| |
|
 Estimated reading time: 2 min. |
 Marcelo Sola  Marcos Baltuska |
 |
 |
In the middle of Patagonian steppe, where guanacos and american ostriches graze, you will be surprised at the irruption of the deep canyon of Pinturas river, where the most spectacular manifestations of regional cave art are kept.
If you leave from Perito Moreno and take National Route 40 to the south you will pass by the access to Estancia Telken and cross Page and Telken creeks, which form immense cascades when the ice melts and the water falls through the plateaus.
After 120 km. through a moon-like road there is a turning on the left to Hands Cave; after 45 km. through this rugged road you will find the canyon of the river Pinturas, 170 m. deep.
Once you park in the Interpretation Center and get informed at the ranger station, you can lean out of the railing.
On one side of the canyon, formed by enormous porphyric and volcanic rock cliffs where the upper course of the river Pinturas winds through, are the famous caves and cornices described by Father De Agostini in 1941, with the monumental impression of these people´s vision of the world dating from 9.000 years. |
 |
You must follow a trail in the river, and in the middle of this enormous natural canyon you will find this antique manifestation of art in the caves, cornices and rock walls in the creek. You can also hike with your backpack for 12 kilometers and walk upstream through the river Pinturas from the camping site in Estancia Casa de Piedra by route Nº 40.
The third option requires fitness to climb 2.200 meters of steep cliffs on the canyon of Pinturas river through a trail inside Estancia Los Toldos, where there is an inn and a lodge. From this hillside the canyon is seen as a window framing Hands Cave.
From Hands Cave to Piedra Pintada, passing by Charcamata, Big Cave or Page Creek, this arechaeology corridor paralel to route 40 is visited by tourists who appreciate these 10.000 years old cave paintings which have been declared Humanity´s Cultural Heritage by the Cultural and Natural Heritage Commitee of the Unesco. |
 |
The images on the rock correspond to the first inhabitants of Patagonia from the pretetehuelche civilization.
The archaeological importance of this siyte lies on the fact that through the paintings some very valuable information was obtained about the lifestyle of those hunters from the past who were the first human inhabitants of Patagonia. According to one of the theories, there was a kind of ritual expressed in the symbols. Guanacos were the main resource, of which they used the meat, the skin and the tendons. |
 |
The access to caves is only allowed with a guide to avoid deterioration and depredation.
In the past, Charcamata Eaves (a Tehuelche name meaning "the woodpecker´s road") was only known by the people who lived in the estancias between Perito Moreno and Bajo Caracoles, and the same happened to Big Cave, Arroyo Feo, Page creek and Piedra Pintada. The exact location of these places is kept in secret, and only some experts can get there. To get to Charcamata, for example, a cave excavated at the base of a canyon, one must drive 30 km. in a 4x4 vehicle. Horseback riding outings are also organized, and in the caves you can see the images of two pumas, 37 guanacos and three american ostriches.
Hundreds of hands and other positive and negative images in red, ocher, yellow, green. black and white tones are printed on the rock, as well as drawings like hunting scenes including human figures and guanacos. In 1972 the age of these paintings was determined through the carbon 14 method in 7.350 years B.C.
This enormous pre-historic friese is considered a National Historical Monument.
The complete outing takes at least 6 hours. It is a 167 kilometers drive on a debris road to get to the archaeology site by car, or you can hire an excursion in the tourist agency in town. |
 |
Bajo Caracoles
Bajo Caracoles is a village situated 128 km. to the south of Perito Moreno, a potential distribution center to the attractions in the area: Hands Cave, Lake Posadas, Los Antiguos and Perito Moreno National Park.
To get to it you must travel through route 40 to the yellow, green and red hills tinted by rocks and earth at 450 meters above sea level with a semi arid climate and many hours of sun light.
The most picturesque sectors are the canyons of Telkem and Feo creeks and Ecker river. |
|
 |
|
 |
