to go in a truck to the crater edges, and then down to the vicinity of the lagoon. The excursion takes all day.  13. Bañado La Estrella  Province of Formosa  It is the third most important wetland in the Americas, after the Brazilian Pantanal and Iberá wetlands.  The new ecosystem meant the death of the native forest(consisting of white and red quebracho, rosewood and carob) and the emergence of other flora.  The logs are still standing today covered with vines and taking spectral images that inspired the locals call these figures chámpalas or chámpales.  A fauna where you can observe many of otters, alligators, viscacha, capybara and anteaters and the prevailing birds, especially herons, storks and Jabiru.  14. Alero de Charcamata  Province of Santa Cruz  It's a big rock 70 meters long and 20 meters high that keeps in its interior wall paintings of hands, geometric symbols, guanacos and hunting scenes of different colors (black, ocher, yellow and red light).  The complete tour takes all the day.  15. El Shincal  Province of Catamarca  Located on a plateau surrounded by hills, it was an administrative enclave and redistribution of wealth of the Incas between the years 1471 and 1536.  As regional capital of the empire of Cuzco, it integrated that monumental network of thousands of miles of paved roads.  The ruins were discovered in 1901, hundreds of buildings that housed between 600 thousand inhabitants. It highlights the Ushnu, a raised platform stone that served as ceremonial function, and several rectangular enclosures called Kallankas, arranged around a large square (Aukaipata).  The place was declared a Monument National Historic Landmark in 1997. It has a museum exhibiting pottery, ceramics, maps and elements of defense.  16. Bosque petrificado Jaramillo  Province of Santa Cruz  One of the most important fossil sites in Argentina, 10,000 hectares with petrified tree trunks 30 meters long and 2 meters in diameter.  Prior to the formation of the Andes mountains, the area housed a vast forest. Then the winds from the Pacific generated heavy rains that allowed a leafy vegetation, the reverse of the current landscape.  17. Ría Deseado  Province of Santa Cruz  It is an ancient river valley that was formed in the Quaternary when the Deseado river abandoned its course and free the territory for the entry of the sea.  The 42 km of emerald waters that enter the continent are a rich display of marine life. Five species of cormorants, oystercatchers, terns, sea lions, dozens of species of birds and Magellan penguins that nest on the Quiroga, Punta del Paso, de los Pajaros and Chaffers islands,are some of the species of this unique ecosystem.  18. Saltos del Moconá  Province of Misiones  Wonderful and unique, these jumps are the result of a return that gives the Uruguay River to roll over on itself along a fault nearly three kilometers long and a height ranging from 12 to 15 meters.  The water falls with great force and form swirls. Hence the term "Moco", which in Guarani means swallowing. Given the nature of the Moconá Falls, they only become visible when the river level is low.  19. Valle de la luna jujeño  Province of Jujuy  Also known as Valle de Marte, although its name is not official, it is needed to climb over 4,000 meters to reach this place.  In fact, in the Puna there are many spectacular places, dry in the extreme, where abundance of reddish and gray forms, hidden from the eyes of tourists.  20. María Ignacia-Vela  Province of Buenos Aires  Two thousand and two names for one Town divided by the train. On one side is called Maria Ignacia and the other, Vela.  The story began in 1885, when brothers Felipe and Pedro Vela, donated the land through which must pass the laying of tracks of the Southern Railway route to Bahia Blanca.  In recognition, the station was called Vela. Years later, on the other side grew a village by the name of Ignacia María, the mother of a local rancher, who batch the land boundaries of the station.  21. Volcán Copahue  Province of Neuquen  Still active, it really stands geothermal source between Araucaria forests. This volcano is 2910 meters of height and the ascent to the crater is the main attraction of each summer.  Above, we discover a lagoon that opens at the foot of a glacier(in hence the cloudy appearance of the water), the sulfur smell is intense.  At the foot of Copahue, in the small town called the same way as the volcano you find thermal center, renowned for the many kindnesses that its mud and hot waters have.  22. Ruta del Zeballos   Province of Santa Cruz  It is a stunning mountain road that ascends parallel to the boundary with Chile. It begins at the Buenos Aires lake, 200 meters above sea level.  The first milestone is the Mirador Jeinimeni, overlooking the homonymous river and the town Valley.  Among forests of ñires and beech you reach a bridge that crosses the river Zeballos(a footprint down to your jump).  As one ascends, you can see a series of lunar lookalike landscapes with corridors of natural stone walls and waterfalls of snow melt.  23. Nuestra Señora del Rosario  Province of Catamarca  It is the second oldest church in the province. Constructed in 1770 the story says that in 1664 the Spanish crown awarded to Don Asencio de Mercado y Reinoso and his wife Josefa Sanchez de Loria for the achieved victory in the second Calchaqui wars against the fearsome Chelemín chief, chief of the Hualfín Indians.  Over time, the title reached the hands of Dona Maria de Medina y Montalvo, a distinguished lady of Tucumán, who in 1767 obtained a license to build this jewel chapel, decorated with paintings and motifs of animals in pastel that amaze by its simplicity and sympathy.  Single nave with a single bell tower is a monument unknown but a valuable National Historic Landmark.  24. Pampa del Leoncito  Province of San Juan Pampa del Leoncito is an earthy and white plain of 14-km long, also known as Barreal Blanco. Its cracked floor in the form of pentagons and spherical stones sprinkled moon looks, except for the snowy peaks surrounding it.  There you can go sand yachting, as gusts in the area reaches 80 km per hour.(in Barreal you can hire in advance to the service providers).  Another option is spy on the stars from one of its two observatories, CASLEO and Carlos Cesco, located under one of the clearest skies of the world.  Sources:  Lugares de Viaje

