The Mushroom
The best-known formation.
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Ischigualasto, known as the Valley of the Moon for its lunar look, is a provincial park in the San Juan desert, created on 3 November 1971 over 60,370 hectares and listed by UNESCO in 2000 with its neighbour, Talampaya. Its rocks hold the most complete continental fossil record known from the Triassic period and have yielded fossils of some of the oldest dinosaurs known anywhere. Wind and water have carved its coloured rock into strange forms with famous names: the Mushroom, a boulder on a thin neck; the Bocce Court, scattered with round stone balls; the Submarine; and the Painted Valley with its red, white and grey bands. The name is said to come from an old local language and mean «where the moon alights». Visits are by car in a convoy led by a park ranger on a loop with stops, taking a few hours, and on full-moon nights there is a special night tour. Summer heat is fierce and shade scarce, so bring water and a hat.
The best-known formation.
Round stone balls.
At night.
Northeast San Juan province, about 75 km from San Agustín de Valle Fértil
By car in a convoy led by a park ranger on a loop with stops at the famous formations, taking a few hours.