A natural park, Reserva natural Villavicencio, is half-hour drive from the Argentine city of Mendoza, between the village of Uspallata and the eastern plains of the Andes. Its area is about 72 thousand hectares. A part of them, 5000 hectares, are under protection.

The reserve appeared recently, in 2000, by decree of the government of the Mendoza province to protect the biological diversity and water resources of the region. Travelers will appreciate a beautiful natural landscape, and flora, and fauna of this reserve.

Besides, Reserva natural Villavicencio has a historical, archaeological, and paleontological value. If you decide to go here on a tour - get ready to spend a lot of time on this amazing territory and marvel at its diversity.

Here are the famous mineral springs of Mendoza, Petroglyphs de Canota, ancient mines of Paramillos, the path of the national hero of Argentina, Jose Francisco de San Martn y Matorra, and one of the workplaces of Charles Darwin.

The reserve has several gardens; the Cactus Garden is the most popular among travelers.  In the western part of the reserve, paleontologists have discovered fossils of marine invertebrates of the Cambrian period. You can even see the prints of huge ferns left in the rocks in the Paleozoic era. In the reserve, scientists found Petroglyphs left by the indigenous population in the 4-10 centuries AD. People, animals, and geometric figures are drawn on the stones.

A large number of animals and birds inhabits the reserve. You can find guanacos, red and gray foxes, Pampas cats, cougars, Geoffrey cats, condors, hawks, and Andean ostriches.

Recently, the reserve’s video cameras recorded Andean cats. That is great because it is an endangered species. Andean cats were rarely seen on the American continent, and their last appearance on this territory was noted in 2008.