The south of the province San Luis is used by the so-called Pampa Seca (dry pampas) covered. It is significantly rougher than the one further to the east damp pampas and characterized by a low grass and bush landscape with a few hills. With the exception of the cities in the north, the region is hardly visited by travelers, at best lovers of lonely, wide plains get lost in this area.
Regions
The landscape of the region is largely uniform. The valley of the Río Quinto in the north with its somewhat more wavy landscape and its significantly higher population density is to be demarcated from the almost completely flat and almost uninhabited south.
places
The majority is sparsely populated, with the exception of the areas along the Ruta Nacional 7:
- San Luis, the capital of the province, 150,000 inhabitants
- Villa Mercedes, 100,000 inhabitants, metropolis in the east of the province
- La Punta, 30,000 inhabitants, city out of the retort
Other goals
background
In contrast to the Pampa Húmeda, the Pampa Seca has distinct dry seasons and is therefore less suitable for agriculture. It is mainly used for cattle breeding. The south, on the other hand, is one of the most sparsely populated areas in the country. There are many salt lakes in the area. The largely untouched nature is of particular interest to travelers.
The cities of San Luis and Villa Mercedes are active, rapidly growing industrial centers. This is mainly due to a law according to which the province, as a structurally weak region, has been subsidized by tax breaks since the 1970s.
language
In the south of the region there are isolated representatives of the Mapuche and Puelche- Indians who still speak their own language.
getting there
The cities are the best starting point San Luis and Villa Mercedes, both of which have an airport and good bus connections.
mobility
There is next to no public transport outside of the main routes. A rental car is highly recommended.
In many remote areas, a four-wheel drive vehicle is very beneficial. It should also be noted that often no vehicle can turn up for days or even weeks - so you should either have mechanical knowledge with you or, best of all, cover the distances with two vehicles.
Tourist Attractions
activities
Hunting is particularly popular in the region, as there are still many wild animals living in the wild and their populations are not endangered.
kitchen
As in the humid pampas, the food here mainly consists of beef, the further south and west you go, however, sheep meat is also eaten more often.
nightlife
Every larger town has a discotheque or a disco pub, even if you won't necessarily encounter underground highlights.
security
Criminals are arguably least of all to fear in this remote area. More likely to be armed large landowners or vicious watch dogs if you carelessly enter private property without asking the owner's permission. If in doubt, never go straight to a house, but clap your hands from a distance.
You also have to watch out for the animal world (snakes, possibly pumas). The strong sunlight is also dangerous as there is hardly any shade. Make sure to use sun protection when hiking!
climate
The climate is hot in summer (around 30 ° C-33 ° C during the day) and cool in winter (13 ° C-17 ° C during the day, often freezing at night). In winter there is almost no precipitation, in summer there is sporadic but relatively rare rain, which usually comes down as a thunderstorm.
trips
The area is well suited as a stopover on the way from Buenos Aires to the southern Andes Patagonia.
