Traveling through the Canyon is like traveling back in time: exploring geological formations that are more than 250 million years old.

 

 

Located in the province of La Rioja, this park is home to a wide range of mammalian ancestors, as well as vestiges of dinosaurs and plants, which illustrate the evolution of vertebrates and the characteristics of the paleoenvironments of the Triassic period.

 

Together with Ischigualasto, they make up the most complete continental set of fossils in the world from this period. The protected area was created as a Provincial Park in 1975 and became a National Park in 1997. Since 2000, it has also been a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

 

With walls over 100 meters high and spectacular rock formations, the Talampaya National Park (UNESCO World Heritage) invites you to travel back to prehistory among landscapes that seem like science fiction. Its trails, suitable for all ages, can be explored on guided tours.

 

 

Talampaya means "dry river of tala" and is the name that the native peoples gave to an area of ​​La Rioja, Argentina.

 

The word comes from an extinct language.

 

The name is due to the aridity of the area, where the rivers dry up for much of the year.

 

The tala is a very common tree in the region.

 

 

Here, the mountain foxes, guanacos, maras, land turtles and a myriad of lizards live together, in addition to the condor, the Andean suri, the peregrine falcon and the black-footed chuña, as important representatives of the birds.

 

 

The flora of the Talampaya National Park is composed of shrub vegetation characteristic of the deserts. Among the species that can be found are:

 

Jarillas, Cactus, Retamos, Algarrobos, Molles de beber, Brea, Caña brava.

 

The park's ecosystem is an example of the ability of life to thrive in adverse conditions.

 

The Talampaya National Park also houses fossil remains of plants and mammals that lived in the Triassic period, almost 200 million years ago.

 

 

Located at km 59 of National Route 76, this area allows access to the imposing Talampaya canyon and marvel at its enormous reddish walls, geoforms and petroglyphs.

 

Vehicle tours (combis or 4x4 trucks): the “Nature and Culture” excursion is included with the access ticket, where you can visit the petroglyph station and part of the Talampaya canyon (due to limited spaces, it is advisable to make a reservation in advance). There are also other tours by minivan or 4x4 truck that can be booked separately.

 

Walking tours: There is a 250-meter self-guided pedestrian trail called the “Triassic Trail,” with life-size replicas of the dinosaurs that inhabited the area. There are also four treks, lasting between three and five hours, to see the Talampaya Canyon, the Shimpa Canyon, the Don Eduardo Ravine, and the Gran Mirador (they are done at organized times and in groups, always in the company of a licensed guide).

 

Biking tours: There are several guided tours that can be done by bike, of different levels of difficulty and duration. Some combine hiking to reach the most outstanding places in the park.