Explore Pehuenches Department

In Pehuenches Department, nature reserves, volcanic landscapes, and attractions around Buta Ranquil offer a range of experiences. To plan your trip, it helps to first organize the places and activities that interest you most. Then compare the location of specific hotel offers with the visits you have planned.

Protected Areas and Landscapes

The Auca Mahuida Protected Natural Area safeguards 77,020 hectares in Añelo and Pehuenches departments around the volcanic massif of Auca Mahuida. The area ranges in elevation from 500 to 2,258 meters above sea level. Monte and Patagonian steppe meet here; its protected values also include paleontological, archaeological, and cultural heritage. A provincial planning estimate for 2026 puts the share of Neuquén Province’s guanaco population hosted by Auca Mahuida and its surrounding area at approximately half.

El Tromen has a different landscape profile: the protected area includes Tromen Volcano, Laguna Tromen, and Bañado Los Barros. Cerro Wayle is also part of the area, although its summit lies outside the park boundaries. A visit here therefore focuses on the volcano, lagoon, and wetland, while Auca Mahuida is characterized by its elevation and the meeting of two natural regions.

Access Routes and Trip Planning

The main access to Auca Mahuida is about 35 kilometers southeast of Rincón de los Sauces, along Provincial Route 6. El Tromen can be reached via National Route 40 and Provincial Routes 2 and 37. The access routes described here differ; check road conditions for your chosen route before setting out.

The Buta Ranquil Valley lies between the transitional sand dunes and the foothills of the Andes. To the north, it is bounded by the Río Colorado, the Chihuidos landforms, and the ridge of Tromen Volcano. The Buta Ranquil, Huantraico, and Chacay streams irrigate the valley. These geographical features give the town a distinctive landscape setting that differs from the protected areas of Auca Mahuida and El Tromen.

Nearby, Laguna El Aparato is about 10 kilometers from Buta Ranquil. Species found in the wild there include black-necked swans, various duck species, coots, gallinules, and flamingos. Valle de los Cactus is about 25 kilometers east of Buta Ranquil and can be reached via Provincial Route 6 and a compacted gravel road. As road and track conditions can change, it is advisable to check the current route before these trips.

The circuits also vary in length and difficulty. Las Yeseras is about 30 kilometers from Buta Ranquil; its moderately difficult circuit leads to a gypsum outcrop considered the largest in the province. A very easy circuit with a total length of 20 kilometers leads to the Michicó craters. These details provide a concrete comparison of the routes described. Check track conditions before setting out.

Culture, Tradition, and Dinosaurs

Around Buta Ranquil, driving livestock to summer pastures during the veranada is a continuing tradition. The 31st Fiesta Provincial del Arriero, held in February 2026, featured live music by local and provincial groups, a Bailanta Campera, gaucho competitions, and traditional riding and horsemanship demonstrations. At this edition, empanadas and Chivito Neuquino were also served as traditional dishes.

In Rincón de los Sauces, the Museo Municipal Argentino Urquiza displays dinosaur, turtle, and crocodile skeletons, as well as original fossilized tree trunks; the museum also has a fossil preparation laboratory. Next to the museum is Parque de los Dinosaurios, with life-size sculptures of species that lived in the region more than 80 million years ago. In July 2024, the park also had a children’s area where kids could try being paleontologists for a day.

Choose a Hotel Based on Your Planned Destinations

Before searching, decide which outings are a priority for your trip and compare the location of a specific hotel offer with your plans.

Discover more destinations: Huiliches Department, Añelo Department, Loncopué Department, Minas Department, Confluencia Department, Lácar Department, Collón Curá Department, Los Lagos Department.

For the main travel overview: Neuquén.