Laguna Brava, charm in La Rioja!

On Route 76, near the International Pass of Pircas Negras, is Laguna Brava. A natural destination of the province of La Rioja, unique and incomparable! It is a Provincial Reserve of dream landscapes and a lot of adventure, considered a Ramsar place; a protected wet site, of international importance, thanks to its biological wealth. We’re talking about a seasonal migratory waterfowl refuge about 405 thousand hectares. Wonderful, isn’t it?

MEET THE PROVINCIAL RESERVE

•     The provincial park is composed of a complex system of high Andean lagoons of saline and hypersaline waters. All of very shallow depth, with associated vegas and bofedales. They are above 3000 meters above sea level.
•   The name of the Laguna Blanca Provincial Reserve is due to the main lagoon, the largest of the reserve. With about 60 square kilometers, it has become home to several species of animals, among which are white and pink flamingos.
•   Laguna Brava can be easily accessed from Villa Unión, which is a perfect opportunity to combine with other places like Talampaya Canyon or Miranda Slope. Take advantage and consult the best travel itineraries to La Rioja.
•   During the visit to the Laguna Blanca Provincial Reserve you can also visit: old houses (where the inhabitants of the area lived), shelters for harriers, remains of a plane that fell in the area a few decades ago, Incas ruins and volcanoes surrounding the lagoon. Other points that can be visited are: Verdes, Veladero, Mulas Muertas and even the Rioja region of the Salinas del Leoncito, which this province shares with San Juan.
•   As for the climate of the place, we must say that although you can visit all year round, the ideal is to avoid winter because of the low temperatures and complications that the road to Laguna Blanca may have. The winds are very strong at any time and usually reach up to 100 kilometers per hour. As far as rainfall is concerned, it usually does not exceed 100 mm and can sometimes also occur in the form of snow or hail.

WHAT TO DO IN THE LAGUNA BRAVA PROVINCIAL RESERVE?

There’s a lot you can do in this destination, actually, before you get there. On the way to the Provincial Reserve, some activities can be carried out.

On the one hand, we have the Petrified Forest, which can be accessed all year round (unless there is river flooding). Trees, splinters and logs are found on a plot of volcanic ash. Also, along the way, there’s the Pyramid, a natural monument of rock formation that has withstood the natural erosion of the wind.

Another curious place before reaching Laguna Brava is Alto Jagé. It is characterized by the fact that all the constructions of the main street rise on the sides of a dry river.

Besides the beautiful landscape of hills and mountains, on the way to Laguna Brava is El Peñón refuge, established to protect travelers in extreme climatic situations and where, in addition, pre-Columbian populations traded livestock and minerals with Chile. Already in the Laguna Brava Provincial Reserve, you will have access to:

•   Bird and wildlife sighting: several species of birds, especially aquatic, coexist in this wetland. About 52 species from 20 families make life in the reserve each summer. As for other animals, you can find: guanacos, vicuñas, red foxes, Andean cats and pumas.
•   Surround yourself with some of the highest volcanoes in the world: you can perfectly see the highest set of volcanoes in the world from the reserve. Among them are Monte Pisis, Cerro Bonete Chico, Cerro Bonete Grande, Cerro Nevado Veladero, Baboso, Gemelos and Peñas Azules.
•   Visit Inca archaeological sites: there are several archaeological remains in the area, among which are the ruins of Don Mario hill, the ruins of Cerro Pilar and an Inca tambo.

As you can see, whether during the trip or in Laguna Brava itself, there are landscapes and experiences for all tastes. Furthermore, it is an activity that can be quietly combined with Talampaya to live a very complete trip to the province of La Rioja. If you are interested in finding out more for the organization of your holiday to this beautiful province, contact us via WhatsApp.