A lake among hills
Water in the desert.
ENRIQUE GUARDIA — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Enrique Guardia — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Enrique Guardia — CC BY-SA 3.0 · CecyZerda — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Enrique Guardia — CC BY-SA 4.0
The Ullum dam holds back the San Juan river at the head of the Quebrada de Ullum, about twenty kilometres from San Juan city. Opened on 3 December 1980, its lake spreads over some 3,200 hectares between bare rocky hills, feeding a hydroelectric plant and regulating irrigation water for the farming Tulum valley. The lake has become San Juan's playground: sailing, kayaking and stand-up paddling, windsurfing and kitesurfing, and fishing. Kayak trips leave from shore clubs to caves in the hillsides that cannot be reached on foot. From the dam car park a trail climbs Cerro Tres Marías, about 3.5 kilometres and 300 metres of ascent in two hours, with views over the lake and valleys, and paragliders launch from the hill. The site is open and free, with activities run by operators on the shore. The sun is strong and shade scarce, so bring water and a hat.
Water in the desert.
A view of the dam.
Sailing and kayaks.
Provincial Route 60, about 20 km west of San Juan city
Kayak, sail or windsurf, paddle to the hillside caves, or hike Cerro Tres Marías for the view.