After our stop to see the Laguna de San Miguel del Monte (which by the way WE COULD NOT SEE), we continued our way to the south of Buenos Aires. We were calm, we had no planned itinerary, other than not arriving at night in Sierra de la Ventana, our main destination. That is why my cousin, the driver, was in charge of making us go through small tourist sites so that we could get to know our province a little more. At one of these stops, we visited the cemetery of the city of Azul and its imposing sculpture .

I think my aunt who was also traveling with us almost had a seizure when we told her that we were making all that trip to get to the cemetery. She didn't understand why, since my cousin hadn't said what exactly she wanted to see. I didn't know about this place either: about the city of Azul if I had heard, but I didn't know where it was either .

_{Source: Screenshoot from Google Maps.}

It was a long stretch from the lagoon to Azul: more than two hours of travel. I was in the passenger seat, so I couldn't take any naps like the ones in the back did. So getting there was a huge relief for me because I admit I was falling asleep a bit, plus I was already excruciatingly hungry .

I remember that literally my expression was this ----> when I saw the large statue in front of the cemetery. I wasn't expecting something like this at all, it was a total surprise.

This great work was built by the Italian architect and engineer Salamone in 1938. It represents the archangel Gabriel and on his back are the letters RIP. Everything is built in cement and is a great symbol of the city of Azul.

What was funny to me was that the letter part reminded me of that Minecraft game. Maybe because of the slightly square structure? I don't know, but I couldn't help but marvel at such a construction.

The statue of the archangel was also wonderful. I think that after all these years the cement was ruined a bit, but this effect of humidity made the whole work look a little more gloomy. I don't want to go there at night !

Although my aunt had a little over the fear of being at the cemetery gate, she did not want to know anything about us entering. Well, visiting the inside of the cemetery didn't seem like a great plan either, so I didn't put up much opposition to this request .

After this stop, we ran to find a place to eat. It was already after 2 PM, our stomachs were roaring . While we were in the car, my cousin revealed his true plan with this trip: to visit the works of the Engineer and Architect Salamone, author of this work. Turns out there were several on our route, and this was the first. This was immediately interesting to me: if this one was that good, the others would be too! I will share them with you soon

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The eastern part of San Juan Province is very different from the Andes in the west. Here you'll find the spectacular Valle Fértil hills, dinosaur fossils, desert landscapes, reservoirs, historic villages, and important cultural and religious sites. AArgentina Travel+1

1. Ischigualasto Provincial Park — Valle de la Luna ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Parque Provincial Ischigualasto

Ischigualasto Provincial Park, better known as Valle de la Luna (Valley of the Moon), is by far the most spectacular destination in eastern San Juan.

Its strange rock formations and barren landscapes were shaped by wind, water, and erosion over millions of years. It is also one of the world's most important places for understanding the Triassic Period and the early evolution of dinosaurs. The park is part of the UNESCO World Heritage site shared with neighboring Talampaya. AArgentina Travel+1

Don't miss:

• El Hongo (The Mushroom)
• La Esfinge (The Sphinx)
• El Gusano (The Worm)
• Cancha de Bochas
• The paleontological museum
• The scenic park circuit

Best for: dinosaurs, geology, photography, and unique landscapes.

2. San Agustín del Valle Fértil ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

San Agustín del Valle Fértil is the main town and a great base for exploring eastern San Juan.

Unlike the dry landscapes around much of the province, Valle Fértil is a relatively green mountain oasis, surrounded by the Sierras de Valle Fértil. The town offers accommodation, restaurants, local culture, horseback riding, hiking, and access to nearby natural attractions. GGobierno de San Juan+1

Things to do:

• Walk around the town
• Visit local museums
• Explore the surrounding hills
• Go horseback riding
• Visit the local reservoir
• Use the Valle an excellent choice if you enjoy wildlife park protects forests, cactus landscapes, streams, and native vegetation. It is particularly notable for birdwatching: more birdwatching, hiking, horseback riding, and nature photography Astica & the Sierras de Riveros a small village in Valle Fértil surrounded by beautiful hills and rural is a good place to experience a quieter, more traditional side of San Juan. The area regional villages,ique San Agustín ⭐⭐⭐⭐ town as a base for Ischigualasto

Best for: relaxing, rural tourism, hiking, and exploring the region.

3. Valle Fértil Natural Park ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Valle Fértil Natural Park is an excellent choice if you enjoy wildlife and nature.

The park protects forests, cactus landscapes, streams, and native vegetation. It is particularly notable for birdwatching: more than 200 bird species can be observed in the area, representing around 23% of Argentina's bird species. AArgentina Travel+1

Best for: birdwatching, hiking, horseback riding, and nature photography.

4. Astica & the Sierras de Riveros ⭐⭐⭐⭐½

Astica is a small village in Valle Fértil surrounded by beautiful hills and rural landscapes.

It is a good place to experience a quieter, more traditional side of San Juan. The area includes the San Pedro temple, local artisans, regional sweets, and access to the Sierras de Riveros. GGobierno de San Juan

Nearby natural attractions also include streams and waterfalls, making this an interesting stop on a road trip through Valle Fértil.

Best for: villages, local culture, waterfalls, and scenic drives.

