DISCOVER THE "LAND OF THE SUN"
DISCOVER SAN JUAN
Where is it?. How can you get there?
You have mainly 3 ways
1) By plane:
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From Buenos Aires fly to San Juan via Aerolines Argentinas. (Direct way)
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From Buenos Aires fly to Mendoza city with LATAM and then bus to San Juan (2hs bus) with "Del Sur y Media Agua" bus company ( www.delsurymediaagua.com ) . The best option for me. Cheap, fast and cool.
2) By Bus:
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From Buenos Aires there are daily buses every day, you can buy the ticket personally in Retiro Bus Station downtown city or online at www.plataforma10.com.ar or www.centraldepasajes.com.ar. It is a 16 hs travel and spect to pay between U$ 40 and U$ 50. Buses are in good shape and service is ok.
3) By Car or Motorcycle:
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Turn on your GPS after you rent your car or get your motorcycle, is an easy and good road between 1100 km (600 miles) and 1400 km (700 miles) depending on the road combination you take, can be 7, 8 or number 9 national road. It is better if you do the journey in two days and relaxes somewhere in the middle, you will enjoy it better. So if you plan a car or motorcycle trip you will need at least 10 to 15 days (4 days for going and coming, and a week at least to move in the area).
Technical Information
LOCATION:
San Juan Province is a province of Argentina, located in the western part of the country. Neighbouring provinces are, moving clockwise from the north, La Rioja, San Luis and Mendoza. It borders with Chile to the west. The province has an area of 89,651 km2, covering a mountainous region with scarce vegetation, fertile oases and turbulent rivers. Throughout the entire province there are an important number of paleontological sites.
Similar to other regions in Argentina, agriculture is one of the most important economic activities, highlighting wine production and olive oil. Additionally, a variety of fruits and vegetables are produced in the fertile valleys irrigated by artificial channels in the western part, close to the Andes mountain range. This is the second province in volume of wine production at the national level and in South America, and possesses outstanding varietal wines. It is also an important center of mining and oil production.
WEATHER:
The province is part of the continental semi-desert Cuyo region. The arid plains start on the east, with a few low hills in the middle and swiftly turn into 6,000-meter-high mountain peaks towards the west. Both areas are subject to the dry hot Zonda (a very hot and strong wind). Most of the precipitations take place during the summer, often as electrical storms.
The hot wind has modeled the clay-rich red soil into Pampa del Leoncito (Reserva Natural Estricta El Leoncito) and Valle de la Luna (Parque Provincial Ischigualasto) 200-million-year-old geological formations.
The Jáchal and San Juan rivers, both part of Desaguadero River system, are the source of fertile valleys and centre of the province's economy. The San Juan River finishes in the Huanacache lagoons (sometimes called Guanacache), on the southeast. The Andes of San Juan Province belong to the Dry Andes climatic province. Permafrost is widespread above 3000 masl in the Andes and rock glaciers are common.
POPULATION:
San Juan concentrates most of its population in the oases or central valleys, Tulum Valley, Zonda, Ullum and Jáchal, containing nearly 80% of this population. The remaining is located in the oasis located at the foot of the Andes in Iglesias and Calingasta. Another population concentration is in Fertile Valley.
About my experience
So, what now? join me on my trip to “The Land of the Sun”, I will let you know thru my own experience how San Juan looks and feel likes. Let´s go.
San Juan was a big surprise for me, in a good way. Even I´m Argentinean we knew a few things about the province, they do not have very good communication about themselves for overseas people even not for not locals like argies from other parts of the country even though, we bet will be a good spot to show and develop and it was.
The first value I can tell about San Juan is its people, they are really lovely, kind, there are no tricky manners at all on their behavior and the word "brother" became the way they will talk about you. I was invited to every place, even to a private birthday, even a marriage ceremony, that was amazing. People are one of the wonders of San Juan.
Second I may tell that they are building a province in a desert, like in Las Vegas they built a city out of a desert, well here they are building a huge province, with many cities out of a mountain desert in the pre cordillera area of the Andes.
It is a huge project that takes time, money and a lot of energy, but they are doing it well, steady and with patience, like in Dubai but with no so many resources.
So, what can you do here?
Well, if you like extreme life conditions, I mean, extreme sports, motorcycle, adventure but also high-quality cuisine, San Juan has everything you may need to have a wonderful experience.
MOTORCYCLE:
Off-road tracks for "enduro" are everywhere and I was lucky enough to ride during many days exploring them alongside the famous local Dakar rider, Alberto "Puchi" Ontiveros, 6 times Dakar driver, with the best experience in the area.
He took almost everywhere, with the combination of on and off-road tracks, according to my skills and the motorcycle I had for rent. You may go from on-road easy riding to heavy off-road Dakar tracks where you may be a challenge to give the best of yourself.
No worries about it, "Puchi" is not only a great rider, but he is also a great human being who will guide you with patience and tender all the way to maximize your riding. So, you may contact him through mail at puchi201@hotmail.com, his WhatsApp number +54 9 264 410-1666 to hire his services or his Facebook page ( https://www.facebook.com/puchi.ontiveros ).
And for renting bikes call Juan (John) a local company who will hire you Yamaha Tenere 250 or similar for very low price, call him at +54 9 264 510-9760 or mail: info@pangeasrl.com.ar