La Payunia
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La Payunia, Mendoza, there are those that like to go off the beaten path, and then there are those whole like to go where there hardly is a path. The latter group usually finds themselves with stunning surroundings, untouched landscapes and unimaginable natural wonders. It’s hardly any wonder that Argentina — known for its natural beauty and diverse countryside — can offer just that.
In the southernmost stretches of the province of Mendoza, 130 kilometers from Malargüe, lies one of the most vast volcanic fields in all of South America: a 450 hectare area known as El Payén Provincial Reserve, or La Payunia.
This so-called wasteland is constantly covered by a thick layer of volcanic ash, which means you know the surrounding area has to be beautiful. All the ash comes spewing from the at least 800 inactive peaks. The area has an impressive 10.6 volcanoes per one hundred square kilometers, on average. Volcano lovers, indulge. Read this Argentina travel guide for more information about the province of Mendoza.
The area is one that simply cannot be described through words. Imagine the vast Pampas Negras, covered by the black sand remains of once angrily active volcanoes, which now sit peacefully in the distance. El Campo de Bombas is one specific place full of stones that were originally expelled in a liquid state. Can your standard tourist destination offer that?
Two of the highlights of this adventure are the Payún Matruh, which has a nine-kilometer wide boiler with a lake in the center, and the 3,680 meter high Payún Liso. All of this amongst a semi-lunar landscape, which is also home to a surprisingly large number of typical Argentine animals, such as the four-eyed frog, the pug-nosed pit viper, the eagle, the gray fox, the chinchilla, and the guanaco, all of which have a high sighting probability.
The best time to go is from late spring through early fall, southern hemisphere seasons, of course. The only way to get there is from San Rafael, on RN40. From Malargüe on, roads are hard to decipher, unless you’re a local or a guide. Off the beaten path, remember?