The Cave is located at the province of Santa Cruz, Argentina and relatively close to both the city of El Calafate and the Perito Moreno glacier.

The art painting dates from 13,000 to 9,000 years ago and early artwork has been carbon-dated to ca. 9300 BP (about 7300 BC). We believe that the site was last inhabited around 700 AD, possibly by ancestors of the Tehuelche people.

The paintings of left negative stenciled hands, suggests that the painters held the spraying pipe with their right hand or that they placed the back of their right hand to the wall and held the spraying pipe with their left hand.

As with other European cave paintings – Almeria and Lascaux – there are also local animals depictions such as Guanacos, rheas and felines. The Cueva de las Manos also shows other paintings representing geometric shapes, zigzag and hunting scenes. As with its overseas siblings, these images had a profound ritualistic meaning to the Patagonia inhabitants. It served as a spiritual connection with the environment, the animal’s soul as a way of understanding the circle of life from an early human perspective.

When to visit Cueva de las Manos

The Cueva de las Manos can be visited year round.

It is most easily reached by a gravel road (RP 41), which leaves Route 40 3 km north of Bajo Caracoles and runs 46 km northeast to the south side of the Pinturas Canyon (Painting Canyon)

If you’re attending our Patagonia photo tour in November, this is a worthwhile visit. The cultural importance of the Cueva de las Manos site has a deep connection with the first inhabitants of Patagonia.

Both the traces of their human development, meaning and identity is as valid today, as it was in pre-historic times.
If you go, don’t forget to place your left hand on top on one of the many silhouettes.

Photography Location – Pucará de Tilcara

In our photo tour through the Northwestern region of Argentina – Magical Argentina – we’ll travel to this incredible photography location: El Pucará de Tilcara. An historical site with vast anthropological and archeological significance, which dates back before the Spanish colonization of America.

The Pucará is a city fortification with pre-Inca origins, strategically located on top of a hill, with rich, majestic views over the surrounding valley and La Quebrada de Humahuaca ( an access route that provided  trade pathways to the Inca empire in the southern region. Currently a UNESCO protected site) This location was strategically chosen due to its access and its superior position against foreign invaders. Its history and constructions makes it a great photography location.

Traces of human habitation in the area date back more than 10,000 years. The Inca domination of the area only lasted for about half a century, and ended with the arrival of the Spanish in 1536, who founded the modern town of Tilcara in 1586.

Photography Location for Soda Estereo

During 1985, the Argentinian rock band “Soda Estereo” used this unique photography location as the backdrop for their emblematic single “Cuando Pase el Temblor” (When the tremor subsides).

The contrast of the ancient landscape against the group’s Goth/Dark looks, highlighted by singer’s Gustavo Cerati aesthetics, produced a truly striking contrast between the electro/reaggea groove with sound patches of northwestern Argentina pan-flute phrases.

The song and its music video not only became an instant hit throughout Latin America, but as a convergence of modern art and ancient history playing together, in search of a new cultural identity.

Join us next December when we visit El Pucará de Tilcara as part of our photography tour excursion through the Norther Region of Argentina. This is a great photography location along our itinerary.