Ñacuñán Biosphere Reserve

Information

It is a protected area in the Argentine province of Mendoza, which preserves and restores an area of algarrobo woodland, a tree that was heavily exploited in the past. It is located in an arid area, which is also home to other plant species such as chañares and jarillas.

It is located near the village of Ñacuñán, which lies along Provincial Route 153 connecting Las Catitas with Monte Comán. From this village, the reserve can be reached by traveling 4 km along a secondary road heading east. You arrive at an area with space for picnics, where there are trails and a dune viewpoint. It is recommended to avoid visiting during the hotter months or at times of strong sunlight, as the temperatures can become overwhelming. For this reason, the best time to visit is during winter (from June to September).

The site is very interesting for wildlife observation. It is very common to spot mammals such as the patagonian mara (Dolichotis patagonum) and a variety of reptiles. Among the birds, besides the common species, it is usual to see some interesting ones such as the chaco earthcreeper (Tarphonomus certhioides), the crested gallito (Rhinocrypta lanceolata), the spot-winged falconet (Spiziapteryx circumcincta), the cinnamon warbling-finch (Poospiza ornata), the black-breasted warbling-finch (Microspingus pectoralis) and many others. At night, the chaco owl (Strix chacoensis) is also commonly seen.