Hosteria El Peñon, Altiplano

Location

El Peñon, the Puna (Altiplano, Argentina)

Description

A small cozy hosteria in the remote highland village of El Peñon, with warm and simple décor in keeping with the desert environment of the Puna. The main communal area has a lovely open fireplace and sofas. It is also where all the meals are eaten. Wifi is available from 5pm until around midnight.

Activities

All the roads are sand tracks and a guide is essential. Visit Dune Blanca and the Pumice stone field (Piedra Pomez), a national protected area about 40km from El Peñon. Laguna Grande at 4,200m is 42km in the opposite direction from the village and at the peak time of year you can expect to see up to 19,000 flamingos. It is also possible to continue from Laguna Grande to Volcan Galan, from where you can actually drive into the crater of Laguna Diamante.

Accommodation

The 8 rooms lead off a corridor which is lined with wood burning stoves giving a warm, welcoming feeling. They are simple but comfortable with tiled floors and a private bathroom. There is no TV or safe and electricity is only available from 5pm until around midnight