San Agustín de Valle Fértil
Mountain rains feed ancient caves and crafting handsA mountain town in Argentina's San Juan province with pre-Columbian cave paintings, a reservoir for kayaking, and local artisans crafting leather goods and textiles.
San Agustín de Valle Fértil sits 250 kilometers northeast of San Juan city, near the entrance to Ischigualasto Provincial Park. In this mountain town, you can hike to caves with pre-Columbian paintings, kayak on the reservoir, or walk through streets where craftspeople work on leather saddles and woolen textiles. The Sierra de Valle Fértil mountains channel rain clouds into the valley, creating conditions for carob trees, jarilla shrubs, and cacti to grow throughout the area.
Getting to San Agustín
Vallecito bus company runs three daily services from San Juan city, with departures at 7:30 (Mon-Sat), 14:00 (daily), and 19:15 (daily). The journey takes about three hours and costs 162 pesos. Return buses leave at 3:30 (Mon-Sat), 14:00, and 17:00 daily.
Weather and Seasons
Temperatures range from 15-25°C (59-77°F) throughout the year. Summer brings an average of 12 hours of sunshine and 100mm of monthly rainfall between December and March. Winter days stay mild, with temperatures rarely dropping below 10°C (50°F). The Sierra de Valle Fértil mountains trap moisture from eastern winds, resulting in more plant growth than in other parts of San Juan province.
Water Sports at the Reservoir
The San Agustín reservoir lies a 10-minute walk from the town center. You can rent kayaks for 500 pesos per hour and paddleboards for 400 pesos per hour, or fish for silverside. The 5-kilometer trail around the reservoir takes about two hours to complete. Bird watching tours run daily, where you can spot some of the 223 documented species, including Andean condors, white-tipped swifts, and giant hummingbirds.
Archaeological Sites
At La Piedra Pintada, red and black geometric patterns cover rock walls, painted by indigenous peoples between 800 and 1,000 years ago. La Meseta Ritual contains dozens of grinding stones used for processing grain and seeds. In La Majadita, 5 kilometers from San Agustín, you can watch craftspeople make leather bags, weave ponchos on traditional looms, and carve items from local algarrobo wood.
Day Trips and Parks
Ischigualasto Provincial Park lies 75 kilometers from town. Local tour companies run daily trips for 3-hour guided walks through the park's rock formations. The red sandstone cliffs of Barrancas Coloradas rise 200 meters high, with iron deposits creating stripes of color that shift with the changing sunlight. You can also visit El Chiflón and Talampaya National Park in the neighboring La Rioja province, both reached within a two-hour drive.
