Malargüe offers a unique product for ecological or nature tourism, with wildlife areas, caverns, lagoons, volcano gullies, thermal complex and ski center, all of which add great value to its attractions.
It is one of the most extensive departments of the Argentine province of Mendoza and its head city has been qualified as the capital of adventure tourism.
The offers are wide and travelers can choose more than one place of interest, either the Manqui-Malal Waterfall, the Payunia Provincial Reserve, the Pozo de las Animas, the Malacara Volcano and the Llancanelo Lagoon. In this journey through exuberant landscapes, the hiker will also have other options such as the Witches' Cavern, the Los Molles Thermal Complex, the Niña Encantada Lagoon, as well as the Pincheira Castles and the Hermoso and Las Leñas Valleys.We invite you to discover some of these picturesque sites in Malargüe:
Manqui-Malal Waterfall
The Manqui-Malal Cascade, about 35 kilometers away from the City of Malargüe, is a must for lovers of hiking and paleontological tourism, who are amazed by this beautiful formation. It has two falls, one of them reaches 30 meters and both are surrounded by large walls of marine origin. Along the route, it is possible to observe numerous fossils of fauna from the Jurassic period, oysters and large petrified snails.
Manqui-Malal Waterfall (Credits Visit Argentina)
Payunia Provincial Reserve
Payunia Provincial Reserve,150 kilometers away from Malargüe, is a unique place in the world, as it has one of the areas with the highest concentration of volcanoes in the planet, offering an enigmatic scenery. There, hikers are amazed by the volcanic cones and an extensive lava scenery of various colors, which make up a surprising landscape covered by lava.
Payunia Provincial Reserve ( Credits Visit Argentina)
Pozo de las Ánimas
The Pozo de las Animas is an exotic place, which arose from the subway waters that for years were forming large caverns, widened its walls and caused the collision of the roofs, which left exposed these two cavities of almost 100 meters in diameter each. It has a geomorphological singularity called karstic doline, which is seen as two large depressions with fresh water mirrors inside.
Pozo de las ánimas ( Credits Visit Argentina)
Malacara Volcano
The Malacara Volcano rises as an imposing natural structure 1,876 meters above sea level and it represents one of the treasures of the area. There, the erosion of the "tetras" (volcanic material deposited in thin laminated layers) and the erosion by water and wind, have given rise to passages, chimneys and gullies. Through these tunnels with slopes of almost 30 meters high, hikers enter, who by the light of day observe different images in a landscape of gray, red and green colors.
Passages Malacara Volcano ( Credits Visit Argentina)
Llancanelo Lagoon
The Llancanelo Lagoon has salt water due to the salinity of the soil. It is a huge oasis that offers refuge to the largest number of birds in South America, including migrants and residents, among which the common flamingo stands out. This natural reserve, declared a RAMSAR site by the international environmental community due to its high ecological value, is ideal for bird watching.
Witches Cavern
The Witches Cavern fascinates tourists for the beauty of the curious stalactites and stalagmites formed over millennia, and although it is a place with high demand, visits are limited to a certain time and a number of people, so it is necessary to request an appointment. Touring it is a unique experience. It is located in the middle of the Andes Mountains, in the Cerro Moncol, at 1,900 meters above sea level.
The Witches Cavern ( Credits Visit Argentina)
Los Molles Thermal Resort
Los Molles Hot Spring Resort is located 55 kilometers away from the City of Malargüe and offers services all year round. Its hot spring baths have two therapeutic varieties, ferrous and sulfurous pools. It also has a guaranteed hotel infrastructure, made up by Termas Lahuen-Cótres Hotel with comfortable facilities.
Niña Encantada Lagoon
The Niña Encantada Lagoon is a natural wonder that is about 6 kilometers from Los Molles, during the whole year you can practice trekking and horseback riding in its surroundings. It attracts tourists from different parts of the world, who are impressed by the beauty of the place and although at the beginning it was believed to be a volcanic crater, scientific studies determined that this geological formation was originated by the transformation of subway deposits of gypsum.
Niña Encantada Lagoon ( Credits Visit Argentina)
Pincheira Castles
Pincheira Castles is located 27 kilometers away from the City of Malargüe. This singular formation resembles a huge castle built by the erosive action of weather agents and owes its name to the bandit José Antonio Pincheira, as it served as a shelter for his plundering acts. In the area near the castles were found remains of ceramics, arrowheads, beads and other vestiges of the indigenous culture.
Pincheira Castles ( Credits Visit Argentina)
Valle Hermoso
Valle Hermoso is located in the middle of the main mountain range, crossed by the rivers Cobre and Tordillo, to the west of Los Molles and 20 kilometers from Las Leñas. Its singular beauty allows the practice of different activities of adventure tourism, nautical and fishing. It is possible to visit it only in summer.
Valle Hermoso ( Credits Visit Argentina)
Las Leñas Valley
In the heart of the Andes Mountain Range you can find the most important ski and snowboard center in Argentina, which in winter is one of the most important attractions in Malargüe. The base is 2,240 meters above sea level and the summit is 3,430 meters above sea level, which makes it the highest in the country. There is a 1,500-meter Terrain Park with jumps, slopes and handrails.
It has 13 lifts, which allow access to 27 ski and snowboard slopes classified as beginners, intermediate, advanced and expert. It also has the longest uninterrupted descent in the country, with 7,050 meters connecting the Apolo, Neptuno and Venus runs.
Malargüe has a lot to offer
Malargüe has many proposals to offer. Whether traveling with friends or with the family, visiting this destination will turn out to be a truly rewarding experience. Travel now!
