Talampaya National Park
Talampaya National Park is located in the northwestern part of Argentina in the province of La Rioja and covers an area of more than 2,100 square kilometers (slightly smaller than the area of Moscow). Along with its neighbor Ischigualasto Park, Talampaya is considered one of the few places on the planet where evidence of the animal and plant life that existed on Earth during the Triassic period of the planet’s development 200 million years ago is well preserved.
The park’s name, in the “Kakan” language spoken by the tribes that inhabited the region, means “dried up tala river”, where “tala” refers to a tree common in the area. The rivers existed for only a short period of time a year during the rainy season, and the rest of the time were used as a road between settlements. These trails now serve as the main tourist attraction in the national park.
.Each year, more than 60,000 travelers include Talampaya Park in their Argentina trip. They are attracted by the surreal mountain formations that evoke Mars and the Moon, and by the Talampaya Canyon itself with its mighty walls, among which you can feel like a small grain of sand.
Climate
Visiting Talampaya Park is recommended in the off-season from October to December and March to May. During some winter periods (winter lasts from June through September), temperatures drop well below 0 and strong sonda winds can blow. In the summer, daytime temperatures often rise above +35 °C and heavy rainfall can cause all activities in the park to be canceled.
.Park Attractions
The “Lost City” is a gigantic sinkhole of earth, resembling in shape the crater of a large volcano, in which erosion has created tall pillars resembling the dwellings of ancient peoples. Among the “houses” are street-like paths in many places, and towering above the town is the almost perfect and dark cone of the mountain, affectionately dubbed the “Black Bump.”
“Rainbow Canyon” is named for the various shades of rock remotely resembling a rainbow.
.With a bit of luck, there are also chances to meet Talampaya’s wildlife, such as guanacos, hares, vicunas, pumas, mara, foxes and condors.
Visiting the park
Talampaya Park is open all year round from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. There is an entrance fee of about $10 USD, but it is only possible to move around the area on specially organized guided tours, which are offered for purchase in various parts of the park.
- The van tour (2 hours and 30 minutes) includes a drive through Talampaya Canyon with views of the “Botanical Gardens”, the “Gothic Cathedral” and the “Monk’s Pillar.”
- Off-Road Truck Tour (3 hours) follows the same route as the previous tour, but is conducted in a truck specially prepared for off-roading. .
- Extended van tour (3 hours) is the same as the previous two, but with a stop at the Shimp’s Boxes. .
- The Lost City and Rainbow Canyon excursion (4 hours and 30 minutes) is conducted by van.
There is also the option to tour Talampaya Park on foot or by guided bicycle, but it is worth bearing in mind that the road is made up of fine dust, more like sand, so this option will require a good supply of physical strength.
.How to get there
Getting to the national park is most convenient from the Argentine city of La Rioja, which has its own airport and a number of car rental agencies. By car from La Rioja to the entrance of Talampaya is no more than 200 km, first south on Highway 38 and then west on Highway 150.
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Some travelers combine a visit to Talampaya Park with a trip to Ischigualasto Park, which is only 80 km apart. In this case, it is optimal to drive from La Rioja to the village of Vigia Unión (280 km) and from there early in the morning move towards the park (Talampaya is 50 km away). There are a few small hotels and guesthouses in Vizhya Unyon.If you wish to stay overnight, you can also stay within the park itself. It has its own campsite with toilet, shower and restaurant.
