After the San Juan Marathon: Zonda and Ullum

The Route: San Juan → Zonda → Dique Punta Negra → Dique de Ullum → San Juan Logistics: Taxi, remis or hire car from central San Juan. Zonda sits about 20 km from the city, and the loop returns to the centre the same day. Marathon Month: July Duration: Day trip

San Juan centre ──(about 20 km by road)──> Zonda / Quebrada de Zonda ──> Dique Punta Negra
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      └────────────────────── Dique de Ullum ◄────────────────────────────────┘

The marathon starts at the Punta Negra reservoir and drops through the Quebrada de Zonda toward the city, which makes this the one day trip where the runner has already seen the scenery at 5 minutes per kilometre and remembers very little of it. The day after, a car makes up for that.

July in San Juan: Midwinter here is dry and sharp. The city's July average runs from about 0°C overnight to about 17°C in the afternoon, with clear skies. Mornings by the reservoir are colder than in town and fog sometimes sits over the water, so start late and take a jacket. Water sports are a summer business; the dams are for looking at in July.

Check whether a public bus serves Zonda at useful times. A taxi or remis for the round trip, with a return time agreed in advance, is the safer plan, as is a hire car for the day. Ask the hotel for a driver it trusts. Zonda is about 20 km from the city, so the journey is short.

Zonda and the Punta Negra reservoir

Zonda takes its name from the Zonda wind, a hot, dry wind that blows from west to east. The department is mostly vineyards, and wineries are its main industry. The Punta Negra reservoir marks its northern edge, where the San Juan river separates Zonda from Ullum. The embarcadero is the marathon start, and standing there without a number on is a different experience.

The quebrada is a short drive from the reservoir. The Autódromo Eduardo Copello, a motor-racing circuit, sits in the quebrada, and the marathon runs through it. The Jardín de los Poetas is on the same stretch of road. Stop where the road allows and keep the walking to a few hundred metres on level ground. Check opening times for the autódromo and the garden before planning a stop at either.

Wine and the Dique de Ullum

Tulum, Zonda and Ullum are the province's main wine valleys. A winery visit by appointment is the easiest sit-down activity of the day, and a tasting involves standing for a short time at most. Ask the hotel to phone ahead, because small producers often work by reservation, particularly outside the harvest.

The Dique de Ullum is on the way back toward the city. The dam is a viewpoint stop, not a walk. Ten minutes at the water is enough.

The city on the way back

If the legs allow, stop at the Casa Natal de Sarmiento on Sarmiento Sur, the birthplace of Domingo Faustino Sarmiento. It is a national museum, entry is free, and guided visits are offered in several languages. The visit is indoors and short. Check the weekday and weekend opening hours before going.

Getting back

The loop ends where it began, in central San Juan, with plenty of daylight to spare. For the airport, San Juan's UAQ (Domingo Faustino Sarmiento) is on the edge of the city and a taxi from the centre is the simplest transfer.