Argentina is very vast and has many places that are unknown even to the local travelers, they are hidden places that unique and incredible, some very difficult to reach. In this post I wanted to show a journey through 24 hidden destinations in Argentina. Enjoy.

1. La Ciudacita

Province of Tucuman

More than 4,000 meters above sea level rise the ruins of the Inca stronghold only in Tucuman. It consists of two stone buildings separated by a road: on one side there is a ceremonial room of 300 m2, facing the east, whose front door is aligned with the sun during the winter and summer solstices, and in the other a group of stone corrals. 

2. Parque Nacional Baritú (Yunga Salteña) 

Province of Salta 

One of the most pristine National Parks and least visited of Argentina. Created in 1974, its 72,400 hectares protect mountain forest of northeastern Salta. 

Lacks of any paths and infrastructure, so to follow it is necessary to have several days in advance and contact with the Park Rangers, whose detachment is in the town of El Lipeo. 

3. El cono de Arita 

Province of Salta 

Located in the middle of Arizaro salt flats is the Arita cone, Arizaro is the largest salt flats in Argentina and the third in the world after the Uyuni in Bolivia and the Atacama in Chile. 

In the Aymara language, Arita means sharp or stabbing. 

As for the name of the salt flats Arizaro means "vulture roost", named for the Condors that hovered overhead looking for the dead bodies of the cattle that were falling on the long journeys that must endure when it was moved to Chile, where it was sold. 

4. Dunas del Nihuil 

Province of Mendoza 

It is a desert of 30.000 hectares, within it these huge dunes are hiding, whose steep hills reach 200 meters. 

It is a place that is not easily accessible (no roads) and that we must go with special vehicles and guidance of an expert. 

In this place nothing is easier than running the risk of an accident, there are wells and too soft areas, characteristic of this type of desert and it is a place were it is easy to get lost.

5. La Payunia 

Province of Mendoza 

450.000 hectares of barren land covered by a thick mantle of volcanic ash of the intense activity that convulsed the whole area for millions of years. 

It is surrounded by 800 peaks with no actual volcanic activity, where we can highlight the Matrú Payún with a boiler of nine kilometers in diameter and a lagoon in the middle, and the Payún Liso, 3680 meters in height 

6. Península Mitre 

Province of Tierra del Fuego 

Desolated, a land area of ​​Tierra del Fuego that the lack of roads has isolated from the rest of the province. 

The series of deserted beaches alternate with extensive peat bogs and rivers of crystal clear water. Ancient shipwrecks, abandoned factories and wild horses running free by the sea complete this enigmatic end of the world. 

In the area you can also find remains of the ethnic Indians "Haush", you can also find a variety of wildlife such as cormorants, sea lions,foxes, condors, geese and bustards, among others. 

7. Piedra Parada 

Province of Chubut 

It is a huge and impressive mass of volcanic rock, which stands alone in the midst of a vast plain. It has about 100 base and 240 feet high. 

