Laguna de la Niña Encantada

Information

It is a laguna (like a lake) on the way to Las Leñas, which has a green/turquoise colour and is surrounded by volcanic material.

To reach this place by car:
- From Malargüe you first drive 30 km north on Route 40. There you turn left onto the 222 road to Las Leñas, along which you drive for 22 km until you turn right onto a secondary road that leads to the laguna.
- If you are coming from San Rafael, it is 73 km along Route 144 and then 82 km along Route 40 to take Road 222.

To get to the laguna, when the secondary vehicular road ends, you have to cross a bridge over the Salado River (which runs parallel to Route 222) on foot, and then walk some 300 metres more. You pass by a booth where you pay a ticket, and arrive at a viewpoint at the side of the laguna. There is also a small path that allows you to see the body of water from higher up.

There is a legend about this laguna that tells of the daughter of a native cacique, who was given to be married to a member of a Pehuenche tribe, in order to keep the peace between both communities. But the princess was in love with a young man from the same tribe, with whom she decided to run away. They were being chased and when they reached a cliff overlooking the laguna, they decided to commit suicide together.