Ischigualasto (Valle de la Luna)

Ischigualasto, better known as the Valle de la Luna or Valley of the Moon, is a desert basin in northwestern Argentina where wind and rare rain have sculpted the pale clay and rock into a landscape so strange it looks lunar, with balanced boulders, mushroom-shaped pillars and banded badlands. Its real significance lies underground: the exposed rock layers here form one of the most complete continuous records of the Triassic period anywhere on earth, spanning tens of millions of years, and among the fossils found in them are some of the very earliest dinosaurs. Together with the neighbouring Talampaya park, its red canyon complement, it forms a World Heritage Site. Visits follow a set circuit, usually driving from formation to formation with a guide, ending often at sunset when the low light sets the rock glowing.

The landscape

• The Valle de la Luna formations - the balanced rocks, mushroom pillars and painted badlands.
• The Triassic rock record - the exposed strata preserving early dinosaurs and their world.
• The site museum - fossils and the story of the earliest dinosaurs found here.
• Talampaya - the sister park's towering red sandstone canyon, nearby.

When to go

April to October avoids the fierce summer heat of the desert, when midday is punishing. The formations are most photogenic in the low light of morning and late afternoon, and sunset tours are popular. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable overall.

Practical notes

It is a hot, exposed desert far from major towns, so the drive is long and services are scarce; bring water and sun protection. Visits are on a fixed guided circuit rather than free wandering, usually by car convoy, which limits how you explore. The landscape is subtle geology as much as scenery, and pairing it with Talampaya makes the long journey worthwhile.

Nearby

Talampaya National Park is close; San Agustín del Valle Fértil is the nearest base town.