Day 01
Day 1 - Arrival in San Juan
You will be transferred from the airport/bus terminal to the Hotel and you will have the rest of the free to spend at your leisure.
Argentina, Chile · UNESCO Heritage Sites
4-Day Tour in San Juan: Valley of the Moon & Talampaya Canyon
The journey
Trip highlights
- 01 Explore Ischigualasto Provincial Park, the famous “Valley of the Moon”
- 02 Visit a UNESCO World Heritage area known for geology, archaeology, and paleontology
- 03 Travel the internal Ischigualasto circuit with park guide interpretation
- 04 See the Interpretation Center and Museum of Natural Sciences
- 05 Discover Talampaya Canyon and Shimpa Canyon by 4x4
- 06 Stop at five stations including Petroglyphs, the Botanical Garden, and the Gothic Cathedral
- 07 Enjoy 3 nights of accommodation with breakfast in San Juan
- 08 Round-trip airport or bus terminal transfers included
Discover two of northwestern Argentina’s most remarkable natural landscapes on this 4-day journey based in San Juan. This itinerary combines accommodation, transfers, and full-day excursions to Ischigualasto Provincial Park, known as the “Valley of the Moon,” and Talampaya National Park, both celebrated for their extraordinary rock formations and paleontological importance.
Travel scenic routes through San Juan and La Rioja to explore dramatic canyons, geoforms, petroglyphs, and interpretation areas with park guides. With 3 nights of accommodation, breakfast, and included touring, this package is a convenient way to experience a UNESCO World Heritage area beyond the usual travel circuits.
Here, we will continue our journey by having a 4x4 experience to see both Talampaya Canyon and Shimpa Canyon.
From the itinerary
At a glance
What this trip includes
Duration
4 Days
Tour type
Shared
Activity level
Easy
Accommodation
Included
Transport
Included
Wheelchair access
No
City
San Juan
Languages
Spanish
Day by day
The itinerary
Day 02
Day 2: San Juan - Ischigualasto Provincial Park: "Valley of the Moon"
We will leave from your hotel in San Juan from 7 AM and we will travel on National Tourist Route 150 to reach the Ischigualasto Park, or "Valley of the Moon". Together with park guides and in our vehicles we will travel 4 hours of the internal circuit. The circuit covers about 40 km and has 5 stations, where the most important geoforms are visited, receiving the explanation and interpretation of them by the guides, whose assistance is essential to interpret the signs that nature has left here over more than two hundred million years.
At the end of the tour, we will visit the Interpretation Center and Museum of Natural Sciences, installed at the entrance to the Park. There are exhibited parts of the paleontological pieces found on the site and its importance is exposed. We will also receive the explanation of the guides about how research, tracking, fossil recovery, and dinosaur assembly are developed. We will return to the city of San Juan in the evening hours.
Day 03
Day 3: San Juan - Talampaya National Park
We will leave from our selected hotels in the city of San Juan at approximately 7 AM. We will start the tour going north of the province through the famous Route 40, crossing the San Juan River and taking Tourist Route 150 at the height of the town of Albardón. We will continue until we reach the limit of San Juan with La Rioja, and then we will take Route 76 to the Talampaya National Park.
Here, we will continue our journey by having a 4x4 experience to see both Talampaya Canyon and Shimpa Canyon. We will realize small walks to interact with this impressive place, in 5 different stations: Petroglyphs, the Botanical Garden, the Gothic Cathedral, the Monk and the Shimpa Canyon. This excursion is done in special 4x4 with all comfort and large windows to not miss any detail. It lasts 4 hours and a catering service is also included in a spectacular setting, so you will taste traditional products of the region. We will return to the city of San Juan to which we will arrive at approximately 9 PM.
Day 04
Day 4 - Farewell to San Juan
You will be transferred to the airport/bus terminal. This is the end of the services.
The route
Where you'll travel
The fine print
Trip details
What's Included
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Tours and transfers as specified in itinerary
- Talampaya internal circuit in 4x4
What's Not Included
- Flights
- National Parks Fees
- Extras, Meals and Others NOT Specified in itinerary
Know before you go
- PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION NEARBY
- PASSPORT REQUIRED
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Not stroller accessible
- Not suitable for pets
- Infants must not sit on laps
- Infant seats unavailable
- We recommend you to bring your own meal or you can have one at the restaurant of the park.
- Bring cash with you for extra expenses as the parks are not closed to any city.
- Not valid for special dates such as New Year´s Eve, Carnival, Holy Week.
- We suggest you to confirm the booking details with us prior to travel, or upon arrival at your destination. Please note that departure times and locations may vary slightly. (Mon to Sat from 9 to 18 Hs and Sundays from 10 to 19 Hs) (After office hours)
- According to your flight itinerary, a driver will be waiting for you at the airport, holding a sign with your name, to safely take you to your hotel. We can also come to pick you up at the bus terminal of San Juan.
Logistics
Meeting & route
Meeting point
Pickup service provided in San Juan.
Tour start
Pickup service provided in San Juan.
Tour ends at the same location as the start point.
End of the journey
Your 4 days finish where they began, in Pickup service provided in San Juan..
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