Cerro Tunduqueral Park: Mendoza’s ancient spot

On the way from Mendoza to Chile, or to previously described by me Uspallata, there is a big pile of rocks that nobody seem to care about. No flashy signs, just a simple information where to turn right, no parking attendants, just a small space marked by rocks that says where you can leave your car, no bathroom or shops, just a simple tiny hut where the ranger hides from the sun - a friendly guy who will help you with useful information, and make sure everyone leaves the space as clean as they found it, and no crazy Yankee decides to climb on the rocks. dusty pull-off and a hill that’s been sitting there for, oh, a few thousand years. This place, even though not very well known, is definitely worth a stop.

Here’s the thing: people carved stuff here. A lot of stuff. I mean, what seems to be a simple rock on a desert, in fact is an ancient art gallery with over 400 doodles on rocks—spirals, squiggly lines, stick figures, even a face with a weird hat locals call “El Amauta.” Archaeologists say these carvings are around 1,500 years old, which would mean they were here before Incas made their trading trails in the region (that's another amazing topic I'll surely write about - how far south Incas have travelled, how much land did they discover and how many cultures they traded with. they basically connected modern Colombia with Argentina).

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Carvings may seem to be difficult to spot at first, but more you look, more you start seeing them, and what before was just a regular rock, changes immediately into the big canva with tens of pictures squeezed in one next to the other. If you are struggling with finding it, and you already gave it so many tries that you feel you'll give up soon, just ask the ranger for the help. He is very friendly, and without any payment he will point out for you the biggest and most impressive among the cravings.

Not only the history of that place is impressive. The nature, landscapes, fauna and flora (especially flora with the local cactuses), are fascinating as well.

Mendoza’s trying to save the carvings. They’re using drones to map the rocks and making VR tours so you can “walk” through the park without tripping on the stairs. Soon, you’ll be able to visit the place without leaving city. In my opinion, it's much more impressive when you can be there, with the soft wind blow on your cheeks, smells of the desert, quiet surroundings.. The experience is just more real and more complex that way. Even though I understand what is the motivation to move it to VR, I would suggest to hurry up, and visit it "live", before the spot will be closed to the tourists.

How to get there? Unfortunately public transport does not come here, so the only option will be driving a car. Drive 7km from Uspallata in Mendoza direction.

Parking available for free, as well as the entrance. It's cool to have some change to tip the ranger.
The spot is opened every day from 10.00 to 17.00

Honestly, this isn’t the kind of place you plan a trip around. No gift shops, no bathrooms, no Instagramers posing to the selfies. That’s exactly why I like it. You’ll hear the wind, not tour groups. You’ll see condors, not selfie sticks. It’s raw, quiet, and a little weird—a reminder that Mendoza isn’t just wine and ski resorts. It’s also rocks with secrets.