Trip two:
land of dinosaurs
(5 days - 2,000 km)

Trip to Western arid Argentina ascending to mountain grasslands and descending to thorny woodlands and palm forests. This trip covers the provinces of Córdoba, La Rioja and San Juan and Catamarca.

You will be amazed at the Ischigualasto Provincial Park –also known as the Moon Valley for its reminiscence to lunar ground–, a worldwide known site where Earth’s first dinosaurs lived and thrived. In this location the unique characteristic of all Triassic ages is revealed within just a few square kilometres; the park has nowadays become a major exploration  spot for palaeontologists worldwide who do their research at the Palaeontology Museum of the National University of San Juan, an institution closely related to major international museums and universities.

With this background, you can already envision prehistorical landscapes and a myriad of distinct photographic opportunities. The nearby Talampaya National Park (30 km. away), features an impressive 9 km. canyon sur result of thousands of years of  erosion and excavation by an ancient river, now a seasonal watercourse. The spectacular formations along the way have awaken the imagination of locals who have given them names related to recognizable shapes; “the monk”, “the cathedral”, the chimney”, the “wise man” or the astonishing “lost city” are just but a few.

Leaving the Triassic landscape behind, we’ll continue to the following part of our journey: the adobe route, traveling North through arid plains with no signs of human civilization for kilometres. Campos de Belén is a huge area where ancient calchaquíes and diaguitas people were the only inhabitants for centuries until the Spaniards arrived. Today, the area is populated by small villages with typical houses built with adobe (a brick made out of mud and grass litter), a traditional type of construction capable of insulating these primitive quarters from very cold or hot conditions in an area of tough climate conditions. Presently, nut and olive plantations, pottery and traditional looms are the common subsistence activities in the region.

The ascent to the nearby mountains of Ambato and Aconquija by secure roads, will be another source of memorable pictures, with the staggering landscape transformation. So get ready and hold your breath because you are in for non-stop film shoot.

*If you would like details of the itinerary for this trip, you may request a brochure in the Contact section.

FEES : The cost for the "Land of Dinosaurs" trip is US$1,730 and all information about fees and terms can be found here. To book a place, please contact us here and we will get back to you right away.

Promotional discounts : A reservation deposit for a place in this trip made 90 days prior to the chosen departure date, will benefit from a 10% discount on the total fee.
Full payment of the trip made 60 days prior to the chosen departure date, will benefit from a 20% discount on the total fee.

departure dates : upcoming trips schedule:

* TO BE DEFINED SOON

To "Northern Diversity" trip