5. Dique San Agustín ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The San Agustín Reservoir is located right by San Agustín del Valle Fértil.

It provides a pleasant contrast to the surrounding dry landscape, with water, hills, and vegetation. It is particularly attractive around sunset, when the surrounding mountains take on warm colors.

Best for: photography, relaxing, sunsets, and a short stop while visiting San Agustín.

6. Santuario de la Difunta Correa ⭐⭐⭐⭐½

Difunta Correa

Located in Vallecito, about 64 km from San Juan city, the Difunta Correa Sanctuary is one of Argentina's most important destinations for popular religious devotion.

The sanctuary is associated with the legend of Deolinda Correa, and thousands of visitors come to leave offerings and ask for protection or give thanks. The site also has the Museo de la Fe. AArgentina.gob.ar

Even for travelers who aren't religious, it is an interesting cultural experience and an important part of San Juan's identity.

Best for: culture, history, folklore, and understanding local traditions.

7. Usno & Museo Piedras del Mundo ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Usno, near San Agustín, is home to the Museo Piedras del Mundo, which focuses on minerals, rocks, fossils, flora, fauna, and the cultural heritage of the region.

It is a particularly good stop if you're interested in the geological story of Valle Fértil and Ischigualasto.

Best for: geology, fossils, minerals, and families.

8. Las Tumanas Valley ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Las Tumanas River creates one of the greener landscapes in Valle Fértil. The valley is a good option for travelers looking for small streams, vegetation, mountains, and a more peaceful environment away from the main tourist attractions.

Best for: nature, scenery, and getting off the beaten path.

⭐ My Top 5

If you only have a few days, I'd prioritize:

1. Ischigualasto / Valley of the Moon — the absolute must-see.
2. San Agustín del Valle Fértil — the best base for the region.
3. Valle Fértil Natural Park — wildlife and beautiful landscapes.
4. Astica & the Sierras de Riveros — rural scenery and waterfalls.
5. Difunta Correa Sanctuary — culture, history, and Argentine folklore.

Suggested 3-day itinerary

Day 1: San Juan → Difunta Correa → San Agustín del Valle Fértil

Day 2: San Agustín → Ischigualasto / Valle de la Luna → return to San Agustín

Day 3: Valle Fértil Natural Park → Astica → Las Tumanas → San Agustín

This route combines the best scenery, geology, wildlife, culture, and history of eastern San Juan without trying to cover too much territory. The official tourism information also recommends Valle Fértil as a destination in its own right rather than simply a place to sleep before visiting Ischigualasto.

Hello fellow travelers! I hope you are very well, happy Tuesday everyone ❤️. Today I'm very excited because I'm finally going to start sharing postcards from my last trip last month . Together with my friend, my two aunts and my cousin we made a 5-day trip to the south of the province of Buenos Aires where we had several interesting stops. Weekly I will share with you the destinations we visit, I hope you like them ❤️.

Today I want to tell you about the first stop we made: the San Miguel del Monte lagoon. Ok, although it may not seem like it, this on my cover is a loophole, please believe me .

We started this journey on August 14 of this year, exactly one month ago. That week had a few days of exceptionally dense fog: in sections it was almost impossible to drive and everywhere they warned that great care should be taken especially on the roads. Nice moment to start a distant journey, but anyway we went, no simple fog was going to stop us .

Ok, at the time we were not as brave as now that I relate it. We left at 7AM and it was almost 11AM and the fog still lasted. It seemed like he was never going to leave, even though we believed that by noon the road would be clear. After all those hours of travel at minimum speed, we decided to make the first stop to stretch our legs a bit and rest our eyes.

Source: screenshoot from Google Maps.

It was funny because my cousin who was driving said "ok, we got to the Monte lagoon". What? I thought. At first I thought it was a joke since you couldn't see anything, but when we checked the map we were really facing a large lagoon .

As scary as the photo looks, it was in reality. Literally nothing could be seen, everything looked like a great gray wall and a precipice behind the balcony. You had to get too close if you wanted to see the water, it was all very strange but at the same time it was a good experience to have that landscape .

If you made an effort you could see the ducks in the water. It was very crazy since it seemed like they were floating on nothing. All this reminded me of my own dreams, since landscapes are always like that while I sleep, in a lot of fog and with blurred images .

Even the photos we took were hilarious, as it looked like we were posing in front of a big wall with nothing. I think everyone recognizes that we were in the lagoon just because of the characteristic balconies .

My aunt believed that when we got to this place and being the first stop we made we would be able to have something for breakfast watching the water. Well, surprise, it wasn't. Everything was closed on the side that we went and we only had to settle for drinking almost cold "mates" and going to the bathroom in terrible conditions .

We also have another proof that we were there: the photo on the sign with Monte's lettering. I would like to return to this place to take a better photo, but for the moment I am satisfied with this one. At least the letters were visible .

And if you want to see the lagoon (as I do), here I share some postcards from the web, so that if you still do not believe me, you can do it now .

Source / Fuente

Source / Fuente

I think this place must be really beautiful when it is clear. Judging by the lifeguard signs we saw, there are people who go swimming, which I find incredible since the water level seemed quite high. I hope that one day I can come back and stay there for a few days to enjoy the scenery and that the fog is not a problem, please !

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