Sightseeing in the Sierras

Cerro Blanco

View from Cerro Blanco

Mountain wildflowers

native red verbena

Invasive trees and ivy along Oscuro part of trail

We generally started the day with a hike and there were lots of roads to explore around the estancia too.  Parque Nacional Ernesto Tornquist is in the mountains and has several self-guided walks varying in length and degree of difficulty.  You have to sign in and out for all hikes.  Longer hikes have to be led by a private guide or park employee. Our first day we opted for the hike to the top of Cerro Blanco and despite many misgivings we did make it to the top!  It offers rewarding views over the valleys.  We also added on a short trail, Claro/Oscuro (Light/Dark), which leads through a meadow and wooded stream valley.  The stream is lined with invasive plants including Pinus radiata, Eucalyptus, Populus alba, and Hedera helix.

Cool waters at Garganta Olvidada

Jake at Garganta Olvidada

Entrance to Parque Nacional Ernesto Tornquist

Day two we went to another park entrance and hiked the Garganta Olvidada (Forgotten waterfall) trail.  This trail mainly goes up the stream bed to a box canyon.  Since it is the middle of summer, there was just a trickle of water coming over the cliff.  We drove to the town of Tornquist after this hike.  Aside from an impressive main plaza and pretty church, there didn't seem to be much going on there.

Town of Tornquist

Day three we decided to find the trail to our very own estancia's Cerro de la Cruz.  We set off across the fields, climbed fences, waded through weeds, and climbed the scree covered slopes.

Along the ridgeline of Cerro de la Cruz

View over the Estancia from Cerro de la Cruz

I don't have photos of the two other towns we visited.  Sierra de la Cruz was just 3 km from the Estancia and is definitely a tourist town.  A river winds along one edge of town and is lined with cottages and hotels.  One section of town has vacation houses and a golf course.  There's a friendly tourist office with wi-fi too.  We visited Villa la Ventana closer to the national park entrance, also built for tourism, but all dirt roads and lots more people on foot and bicycle.  It seemed to be a vacation spot for dogs too all of whom were roaming around in little packs.  There were some great artisanal food stores there if only we weren't so stuffed by our hostesses bounty.

"La Ventana" btw, means "window" and refers to a rock formation at the top of one of the mountains.visible from a scenic overlook along the main road. Not quite sure why it got all the notoriety!