Talampaya National Park and the Ischigualasto Provincial Park, two UNESCO designated world heritage sites, in the provinces of La Rioja and neighbouring San Juan. Talampaya covers 215,000 hectares between the Sierra Morada and the Sierras de Sanogasta. Once an ancient lake, it’s now a vast canyon of red sandstone rocks sculpted by the Talampaya River and other erosive forces into the most bizarre shapes. Some of the best natural sculptures can be seen in the ciudad perdida (lost city). There’s very little vegetation and what there is comprises scrub, small trees and cacti. The canyon walls attract the Andean condor, the black-chested buzzard-eagle and the peregrine falcon.

Some of the world’s most significant fossil beds of the Triassic period can be found at both Talampaya and Ischigualasto. In Talampaya, paleontologists uncovered a fossilized Lagosuchustalampayensis, over 250 million year old. It was one of the first dinosaurs to inhabit the area; another discovery was a turtle fossil, some 210 million years old. There is also evidence of early occupation as far back as 640 BC in the caves and rock overhangs where paintings and engravings depict various scenes and figures.

Ischigualasto Provincial Park dubbed the Valle de la Luna (Valley of the Moon) is full of more peculiar sculptures, many aptly named such as gusanos (worms) or la cancha de bochas (bowling green). Some 250 million years of strata can be observed in its cliff faces - over the years a variety of fossils have been uncovered from various geological periods. Ischigualasto is just over 90 km from Talampaya.

Route 26 joins Villa Union and Los Baldecitos on the border with San Juan province - a 14 km-entrance road leads to the visitor information centre. Facilities are limited. There is no regular bus service but there are tours, some combining Talampaya and Ischigualasto. Parque Nacional Talampaya, San Martín s/n, Villa Unión, La Rioja. Tel: +54 (0) 382 547 0356.