Laguna Blanca Reserve

The Laguna Blanca reserve was established on the Catamarca puna to protect the vicuña at a time when the species had been hunted close to collapse for its fibre, and it became one of Argentina's first biosphere reserves. Today herds graze openly across the pale grassland around the shallow lagoon that gives the reserve its name, at around 3,200 metres, alongside guanacos, Andean foxes and, on the water, coots and flamingos. A small village of the same name sits within the reserve, where a community works vicuña fibre under the shearing and release practice that allows sustainable use, and a modest interpretation centre explains the programme. The reserve lies on the long road north from Belén, which makes it an easy stop on the way to the deeper puna.

What you actually see

• The vicuña herds - wild vicuñas grazing openly on the grassland.
• The lagoon - the shallow pale lake with coots and flamingos.
• The village - the small community working vicuña fibre inside the reserve.
• The puna grassland - open high plateau ringed by distant peaks.

When to go

April to November for firm roads; the summer rains make the RP43 difficult. Vicuñas are visible year-round and most active in the morning. Nights are cold at this altitude in every season.

Honest expectations

Facilities are minimal, with a ranger post and little else, and the lagoon itself is unremarkable to look at. Vicuñas keep their distance, so binoculars help. The road in from Belén is long, and there is nowhere to buy fuel or supplies within the reserve.

Nearby

Belén lies south; Antofagasta de la Sierra is far north along the same road.