El Mollar - Other Activity Tafí Del Valle - Argentina

A road off Ruta Provincial winds downhill, past Dique La Angostura. Along the shore of this 800-hectare (1,977-ac) lake, anglers are casting their lines. Windsurfers skip across the gleaming surface.

The road continues down to El Mollar, a small village at the foot of Cerro Ñuñorco Grande (3,321 m / 10,896 ft). Parque de los Menhires, off the main plaza, is an archaeological park of 126 mysterious carved stone columns dating from 820 BC-780 AD. These sculptures, measuring up to three meters (10 ft) high, were found at Casas Viejas, Cerro Ñuñorco and other places. Casas Viejas, on the camino vecinal north of El Mollar, is a ceremonial mound (400 BC).

Museo Ñuñorco Huasi is a small museum inside a recreated indigewnous, subterranean house (Av Ñuñorco 600).

Location:

15 kilometers (9.3 mi) south of Tafí del Valle

Other Activity Types:
Village

Getting There

Take a Tucumán-bound bus that enters El Mollar, or alight at the roundabout on the highway and walk down (3 km / 1.9 mi). Or walk the camino vecinal from Tafí (16 km / 10 mi): follow Ruta Provincial 307 south, past Río de la Puerta, to the trail head on the right. The footpath runs between Cerro El Pelao and Dique La Angostura, passing Casas Viejas ruins.

Travel Tips:

El Mollar has basic hotels and camping. The village commemorates Nuestra Señora Covadonga in November.

Price Description:

Parque de los Menhires: adults $0.80, children $0.60. Museo �'uñorco Huasi: by donation.

Relative price: Budget

Open Hours from:Parque de los Menhires and Museo Ñuñorco Huasi: daily 9 a.m.

Open Hours to:Parque de los Menhires and Museo Ñuñorco Huasi: daily 6 p.m.

Travel Skills: None

You Need to Bring:

Bring along water, snack, sun protection (sun block, hat) and sweater, especially if hiking the camino vecinal.

Visit the town’s various museums. Go hiking or horseback riding into the mountains. Head north to Amaicha to check out its musuems and Quilmes ruins.

Currencies accepted
Argentine Peso

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By Lorraine Caputo

Upon re-declaring her independence at age 29, Lorraine Caputo packed her trusty Rocinante (so her knapsack's called) and began...

Updated: 05 Nov 2010