Ancient limestone formations stretch beneath the Patagonian desert, with 15,000-year-old cave paintings depicting extinct animals and hunting scenes from early settlers.
Deep in Argentina's Patagonia, you can walk through the chambers of Cueva de las Manos where ancient artists left their mark 9,000 years ago. The cave walls hold over 800 hand prints in vivid blacks, whites, reds, and ochres. As you explore the rocky Pinturas River canyon, you'll see detailed hunting scenes showing people chasing guanacos with bolas weapons, giving you a direct connection to the lives of Patagonia's earliest inhabitants.
Getting to Cueva de las Manos
Drive 75 miles south of Perito Moreno town on Route 40 to reach the cave. You can take two unpaved roads: a 28-mile route from Bajo Caracoles or a shorter but bumpier northern road. Many visitors base themselves in Los Antiguos, a small town by Lake Buenos Aires, 30 miles east of Perito Moreno.
Ancient Art Techniques
Early artists created hand stencils by pressing their palms against the rock and blowing pigments through hollow bones. The predominance of left-hand prints indicates right-handed artists. They mixed their colors from natural minerals: iron oxides for red and purple, kaolin for white, natrojarosite for yellow, and manganese oxide for black.
Inside the Cave Art
You'll find the artwork in five main areas throughout the cave. The oldest paintings, from 7300 BC, depict groups of hunters pursuing guanacos with bolas - rope weapons designed to tangle animal legs. Look for later additions including geometric shapes, sun symbols, and human figures painted in red. Count some of the 890 hand prints, which mostly match the hand size of young teenagers.
Planning Your Visit
A tour through the main chamber takes one hour. The chamber extends 79 feet deep, with its entrance spanning 49 feet wide. Tours start every hour from 9 AM to 7 PM in summer (November-April) and 10 AM to 6 PM in winter (May-October). Your guide will explain the art panels and recent archaeological discoveries. The cave floor slopes up as you walk, with the ceiling dropping to 7 feet at points.
When to Visit
Spring brings comfortable temperatures and fewer visitors. During the February Cueva de las Manos Festival, you can watch local artisans work with wool, leather, and wood, while musicians play Patagonian folk music. Keep your eyes open for guanacos and rheas in the valley - the same animals depicted in the ancient paintings still roam here today.