Nearby is the entrance to Canyon of the Buitrera, a "funnel" five miles long accompanied by a stream all the way. 

Recently an archaeological excavation established the existence of ancient aboriginal rests that lived in the area more than five thousand years ago, the earliest human occupation of the area. 

Piedra Parada was declared Protected Natural Area in November 2006. 

8. Parque Nacional Perito Moreno 

Province of Santa Cruz 

This National Park preserves a rich collection of paleontological flora and fauna. The seven lakes, Belgrano, Escondido, Mogote, Volcan, Peninsula Nansen and Azara, are one of the few that were not planted with trout so that still retains native fish species. 

Because of its difficult access it is very rarely visited, so that, according to experts in the area are hidden intangible specimens of the last Huemul of the Argentinian Patagonia. 

9. Pampa de Pocho 

Province of Cordoba 

Natural forests of Caranday palm trees and a cord dormant volcanoes, make up this strange tall pampas, where also you can discover a brackish waters lagoon and two Jesuit chapels (from the eighteenth century), called Pocho and Las Palmas. 

10. Parque Nacional Sierra de las Quijadas 

Province of San Luis 

The 150 000 hectares which includes the park, created in 1991, is a and reddish desert vastness formed 25 million years ago. 

Sandstone walls carved by the effect of wind erosion and water, petrified logs and fossils of dinosaurs are the riches you can find in this incredible place. 

It is an ecosystem that is home to endangered species now, like the pilgrim Hawk. You have three circuits that you can make to know this place. 

The first one leads to the footprint of a Pterodaustro (flying reptile) and takes two hours to do it, the other leads to deep into the cliffs, through the Potrero de la Aguada, is the best way to know this habitat if you tolerate the four hours walk that it takes to do it. 

The guidance of a local guide is essential in both cases. If just look to appreciate the whole area without having to move much the viewpoints gateway is the third possibility. 

11. Laguna Galarza 

Province of Corrientes 

With its 19 km2, is one of the smaller lakes of the Iberá system. Its only access is from the San Lorenzo stay, connected to it through a narrow channel of 2 km open in the middle of a large reservoir (a web of interwoven plants, looking carpet). 

The route allows a close spot of alligators sorrel, jacanas, herons, capybaras and even the elusive marsh deer, in a dense floating vegetation. The walk follows the Isirí creek, which links the Laguna De Luna. 

12. Laguna Diamante 

Province of Catamarca 

Lies, hidden inside the volcano Galán, sheltered from the winds and populated by flamingos. To discover this incredible place you have to climb the 5,000 meters volcano to the edge of the crater, a mouth of 35 x 20 km. 

Once above, you can see the enormous diameter of the boiler, together with the lake rises a the Cerro Galan of 5912 meters. 

A less risky plan is to go in a truck to the crater edges, and then down to the vicinity of the lagoon. The excursion takes all day. 

13. Bañado La Estrella 

Province of Formosa 

It is the third most important wetland in the Americas, after the Brazilian Pantanal and Iberá wetlands. 

The new ecosystem meant the death of the native forest(consisting of white and red quebracho, rosewood and carob) and the emergence of other flora. 

The logs are still standing today covered with vines and taking spectral images that inspired the locals call these figures chámpalas or chámpales. 

A fauna where you can observe many of otters, alligators, viscacha, capybara and anteaters and the prevailing birds, especially herons, storks and Jabiru. 

14. Alero de Charcamata 

Province of Santa Cruz 

It's a big rock 70 meters long and 20 meters high that keeps in its interior wall paintings of hands, geometric symbols, guanacos and hunting scenes of different colors (black, ocher, yellow and red light). 

The complete tour takes all the day. 

15. El Shincal 

Province of Catamarca 

Located on a plateau surrounded by hills, it was an administrative enclave and redistribution of wealth of the Incas between the years 1471 and 1536. 

As regional capital of the empire of Cuzco, it integrated that monumental network of thousands of miles of paved roads. 

The ruins were discovered in 1901, hundreds of buildings that housed between 600 thousand inhabitants. It highlights the Ushnu, a raised platform stone that served as ceremonial function, and several rectangular enclosures called Kallankas, arranged around a large square (Aukaipata). 

The place was declared a Monument National Historic Landmark in 1997. It has a museum exhibiting pottery, ceramics, maps and elements of defense. 

