What it is
A series of rock shelters with rock art in the Río Pinturas canyon. It was declared a National Historic Monument in 1993 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999. The official site describes intermittent human occupation over some 8,000 years, with remains up to nearly 10,000 years old.
What the visit is like
Visits are guided only, in small groups (the Turismo Ruta 40 website mentions a maximum of 20 people, first come, first served). Tours leave roughly every hour and last about an hour.
Opening hours published by the official site: high season (October to April) 9 am to 7 pm and low season (May to September) 10 am to 5 pm. INAPL publishes different times: check before you travel at Cueva de las Manos (sitio oficial). Fees: check before you travel at Cueva de las Manos (sitio oficial).
Getting there
- Via RP 97 (gravel): about 47 km from Bajo Caracoles, on Route 40. This is the most used access.
- Via RP 101 (gravel): a scenic, winding road with steep grades.
- From Parque Patagonia: there is a Cueva de las Manos Portal on the canyon side.
Before setting off, check road conditions with Vialidad Provincial (the provincial roads authority) or in Perito Moreno, which manages the site.
