Reserva Provincial La Payunia, Protected area in Malargüe Department, Argentina.
The reserve spans 4,500 square kilometers of volcanic terrain containing over 800 basaltic cones and extensive lava fields in southern Mendoza Province.
The provincial government established La Payunia as a protected reserve in 1988 to safeguard the geological formations and local wildlife populations.
Twenty families of the Cooperativa Payun Matru conduct annual guanaco roundups within the reserve, collecting wool for international textile markets.
Visitors require advance permits and should bring essential supplies, as the reserve lacks facilities and maintains strict regulations to protect its ecosystems.
The reserve contains the largest concentration of volcanic formations in South America, with three major volcanoes: Payún Matrú, Payún Liso, and Santa María.
Location: Malargüe Department
GPS coordinates: -36.42000,-69.20000
Latest update: May 27, 2025 13:20
Argentina extends across multiple climate zones and contains numerous geological formations. The country encompasses high mountain ranges in the Andes, salt flats in the northwest, rock formations in Patagonia, and extensive grasslands. These areas display the region's geological history and the adaptation of human settlements to different environments. The sites include volcanic craters, thermal springs, canyons, and historic villages. Many of these locations lie away from main routes and require several hours of travel. The regions document pre-Columbian cultures, colonial history, and traditional ways of life that continue today.
Pincheira brothers
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Atuel Canyon
179.9 km
Pozo de las Ánimas
155 km
Domuyo
112.7 km
Cerro Azul
164.4 km
Witches' Cave
88.7 km
Descabezado Grande
167.1 km
Planchón-Peteroa
180.4 km
Reserva Provincial Castillos de Pincheira
114.1 km
Payun Matru
3.4 km
Altos de Lircay National Reserve
181.7 km
Tromen
110.3 km
Volcán Planchón
181.6 km
Nevado de Longaví
177.9 km
Lagunas de Epulafquen
170 km
Colapso del lago Cari Lauquen
86.2 km
Los Bellotos del Melado National Reserve
182.3 km
Abanico Formation
191.7 km
Caldera del Atuel
194.8 km
Parque provincial El Tromen
109.8 km
Payún Liso
12.6 km
Serranía El Peralito
95.1 km
Cochiquito Volcanic Group
65.7 km
San Pedro de Tarara
155.8 km
Lomas Blancas
162.9 km
Salto La Leona
196.6 km
Parque provincial del Tromen
109.5 km
Reserva Natural La Payunia
29.9 kmReviews
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