El Leoncito National Park is located in Calingasta Department and covers 89,900 hectares. Its landscape combines plains between mountain ranges, high plateaus, ridges, and small high-altitude oases. Trail lengths, difficulty levels, and visiting hours provide practical guidance for planning.

Hiking Trails by Length and Difficulty

The trail to Cerro Leoncito is 8 kilometers long, takes about 3 hours, and is of moderate to high difficulty. Check trail conditions before setting out. The La Cantera Geological Trail offers a 4-kilometer option and an additional 6-kilometer option of moderate difficulty. Ancient petroglyphs can be found along the trail.

For a shorter route, the 500-meter trail to Cascada El Rincón leads from the parking lot to a natural viewing terrace overlooking the waterfall; it is an easy trail. Paisajes de agua is an easy, 1-kilometer trail along the El Leoncito stream. You may spot cavies, foxes, various bird species, guanacos, and possibly pumas here. Wildlife sightings are not guaranteed. The trails therefore differ not only in length, but also in whether the focus is on the waterfall view or wildlife watching along the stream.

Viewpoints, Wildlife, and the Observatory

The Mirador del Manzanar offers a 360-degree panorama and is located beside the historic apple orchard. The Mirador del Cesco is a few meters from the entrance to the Cesco Observatory. It is higher than the Mirador del Manzanar and offers a broader view that also includes the observatory. Comparing the viewpoints reveals two different perspectives: the all-around panorama at Manzanar and the more expansive view at Cesco.

More than 90 bird species can be observed in El Leoncito National Park. These include the Andean condor, Andean mockingbird, black-chested buzzard-eagle, long-tailed meadowlark, variable hawk, and Darwin’s rhea. The Cesco Observatory is open for daytime visits Thursday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Night visits are possible with advance reservations through the website. Check visiting hours and reservation requirements before your visit.

Barreal and Practical Information

Pampa del Leoncito, also known as Barreal Blanco, is a plain in Barreal, in Calingasta Department. It is 12 kilometers long and 5 kilometers wide. Rafting trips of varying difficulty are also offered on the Río Los Patos in Barreal. Availability depends on the operators and river conditions.

The El Jarrillar area is a campground and day-use area. Facilities include barbecue shelters, parking spaces for RVs and tents, hot showers, an accessible barbecue area, and a ramp leading to an accessible restroom. Check the facilities and operating conditions before you travel.

Discover more destinations: Barreal, Caucete Department, Valle Fértil Department, Pocito, Jáchal Department, Iglesia Department, Santa Lucía, Albardón Department.

For the main travel overview: San Juan.