Ischigualasto Park tour from San Juan: Valley of the Moon

Six rock formations and a paleontology museum in one day at the Valley of the Moon

A full-day tour of Ischigualasto Provincial Park (the Valley of the Moon) from San Juan includes hotel pickup, a professional guide, and a 40km circuit visiting six named geoforms (The Worm, Painted Valley, Bowls Court, Sphinx, Submarine and Mushroom) plus the park's Natural Sciences Museum. The tour departs at 7am and returns in the evening. Entrance fees are separate.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Ischigualasto Park and Museum

• Depart from San Juan hotels at 7 AM
• Travel National Tourist Route 150 to Ischigualasto Park
• Visit 5 geoform stations with guide explanations
• Tour Interpretation Center and Natural Sciences Museum
• Return to San Juan city in the evening

The experience

The tour starts with pickup from centrally located San Juan hotels at 7am, then follows National Tourist Route 150 to reach Ischigualasto Park. The circuit itself covers 40 kilometers and stops at five stations where a guide explains the rock formations and the geological history they represent: over two hundred million years of it, visible in the stone. The six named geoforms are The Worm, Painted Valley, Bowls Court, Sphinx, Submarine and Mushroom, each one a different shape carved by erosion into the red and ochre landscape.

At each stop, the guide interprets what you're looking at: how these formations were created, why they matter to paleontologists, and what the rock itself reveals about the ancient world. The guide's explanation is essential to reading the landscape. Without it, the shapes are striking but the story stays buried. After the circuit, the tour visits the Interpretation Center and Museum of Natural Sciences at the park entrance, where you see actual paleontological pieces recovered from the site and learn how researchers track, excavate and assemble fossils.

The return to San Juan happens in the evening hours. The full day is suitable for all fitness levels, though the tour involves walking between stops and spending hours in an air-conditioned vehicle. The park entrance fee is not included in the tour price and must be paid separately.

What’s included

• Professional guide in your chosen language.
• hotel pickup and drop-off from centrally located San Juan hotels.
• air-conditioned vehicle for the full day.
• access to the 40km park circuit with stops at six named rock formations.
• visit to the Interpretation Center and Museum of Natural Sciences.

Options for this experience

2 options

Full-day experience, conducted in Spanish07:00Departure from 7 am, pickup is included

Full-day experience, conducted in English07:00Departure from 7 am, pickup is included

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Under 12: can't be booked

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 8 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Tangol

Is this one for you?Choose the English tour if that's your working language, or Spanish if you prefer. Either way, the guide's interpretation at each stop is what transforms the rock formations from striking shapes into a readable geological story spanning over two hundred million years.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

What are the six rock formations I'll see at Ischigualasto Park?

The six named geoforms on the circuit are The Worm, Painted Valley, Bowls Court, Sphinx, Submarine and Mushroom. Each one is a different rock formation shaped by erosion, and the guide explains how they formed and why they matter to the study of the area's geological and paleontological history.

Does the tour include the park entrance fee?

The entrance fee to Ischigualasto Park is not included in the tour price and must be paid separately at the gate.

What time does the tour leave San Juan and when do I return?

Pickup from centrally located hotels in San Juan begins at 7am. The tour returns to the city in the evening hours after visiting the park circuit and the museum.

Is there a museum visit included in the tour?

Yes, the tour includes a visit to the Interpretation Center and Museum of Natural Sciences at the park entrance, where you see paleontological pieces found on site and learn how fossil research and assembly work.