Argentina cueva de las manos
Those interested in archaeology can visit this site considered the oldest exponent of cave art in South America (around 7000 years BC).
The Cave of the Hands is essentially not a cave but a rocky overhang in the Cañadón Río Pinturas.
This is an absolutely sentational location!
There has been vandalism, so access is only possible with a guide. Everyone gets a hard hat and after a short walk you understand why: the area looks like a quarry.
There are paintings on the rock face, hundreds of them. The majority are left hands, most of them in negative, also some positive prints. Individual hands with six fingers are conspicuous. The handprints, stylised and static guanacos and footprints of choiques (Patagonian nandus) are around 7000 years old. Geometric figures, lizards and schematically depicted animals and humans were added around 3000 years ago. A small cave actually exists as well, it is closed off.
Walkways have been built over a length of 600 m, from which the paintings can be easily seen.
The Cave of the Hands is essentially not a cave but a rocky overhang in the Cañadón Río Pinturas.
This is an absolutely sentational location!
There has been vandalism, so access is only possible with a guide. Everyone gets a hard hat and after a short walk you understand why: the area looks like a quarry.
There are paintings on the rock face, hundreds of them. The majority are left hands, most of them in negative, also some positive prints. Individual hands with six fingers are conspicuous. The handprints, stylised and static guanacos and footprints of choiques (Patagonian nandus) are around 7000 years old. Geometric figures, lizards and schematically depicted animals and humans were added around 3000 years ago. A small cave actually exists as well, it is closed off.
Walkways have been built over a length of 600 m, from which the paintings can be easily seen.
Travel Information
2 accesses from route 40, north and south. The northern access allows you to appreciate the fauna very well and is more picturesque. You have to go down to the Pinturas river on foot and go back up on the way back (40'). The southern access allows to arrive by vehicle.
Spot Type
Outdoor
Crowd Factor
A decent amount of people
Best Timing
Daytime in summer
Photo Themes
archaeology
cave art
Locations
Santa Cruz
Patagonia
Spot Comments (0)