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Kevin and Joannie on tour
One of the excursions that can be bought in Malargue is a trip to the lagoon at Llancanelo. We decided we would rather try and do it alone despite the local Tourist Information book saying you must hire a guide to enter. Turning on to the 186, the road was mainly "ripio." The plain was flat with the odd volcanic hump on the horizon.
There was a telescope which seemed appropriate in this lunar type landscape.
On the way there was a sign warning you that there were nandus about but the only one we saw ran off before we could get a camera out.
We found the Guarderia to the park but it was closed. As the guidebooks said the 186 runs alongside the lagoon we carried on. There were less than a handful of houses out here, mainly subsistence goatherds. Their homes were very simple.
Alongside the road there was no sign of the lagoon, only salt flats. As the road turned north, it became sandy and deeply rutted. We had to use 4WD to progress. Despite being above the plain there was no sign of water. We turned back.
Now the Guarderia was open. We asked the Guardaparque if we could go into the park without a guide and he said no problem. He explained that the lagoon had evaporated and now was very small. Eight kilometres in he said there was a small inlet where birds could be seen.
We had to be checked in to the park by a YPF fuel company guard as they have oil wells there.
Along the way we saw a herd of donkeys and small rodents which looked like tail-less squirrels or guinea pigs. (They didn't stop to have their photos taken!)
We passed through two gates and eventually came to a sign which said mirador. This was a narrow sandy path, blocked by goats leading to Volcan Tramal. The first 4 kilometres were easy going but suddenly the path became very sandy with a steep lean and uphill as well. Only a high clearance 4WD could do this. At the top there was a volcanic cone, with a short walk to the summit. From the top you could see the salt flats and the much shrunken lagoon, as well as a small shrine.
On the way back we found the inlet the guard had referred to and walked across scrubland. We were rewarded with a view of pink flamingos and other water based birds.
Back at Malargue we ate out at restaurant overlooking the square. This week it is the annual goat festival, the food Malargue is famous for. It seemed everyone was on the streets eating icecream and greeting each other. During the day you hardly see a soul.
There was a telescope which seemed appropriate in this lunar type landscape.
On the way there was a sign warning you that there were nandus about but the only one we saw ran off before we could get a camera out.
We found the Guarderia to the park but it was closed. As the guidebooks said the 186 runs alongside the lagoon we carried on. There were less than a handful of houses out here, mainly subsistence goatherds. Their homes were very simple.
Alongside the road there was no sign of the lagoon, only salt flats. As the road turned north, it became sandy and deeply rutted. We had to use 4WD to progress. Despite being above the plain there was no sign of water. We turned back.
Now the Guarderia was open. We asked the Guardaparque if we could go into the park without a guide and he said no problem. He explained that the lagoon had evaporated and now was very small. Eight kilometres in he said there was a small inlet where birds could be seen.
We had to be checked in to the park by a YPF fuel company guard as they have oil wells there.
Along the way we saw a herd of donkeys and small rodents which looked like tail-less squirrels or guinea pigs. (They didn't stop to have their photos taken!)
We passed through two gates and eventually came to a sign which said mirador. This was a narrow sandy path, blocked by goats leading to Volcan Tramal. The first 4 kilometres were easy going but suddenly the path became very sandy with a steep lean and uphill as well. Only a high clearance 4WD could do this. At the top there was a volcanic cone, with a short walk to the summit. From the top you could see the salt flats and the much shrunken lagoon, as well as a small shrine.
On the way back we found the inlet the guard had referred to and walked across scrubland. We were rewarded with a view of pink flamingos and other water based birds.
Back at Malargue we ate out at restaurant overlooking the square. This week it is the annual goat festival, the food Malargue is famous for. It seemed everyone was on the streets eating icecream and greeting each other. During the day you hardly see a soul.
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