Cerro Arequita

Cerro Arequita rises about three hundred metres north of Minas as a flat-topped block of rhyolite with vertical sides, unusual in a landscape of rounded granite hills. A cave cut into its flank runs some forty metres into the rock, and a stand of native ombú woodland grows on the plain below, one of the larger such stands inland. Paths climb the hill from the base and the top gives a view across the Lavalleja hills.

What you actually see

• The flat-topped hill - a rhyolite block with vertical sides above the plain.
• The cave - a chamber running some forty metres into the rock face.
• The ombu woodland - a stand of the native giant herb on the plain below.
• The summit view - the Lavalleja hills from the flat top.

When to go

March to November is best for the climb; summer is hot on the rock. The cave is cool at any time. Gravel roads are difficult after rain.

Honest expectations

The climb is steep and the rock is slippery when wet. The cave has no lighting and a torch is needed. Facilities at the site are minimal.

Nearby

Minas is south, and Villa Serrana is southeast.