The 10,000 hectare Campo de los Alisos National Park lies in the northwest argentinian province Tucuman. It is the southernmost and youngest of the four national parks in the Argentine Yungas, as the subtropical cloud forests and mountain primeval forests are called, and is located about 100 km southwest of the provincial capital San Miguel de Tucuman.
background
If you want to visit the park and need information, you should contact the official headquarters of the park in Concepción (Address: 24 de septiembre 2044, 4146 Concepción, Tel / Fax: 03865-421734)
history
The national park was created in 1995 to protect a primeval forest area in the Sierra del Aconquija to protect.
landscape
The park includes all vegetation zones from 500 m high at Alpachiri to 5000 m high, snow-covered Cerro Las Cuevas. It is elongated in an east-west direction, about 25 km long and 5 km wide.
The vegetation zones are typical for the Yunga: up to 850 m height of basal primeval forest, 850-1300 m of cloud forest (with the highest biodiversity), 1300-2000 m of lighter mountain forest and from 2000 m of parkland that merges into alpine meadows. At Cerro las Cuevas, the meadows merge into the semi-desert puna. Several rivers run through the park.
Flora and fauna
Trees up to 35 m high can be admired in the Yunga, including many species of alder, nut trees and bamboo. The jaguar, the largest species of predator, is believed to be extinct in this area, but there are still pumas, deer and ocelots, as well as a large number of birds (toucans and hummingbirds as the best known species) and of course insects and spiders.
climate
The climate is subtropical, but already a bit more continental than in the national parks further north (El Rey, Baritú and Calilegua). In winter it is already quite dry and cool here, while the summer is rainy with frequent fog and muggy and hot.
getting there
Overall, the park is the most difficult to access of the four Yungas parks. An infrastructure is only just being built, so far there are no facilities for visitors. Public transport is only available to Concepción (24 km east).
The starting point for the park is the small town Alpachiri. You can reach him from San Miguel de Tucuman (with airport and many bus connections throughout the country) from: via the well-developed, but often very busy RN 38 to Concepción, then turn west on a road to Alpachiri (14 km from Concepción) and finally from there on a bad dirt road to the entrance of the park 10 km further in La Jaya.
Fees / permits
Entry to the park is free.
mobility
Apart from footpaths, there is no traffic infrastructure in the park. The main path runs lengthways through the elongated park to Cerro Las Cuevas (5000 m).
Tourist Attractions
The old ruined city is located in the park La Ciudacita, which is controversial as to whether it comes from the Incas or the Aymara Indians. However, it cannot currently (2009) be visited without a special permit.
activities
Hiking is possible, but you should go out in a group or already have experience with difficult terrain. There is a refuge halfway up the Cerro Las Cuevas. La Ciudacita is currently inaccessible.
to buy
to eat and drink
Sleep
Hotels and hostels
There are several hotels and hostels in Concepción.
camping
You can camp freely in the park after consultation with the park attendant.
security
trips
- Cuesta del Totoral, a winding pass over the last foothills of the Yunga with spectacular views. At the RN 38 on the way to San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca.
- Escaba reservoir, the largest reservoir in Argentina, located directly in the jungle, access via Ciudad Alberdi.
