The City of San Rafael
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Located 232 kilometers south of the provincial capital, and blessed with a climate that favors it with 300 sunny days a year, the city of San Rafael showcases a catalog of landscapes that are missing very few of the expressions that nature has managed to materialize in the world: mountains, rivers, lakes, oases, varied vegetation, and even desert spaces extend within its boundaries.
Atuel Canyon Circuit
This circuit is made up of Valle Grande, the Atuel Canyon and the El Nihuil Tourist Village. In Valle Grande, thanks to an immense emerald green body of water, the excursion becomes an “adventure” with the practice of swimming, diving, skiing, rowing, jet skiing, catamaran rides, windsurfing, sport fishing, photographic safaris, etc. In the Atuel Canyon, the erosion produced by the action of wind and water has modeled the rocks, giving them shapes that allow us to surprise ourselves step by step. In this Canyon, nature has created true natural sculptures such as the Wax Museum, the Rivadavia Chair, the Lizard, the Old Men, the Monsters, the Enchanted City, the Beggar, the Hanging Gardens, the Monks... In addition, the Canyon has two artificial lakes, Aisol and Tierras Blancas, which contribute to the beauty of this place. Emerging from the canyon through a winding slope, the immensity of the lake that forms the El Nihuil dam is revealed, an ideal place for water sports. When windsurfers unfurl their multicoloured sails, an incredible spectacle of unparalleled colour is seen. On the right bank stands the Villa El Nihuil. In addition, the El Nihuil dam allows fishermen to practice their favourite sport. To return to San Rafael, use provincial route 180, connecting with national route 144, passing through Cuesta de Los Terneros, the town of Cuadro Benegas and entering the city through Avenida Balloffet.
Diamond Canyon Circuit
Just 25 km from the City of San Rafael is Villa 25 de Mayo, considered a true inhabited museum, with adobe houses and streets flanked by centuries-old trees. The Nuestra Señora del Carmen Church, located at the corner of Gobernador Ortega and Chacabuco, declared a National Historic Monument, still preserves the first images and clothing from that era. You can also visit the Narciso Sosa Morales Museum. The Diamante River originates in the Andes Mountains in the homonymous lagoon, and its waters have also been harnessed for hydroelectric production. Galileo Vitale is the first structure built on the Diamante River to harness its waters for artificial irrigation and distribution through a complex system of gates in concrete canals. It is located just 27 km from the City and offers a magnificent landscape with groves. El Tigre, a compensatory dam whose water content is replenished by pumping to Lake Los Reyunos, was built just 33 km from downtown San Rafael. The Agua del Toro Dam is located 84 kilometers from San Rafael, in the so-called Pampa Amarilla, at 1,300 meters above sea level. In its 1,050-hectare water mirror, it is possible to fish and practice water sports such as windsurfing, diving, jet skiing, rowing, and sailing.
High Mountain Circuit
It starts in the Sierra Pintada, a multicoloured mountain range located 33 kilometres from San Rafael. Then, heading south, begins the Cuesta de los Terneros, which reaches a maximum height of 1,000 metres above sea level. At its summit, there is a natural window that shows the Oasis of San Rafael. After reaching the summit, take the road to El Sosneado, which is located 142 kilometres from San Rafael and has a wild nature that offers the practice of mountaineering, mountain biking, trekking... Through a consolidated road that borders the Atuel River, you can access the El Sosneado lagoon, suitable for fishing and diving, the Cueva del Indio, witness to our previous cultures and the ruins of the once famous El Sosneado Thermal Hotel, with open-air thermal pools that still retain their healing properties. This circuit is operational from November to March. In the heart of the Andes Mountains, the Overo Volcano (inactive volcano) rises with its summit crowned with eternal glaciers. Its height of 4,629 meters allows for high-altitude mountaineering.
