Travel to west Argentina were situated in San Juan province, the oasis town of Barreal has grown in the corridor between the Andes and the precordillera, creating a sheltered microclimate and its own pace of life. Here, dirt roads carry as many bicycles as cars, and “downtown” is a scattering of low-rise detached houses and time-warp grocery stores. Only adventurous outsiders have been charmed so far, but that could change, especially since the town is just a five-hour drive from Mendoza city, centre of the wine region.
Barreal is renowned for having ultra-clear, pollution-free skies for around 300 days of the year. Parque Nacional El Leoncito has two astronomical observatories, with Complejo Astronómico El Leoncito the largest of the two, offering evening tours where you get to check out their prized 40-ton telescope and stargaze with the experts. You can even stay the night, providing you don’t mind sterile rooms and communal dining that hark back to school field trips.
