Parque Nacional Talampaya

Introducing Parque Nacional Talampaya

Though only a trickle of water winds through what, in the Quechua language, translates as the ‘Dry River of the Tala’, the spectacular rock formations and canyons of this national park are evidence of the erosive action of far greater quantities of water. It’s a dusty desert of scorching days, chilly nights, infrequent but torrential summer rains and gusty spring winds.

Visitors may not use their own vehicles on park roads; only contracted guides with pickup trucks offer tours of sandy canyons where aboriginal petroglyphs and mortars adorn streambed sites. Nesting condors scatter from cliffside nests as vehicles invade their otherwise undisturbed habitat. On the usual two-hour tour from the park’s headquarters, vehicles pass the dunes of El Playón, leading to the Puerta de Talampaya (Gate of Talampaya) entrance to the canyon.

Back on the road, the vehicles enter the red sandstone canyon, whose eastern wall reveals a conspicuous fault. The next major stops are the Chimenea del Eco, an extraordinary echo chamber where your voice seems to come back louder than your original call, and a nature trail to the Bosquecillo (Little Forest), a representative sample of native vegetation. On the return the major point is El Cañón de los Farallones (Canyon of Cliffs) where, besides condors and turkey vultures, you may see eagles and other birds of prey 150m above the canyon floor.

Longer four-hour excursions are possible to Los Pizarrones, as well as other sites such as Los Cajones, Ciudad Perdida and Los Chañares. These trips can be organized inside the park. If you can, sit in front with the guide one way, and in the back of the truck the other way.

Guided walks (two to three hours) and trips on bicycles are also available; these can be more appealing, particularly if you arrive here on a guided tour and have already spent hours in a car.

Last updated: Oct 3, 2008