Valcheta is a small town near Somununcurá Mesa, in the Patagonic steppe. Near the edge of the town, there’s a petrified forest where you can find trees of over 70 million years old. Back then, the area was a subtropical forest, and long necked dinosaurs fed on those trees.
The park guides are very kind an informative. When you arrive, they give you a short talk with all you need to do the trail and stay at the entrance to wait for other visitors. It only takes 20 minutes from the park entrance to reach the longest petrified trunks, which are over 20 meters long.
Even though the walk is short, it’s a good idea to wear a hat and bring water, especially if you are visiting the park during the day. In summer, the park is open until 9 PM, when there’s still daylight, but the temperatures are lower and the sun is softer.
The visitor’s center at the park entrance includes a small gift shop and a bar where you can purchase tasty (and very cold) smoothies.
Next to the park entrance there’s also a small playground, which is nice if you are traveling with children.
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