La Payunia Volcanic Field

Provincial Reserve Protecting One Of The Densest Fields Of Volcanic Cones On Earth, Around The Shield Volcano Payun Matru · Malargue, Mendoza

La Payunia is a volcanic desert in the far south of Mendoza, where hundreds of volcanic cones, black lava flows and fields of volcanic bombs spread across a high steppe that looks like another planet. It is one of the densest concentrations of volcanoes on earth, centred on the broad shield of Payun Matru with its huge summit caldera and the steep, perfect cone of Payun Liso beside it. Visits are by 4x4 from the town of Malargue, a full day on gravel and sand tracks: across the Pampas Negras, a plain of black lapilli, past rivers of solidified lava and red and ochre cones, with guanacos in large herds and condors overhead. The silence and the scale are the experience, and the colours change with the light through the day. It is remote and has almost no infrastructure, and part of its interest is that so few people come. Malargue, the base, also has the Caverna de las Brujas show cave, the Pierre Auger cosmic-ray observatory and the Las Lenas ski resort in winter. Bring sun protection; there is no shade on the lava.

Ruta Nacional 40, La Payunia, Malargue, Mendoza, Malargue, Mendoza, M5613, Argentina

The reserve is visited on 4x4 day tours from Malargue, which run most of the year; independent entry is limited and not advised. Snow can close access in winter.

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