laguna brava

It is a lovely place!! The scenery is breathtaking and the silence of implacable nature is amazing. There is local fauna easy to see and enjoy and the cold wind and environment after hot days in lower La Rioja turns out a refreshing break. You need a guide to go with you even when you are using your own car, we chose Damian, from Runacay, and it was a rewarding experience: he is knowledgeable, nice, amusing and caring. Beware of the heights: take coca tea, drink a lot of water, have a slight dinner the day before; you might get mountain sickness. Highly recommendable site + tour company.

This is a must do when you are in the area. It is a long day, about 8 hours and you can only do it on a tour or in a convoy. We went with Runacay Tours because they speak English and will do a tour for 2-4 people. I have never seen such wonderul scenery or ever been to 4200 metres. The tour guide was very concerned about the altitude and looked after us extremely well.

I took a wonderful excursion with Fabian Paez from Runacay Servicios EVT 13232 out in Villa Union, La Rioja and it was Wonderful!Furthermore, the reserve of Laguna Brava is located in the Northwest corner of the province of La Rioja, Argentina, limited to the South with the province of San Juan and to the West with the Republic of Chile. It occupies part of the departments of General Lamadrid and Vinchina, with 405,000 hectares. The site includes a set of high Andean Lakes of saline waters and hypersaline shallow wetlands and vegas associated, situated above the altitude of 3,000 m. occupies land which correspond to the Punena and high-Andean phytogeographical provinces with altitudes ranging between the 2500 and 4500 m.Objectives:The objectives of the creation of this provincial reserve is the preservation of species and genetic diversity, representative of the eco-region and sustainable use of resources of the ecosystems wildlife area.Climate:The area has a very rigorous called arid climate Andean Puna, characteristic of heights exceeding 4000 msnm, of Andean type. It shows a wide temperature range, prevailing low temperatures with strong winds from the West with snowfalls during the autumn and winter months.Flora:There are large sections covered by saline lands where halophilic species thrive. On the slopes of the hills gradually vegetable tapestry is changing. The jarillares disappear and xerophytic steppe, gradually, first becomes the puna shrub steppe and then only in matas in pad, characteristic of the high andes.Fauna:This fauna corresponds to the zoogeographical Puna, Andean provinces and Monte. Summer presence of significant populations of endemic and/or endangered waterbirds: Andean flamingos and as well as other birds, terrestrial and aquatic as condor, the Rhea, the Eagle, the Plumbeous Hawk and Dove Mountain range. Among the mammals we find important populations of camels: guanacos and vicuñas. Also highlights the presence of puma and the Red Fox.Lastly, the reserve of Laguna Brava is one of the most important tourist sites in the province of La Rioja. It is a place where tourists can marvel at nature and the silence and the solitude of the place. Some tourists fascinated by the place say that silence can be heard.I highly recommend the tour to Laguna Brava and Fabian Paez is a great Tour Guide and Organizer and I really think that Runacay Servicios EVT 1323 does an Excellent Job of taking people around there because they know the area quite well and are Highly Qualified Guides and Drivers.Thank you for the Wonderful Trip to Beautiful Laguna Brava!

Today I tried to drive to the Laguna Brava but I was stopped on de road at Jague (after driving 100 km from Villa Union). I was not allowed to continue unless I took a guide with me. I guess it is one of those triks to rip off tourists. I turnes back without seeing the laguna.Marc, the Netherlands25-11-2012

It's really a hidden gem of the Andes in northwest Agentina. This wetland listed on RAMSAR is the home to Andean and James' flamingos, vicuña, guanaco and other fauna. Amazing landscapes and colors of Andes along the winding road to Laguna Brava.

great place to visit. Went with teenagerf and a 6 year son. They all loved it. its a long day, take it easy in the hights as the air gets thin. Will return to make to the Inca Crater another 3000ft higher.

This is probably one of the most amazing spots in the country! The road there from Vinchina is incredible and arriving at this body of water with pink flamingos, guanacos and vicuñas, and foxes at 4600m above sea level is just astounding. We hired our guide, Gastón, at the tourism office in Vinchina and he was not only knowledgeable and helpful but nice company during the tour. Totally recommendable!

