Serranía El Peralito, Mountain range in La Pampa, Argentina

Serranía El Peralito is a mountain range in northwestern La Pampa province that rises to 1300 meters (4265 feet) and forms the eastern edge of the La Payunia plateau. The terrain features a sparse, dry landscape typical of the southern Patagonian region.

The outcrop is estimated to be about 500 million years old and forms the eastern edge of the La Payunia plateau of Mendoza. Cerro Negro, long considered La Pampa's highest peak at some 1120 m, lies southeast of El Peralito and is made of basalts of the Carapacha formation, a different rock from El Peralito. A protected area covering both hills, of 10,000 to 15,000 hectares, has been under study.

The name comes from a nearby livestock post also called El Peralito. The range marks the eastern edge of the Payunia plateau, and its grassland is the only place in La Pampa where the Payunia plant community appears, a type otherwise found in southern Mendoza and northern Neuquén.

The region has a dry desert climate with mild average temperatures and sparse rainfall, though snow occasionally falls during winter months. Visitors should prepare for limited water and shade sources while accounting for harsh weather conditions.

The mountain range is the only place in La Pampa province where mountain vizcachas still live, small Andean rodents that have adapted to the drier conditions here. Spotting these animals makes a visit a rare natural experience in this region.