Chamanga Rock Paintings

Along the Chamangá stream in Flores department, granite outcrops carry painted designs in red iron oxide, geometric rather than figurative: circles, grids, lines and dot patterns, spread across dozens of separate rocks over a wide area. It is the largest concentration of rock art in Uruguay and is protected as a national heritage area. The paintings are attributed to the region's pre-Columbian peoples and are not securely dated.

What to look for

• The red geometric designs - circles, grids and dot patterns in iron oxide.
• The scale of the area - painted outcrops spread across a wide stretch of country.
• The granite outcrops - the boulders and slabs the paintings are made on.
• The protected status - the largest rock art concentration in the country.

When to go

March to November is most comfortable. Raking light in the morning or evening shows the designs best. Visits must be arranged with local guides.

Practical notes

The sites are on private land and visits must be arranged; wandering is not possible. The paintings are faint and take good light and a guide to make out. There is no interpretation on the ground.

Nearby

Trinidad is north, and Grutas del Palacio is northwest.