Los Cardones National Park

Los Cardones protects a stretch of high desert between 2,700 and 5,000 metres where the dominant plant is the cardon, a columnar cactus that grows several metres tall and lives for centuries, standing in loose ranks across the pale plain to the horizon. In a valley with almost no trees this cactus was the local timber: its woody ribs became roof beams, doors and furniture in the churches and houses of the Calchaquí Valleys, which is why the park's protection matters. The road through the park includes the Recta del Tin Tin, a dead-straight stretch of some nineteen kilometres said to follow a pre-Hispanic alignment, with cacti to either side and mountain ranges on all horizons. Short walks lead to viewpoints and to fossil trackways left by dinosaurs in the rock.

What you actually see

• The cardon forest - ranks of columnar cacti several metres tall across the plain.
• Recta del Tin Tin - the arrow-straight road following an ancient alignment.
• The fossil trackways - dinosaur footprints preserved in rock near the road.
• The mountain horizon - ranges rising on all sides of the open high desert.

When to go

April to November for clear, dry conditions; the cacti flower briefly in late spring. Midday sun is punishing and flattens the landscape, so early morning and late afternoon are far better for both light and comfort.

Honest expectations

Most visitors experience the park entirely from the car on the way to Cachi, and the walking trails are short and lightly maintained. There is no shade, no water and little infrastructure. At this altitude the sun burns quickly even when the air feels cool.

Nearby

Cachi is west along the road; the Cuesta del Obispo climbs from the east.