Castillos de Pincheira

About this place

The Castillos de Pincheira, the Pincheira Castles, are a huge rock formation carved by erosion, mainly by glaciers, into the likeness of a giant castle with towers ringed by cones of sediment. The Malargüe river runs at its foot and the clear Pincheira stream a few metres away, in a protected landscape reserve west of Malargüe town. Local tradition says it was a hideout of the Pincheira brothers, bandits who fought on the royalist side between 1811 and 1833 and rode out from here on their raids. Arrowheads and pottery of the Huarpe and later Mapuche cultures have been found around it. The site has visitor facilities and short trails around the rock castle and along the riverbanks. A small entry fee is paid at the gate. It makes half a day from Malargüe, especially in summer.