16. Bosque petrificado Jaramillo 

Province of Santa Cruz 

One of the most important fossil sites in Argentina, 10,000 hectares with petrified tree trunks 30 meters long and 2 meters in diameter. 

Prior to the formation of the Andes mountains, the area housed a vast forest. Then the winds from the Pacific generated heavy rains that allowed a leafy vegetation, the reverse of the current landscape. 

17. Ría Deseado 

Province of Santa Cruz 

It is an ancient river valley that was formed in the Quaternary when the Deseado river abandoned its course and free the territory for the entry of the sea. 

The 42 km of emerald waters that enter the continent are a rich display of marine life. Five species of cormorants, oystercatchers, terns, sea lions, dozens of species of birds and Magellan penguins that nest on the Quiroga, Punta del Paso, de los Pajaros and Chaffers islands,are some of the species of this unique ecosystem. 

18. Saltos del Moconá 

Province of Misiones 

Wonderful and unique, these jumps are the result of a return that gives the Uruguay River to roll over on itself along a fault nearly three kilometers long and a height ranging from 12 to 15 meters. 

The water falls with great force and form swirls. Hence the term "Moco", which in Guarani means swallowing. Given the nature of the Moconá Falls, they only become visible when the river level is low. 

19. Valle de la luna jujeño 

Province of Jujuy 

Also known as Valle de Marte, although its name is not official, it is needed to climb over 4,000 meters to reach this place. 

In fact, in the Puna there are many spectacular places, dry in the extreme, where abundance of reddish and gray forms, hidden from the eyes of tourists. 

20. María Ignacia-Vela 

Province of Buenos Aires 

Two thousand and two names for one Town divided by the train. On one side is called Maria Ignacia and the other, Vela. 

The story began in 1885, when brothers Felipe and Pedro Vela, donated the land through which must pass the laying of tracks of the Southern Railway route to Bahia Blanca. 

In recognition, the station was called Vela. Years later, on the other side grew a village by the name of Ignacia María, the mother of a local rancher, who batch the land boundaries of the station. 

21. Volcán Copahue 

Province of Neuquen 

Still active, it really stands geothermal source between Araucaria forests. This volcano is 2910 meters of height and the ascent to the crater is the main attraction of each summer. 

Above, we discover a lagoon that opens at the foot of a glacier(in hence the cloudy appearance of the water), the sulfur smell is intense. 

At the foot of Copahue, in the small town called the same way as the volcano you find thermal center, renowned for the many kindnesses that its mud and hot waters have. 

22. Ruta del Zeballos 

 Province of Santa Cruz 

It is a stunning mountain road that ascends parallel to the boundary with Chile. It begins at the Buenos Aires lake, 200 meters above sea level. 

The first milestone is the Mirador Jeinimeni, overlooking the homonymous river and the town Valley. 

Among forests of ñires and beech you reach a bridge that crosses the river Zeballos(a footprint down to your jump). 

As one ascends, you can see a series of lunar lookalike landscapes with corridors of natural stone walls and waterfalls of snow melt. 

23. Nuestra Señora del Rosario 

Province of Catamarca 

It is the second oldest church in the province. Constructed in 1770 the story says that in 1664 the Spanish crown awarded to Don Asencio de Mercado y Reinoso and his wife Josefa Sanchez de Loria for the achieved victory in the second Calchaqui wars against the fearsome Chelemín chief, chief of the Hualfín Indians. 

Over time, the title reached the hands of Dona Maria de Medina y Montalvo, a distinguished lady of Tucumán, who in 1767 obtained a license to build this jewel chapel, decorated with paintings and motifs of animals in pastel that amaze by its simplicity and sympathy. 

Single nave with a single bell tower is a monument unknown but a valuable National Historic Landmark. 

24. Pampa del Leoncito 

Province of San Juan

Pampa del Leoncito is an earthy and white plain of 14-km long, also known as Barreal Blanco. Its cracked floor in the form of pentagons and spherical stones sprinkled moon looks, except for the snowy peaks surrounding it. 

There you can go sand yachting, as gusts in the area reaches 80 km per hour.(in Barreal you can hire in advance to the service providers). 

Another option is spy on the stars from one of its two observatories, CASLEO and Carlos Cesco, located under one of the clearest skies of the world. 

Sources:  Lugares de Viaje