Sierra de las Quijadas National Park

Sierra de las Quijadas protects a great erosional bowl called the Potrero de la Aguada, where red and ochre sandstone has been cut into cliffs, spires and ravines by rare but violent rain, forming an amphitheatre several kilometres across that is best seen from the viewpoints on its rim. The rock preserves an important fossil record from the Cretaceous, including remains of pterosaurs and dinosaurs, and fossilised tracks are visible on some guided walks. Below the cliffs the flat country is thorn scrub and cactus, home to guanacos, foxes, condors and the occasional puma track. Trails run from short rim walks to longer descents into the bowl, which must be timed carefully because flash floods fill the gullies within minutes during summer storms.

What you actually see

• Potrero de la Aguada - the red badlands amphitheatre seen from the rim.
• The eroded formations - cliffs, spires and gullies in layered sandstone.
• The fossil sites - Cretaceous tracks and remains on guided walks.
• The wildlife - guanacos, condors and desert birds in the scrub.

When to go

April to November for safe walking and bearable heat; summer temperatures exceed forty degrees and storms bring flash floods into the ravines. Early morning and late afternoon give the best colour on the rock. Check trail conditions at the entrance.

Honest expectations

Descending into the bowl is only sensible with a guide and clear weather, and the park closes trails when storms threaten. There is no shade and water must be carried. Facilities are limited to the entrance area.

Nearby

San Luis city lies southeast; La Rioja and San Juan provinces border to the north and west.