Pampa del Leoncito

Information

The Pampa del Leoncito, also called Barreal Blanco, is a white desert located 22 km from the town of Barreal in the Argentinean province of San Juan. It is 12 km long and 4 km wide, and is situated in a flat area between the Andes and the Sierra del Tontal (a mountain chain) belonging to the Precordillera.

It is a striking landscape, as it is a completely flat surface with views of the Andes mountains in the background. One of the snow-capped peaks that can be seen is the Cerro Mercedario, which at 6770 metres above sea level is the highest peak in San Juan and the fourth highest in America. The strong winds that blow at times make this pampa ideal for the practice of sports such as landsailing.

It is located next to the paved National Route 149 that connects Barreal with Uspallata. It is right in front of where the access to the El Leoncito National Park opens, so it is a good idea to take advantage of the trip to visit the protected area as well.