Pismanta Hot Springs

Pismanta lies in the Iglesia valley of northern San Juan, where thermal water rises at around forty-five degrees in a desert setting with the Andes closing the western horizon. The springs have been used since long before a hotel was built here in the mid-twentieth century, and the complex today offers indoor and outdoor pools along with private baths fed directly from the source. The setting is what distinguishes it: dry mountain air, very little humidity, and one of the clearest night skies in Argentina, so soaking after dark comes with an extraordinary display of stars. The valley around it is worth exploring, with the Cuesta del Viento reservoir nearby, colourful rock formations, and the road climbing north toward the Agua Negra pass to Chile.

What you actually see

• The thermal pools - indoor and outdoor baths fed by hot mineral springs.
• The Andean setting - dry mountain valley with high peaks to the west.
• The night sky - exceptionally clear stars over the pools after dark.
• The valley drives - coloured rock, the reservoir and the road toward the pass.

When to go

April to November for the most pleasant contrast between cold air and hot water; summer days are hot though the valley cools sharply at night. Winter is quiet and clear. Weekends and school holidays fill the pools.

Honest expectations

The complex is dated in places and functional rather than luxurious. The valley is remote, so options for food and lodging are limited to the hotel and a few places in Rodeo. Day rates and hotel access are managed separately and can be confusing.

Nearby

Rodeo and the Cuesta del Viento reservoir are close; the Agua Negra pass road climbs north.