← A Pampa Traviesa Marathon·3 nights

Santa Rosa, Parque Luro and Lihué Calel: Three Nights Across La Pampa

A three-night loop that rests in Santa Rosa, visits Parque Luro on the way, and ends in the granite hills of Lihué Calel.

Duration3 nights
TransitHired vehicle or booked excursion; Parque Luro about 35 km and Lihué Calel about 230 km from Santa Rosa
DepartsSanta Rosa

After the A Pampa Traviesa Marathon: Three Parks Across La Pampa

The Route: Santa Rosa → Parque Luro → Santa Rosa → Lihué Calel → Santa Rosa → Airport Logistics: A hired vehicle or booked excursions. Public transport between the parks is not reliable enough to plan around. Marathon Month: April Duration: 3 nights

Santa Rosa ──(35-36 km, RN35)──> Parque Luro ──(same road)──> Santa Rosa
     │
     └──(about 230 km by road)──> Lihué Calel National Park ──(same road)──> Santa Rosa ──> Airport (RSA)

The race finishes on a Sunday morning in Santa Rosa, so the first night belongs to the city. This three-night plan puts the shortest outing first and the longest last, so the body gets a chance to recover before the long drive. It is a conditional plan, not an off-the-shelf package. It needs a hired vehicle or a booked driver, and every leg depends on bookings you make yourself.

April in La Pampa: Early autumn. In Parque Luro, March and April are the red deer rutting season, the brama. Lihué Calel is a semi-arid park and water must be carried in. The Santa Rosa pools are closed.

Night One: Santa Rosa

Stay in the centre. Calfucurá, at San Martín 695, is on the avenue where the race starts and offers a paid late departure until 18:00. UNIT, at Pedro Luro 787, has a restaurant on site and an 11:00 checkout. Eat at Cuatro Esquinas Resto Bar inside UNIT, open daily from 07:00 to 15:00 and 16:00 to 23:30.

Walk only as far as the Centro Cívico, designed by Clorindo Testa, which can be seen from the pavement.

The Second Day: Parque Luro

The reserve is about 35 to 36 km out along RN35. Book a remís or hire a car, agree the return time, and keep the visit short. The paths around the old estate are level, and the museum rooms offer seating. Dusk brings the rut, but a long stand in a field after a marathon is hard on the legs. The full outing is described in the Parque Luro day trip. Return to Santa Rosa for the night.

Night Three: Lihué Calel

Lihué Calel lies about 230 km from Santa Rosa. National tourism recommends a car or a booked excursion. Drive out in daylight and keep the first afternoon for the visitor-centre paths, which are short. The 15.4 km guided trail and the summit climb are not recovery activities.

Camping inside the park requires advance reservation and water must be carried. Ask the park office or your vehicle supplier about rooms close to the park. The full outing is described in the Lihué Calel itinerary.

Getting Home

Return to Santa Rosa and fly from Santa Rosa airport (RSA), on RN35 at km 330, about 4.5 km from the centre. Allow a buffer on the last morning, as the road from the national park is long and has few places to stop.