El Hongo
Ischigualasto's most famous landmark: slender rock columns topped by a huge 'umbrella cap,' with the red Barranca de los Colorados cliffs rising behind.
El Hongo, or The Mushroom, is the last stop on the Valley of the Moon loop and the park's emblem. Harder upper rock layers protect the softer rock beneath, and wind and sand erosion have shaped it into a mushroom, wide on top and narrow at the base. Behind it rise the towering red cliffs of Barranca de los Colorados, which glow most brightly at sunset. Visitors may walk around outside the railing to take photos, but climbing is strictly prohibited. From here it is about another 15 km of driving back to the visitor center.
Opening hours
Follows park shuttle schedule
Nearby sights
- El Submarino
- Cancha de Bochas
- Valle Pintado
- Ischigualasto Provincial Park (Valle de la Luna)
- Cañón del Arco Iris & Ciudad Perdida
- Talampaya National Park
- Talampaya Petroglyphs
- Talampaya Canyon & Botanical Garden