After visiting the national parks, Ischigualasto and Talampaya, we, 2 couples, decided to make the 24. of December to something special and planned a trip to Laguna Brava. It is a salt lake in 4.400 meters altitude and the whole trip - getting there, experiencing the area and back is worth the effort.We almost booked a tour with a local provider in a 4 x 4, but it was 450 Arg. Pesos per person, so in the end we agreed that it was too much. But we had the luck that our guide in Talampaya knew a local tour guide with the demanded authorization, which was able to do it on this special day for 200 Arg. Pesos in total...!!! So a good deal, even though we had to do it in our rental car - a normal sedan.At this time of the year, summer in Argentina, there are NO need of a 4 x 4 to do this trip as the few streams you have to cross only an 10 cm. deep. Of course all the providers of the tours claim that you cant do it by yourself - and if you are not comfortable driving in the mountains - then book, but else......don´t and save the money. The roads are in nice conditions, paved or not, and any kind of experienced driver can manage.YOU can´t go to Laguna Brava without an authorized guide ! You will pass to stops where you have to register and the guide has to show his license. The registration is a precaution - as they will search for you if you dont return again at the end of the day. Always bring along your personal papers (passport) as they will ask for the number, etc.Our guide, Emmanuel Luna, we picked up in Vinchina, north of Villa Union, and we began our tour at 8.15 am. He had done more than 1000 tours and we made a lot of stops where he carefully explained the sights. On the way up we were so lucky to see 5 Condors in the sky above the peaks of the mountains - absolutely breath taking. After 4 hours we reached the plateau and the sight was spectacular. An old plane, which carried animals between Chile and Argentina, crashed there many years ago, but is still to be seen. A large number of flamingos live there along with the Guanacos, foxes and a few other animals. Next stop was at the geisers before we went back again. We returned to Vinchina at about 4 pm. after an excellent day.I can higly recommend this sight as it will offer you spectacular views and it is not full of tourists. Search in the local area for a local guide if you have a car, and you will save a lot of money - and the tour will for sure be better.To remember: It is in the high altitude, 4.400 meters, so if you suffer altitude sickness, then don´t go or bring severel pain killers. Drink water and avoid too much food before you go. Bring sandwishes and water.

Un paseo que no hay que perderse... todo es bellísimo: el camino por la cuesta tiene unos colores, unas vistas y una quietud que es difícil de contar. Hay que vivirlo...! Solamente hacen esta excursión con guías que conocer el lugar y el terreno. Yo recomiendo averigüar bien antes de ir, en alguna agencia de turismo. Visité Laguna Brava a principios de setiembre: no habían llegado todavía los flamencos!! y la laguna estaba congelada en varias partes. Recomiendo totalmente hacer la excursión, pero si pueden ir en meses mas cercanos al verano, mejor!

Si pasas por La Rioja, es una visita obligada, pues los colores que encuentras en las montañas durante el recorrido son unicos. Dignos de los amantes de la fotografía de naturaleza.

El camino hacia la laguna es increíble, primero cruzas la pre cordillera y cuando parece que ya pasó lo mejor, comenzas a subir la cordillera con unos paisajes maravillosos. Y llegar a la laguna es hermoso!No contamos con vehiculo propio y por eso contratamos desde villa union una excursion en 4x4. Es caro ($750 por persona en feb 2015), pero realmente vale la pena. El viaje comienza a las 8 de la mañana y el regreso es a las 17hs aprox.Si contas con vehículo propio, podes contratar un guía desde Vinchina, lo que es mas accesible, pero cuando fuimos nosotros, por la crecida, el rio habia destruido el puente, y el camino solo se podia hacer en 4x4.

Contratamos un guía en Vinchina, en la entrada está la Cooperativa. Excelente acompañamiento de Pitter, vuelvo a escribir una opinión sobre la laguna, porque en verano es totalmente diferente. No hay tanto viento, se puede permanecer largo tiempo en la laguna, la excursión es larga, y la laguna es sólo uno de los puntos de atracción, todo el recorrido vale la pena, recomiendo ir directamente a Vinchina a las 8 de la mañana y allí contratar directamente con la los guias de la Cooperativa, el recorrido es diferente con ellos

el camino hacia laguna brava es maravilloso los colores y los precipicios, la llegada al lugar es de otro planeta la laguna con sus flamencos, los picos nevados son de ensueño.tienen que ir con guia, es un lugar bello pero peligroso para quien no conoce.

El camino a Laguna Brava es tan o más atractivo que la propia laguna, lugar dónde se suelen encontrar flamencos y está situada en un pequeño salar. El camino ascendente presenta paisajes bellísimos y se pueden observar guanacos y vicuñas salvajes y avistar cóndores. El verano es temporada de lluvias, por lo cual, si llueve mucho en la montaña es conveniente contratar la excursión en 4x4. Nosotros la contratamos en Villa Unión porque se había derrumbado un puente y algunos tramos con una gruesa capa de lodo hubieran hecho imposible el tránsito para un vehículo normal. De hecho, viajamos en caravana con otras 3 camionetas y los conductores debieron bajarse en varias oportunidades para evaluar el camino antes de atravesar los ríos. Subimos a casi 4500 metros sobre el nivel del mar, por lo cual es normal sentir dolor de cabeza, oídos tapados y un leve mareo. Es preciso moverse muy despacio y concentrarse en la respiración profunda porque si se asustan, los síntomas se incrementan. Es sólo un rato hasta que se bajan unos metros. Sin duda, valió la pena y es uno de los lugares más hermosos en los que he estado.

Hay que pasar por Vinchina obligadamente para ir con un guía. También se lo puede contratar desde Villa Unión. Fuimos con Gera, un capo, nos brindó información sobre el paisaje, la fauna, algo de historia, nos dió recomendaciones sobre el camino paso a paso, paramos en el camino a comer unas empanadas y tortafritas riquísimas, nos convidaron unos mates y accedimos a los baños. La laguna es bellisima, si quieren seguir hasta corona del indio necesitan un vehiculo 4x4. Pero hasta la laguna y alrededores no tiene desperdicio. Fuimos dos personas en un vehículo común, llegamos perfecto, nos costó $250.