For a small village in the middle of nowhere, Rodeo has several options for the active traveller, including windsurfing, kitesurfing, a well-known thermal “pileta” (open-air pool) and beautiful mountain scenery.
Where is Rodeo?
Rodeo is a small windswept village at the foot of the Andes, some 3-4 hours north-west of San Juan, in the state of San Juan. It's population is no bigger than the average village, yet there are plenty of places to stay, a village shop, ATM and the nearest petrol station is only roughly 25km away to the west in the nearby village of Las Flores.
Rodeo is found in the province of San Juan, which is part of the Cuyo Region, comprising Mendoza, San Juan and San Luis states. Rodeo is roughly a 4-5 hour drive from Mendoza, 2-3 hours from San Juan, and from San Luis to San Juan is a further 3-4 hours extra.
It is possible to reach Rodeo by bus from San Juan, but travellers with luggage may then have a problem reaching their accommodation if it is outside the village centre (this includes Rancho Lamaral hostel – although it is usually possible to find a lift with some patience)
Windsurfing and Kitesurfing at Cuesta del Viento
The main activity in the area around Rodeo is windsurfing on the legendary (within Argentina) Cuesta del Viento reservoir. This is reputed to be the windiest lake in South America, and attracts world-class professional windsurfers as well as many from Mendoza, San Juan and Buenos Aires.
It is little known outside Argentina, although according to Emilio of the Puerto de Palos windsurfing rental centre at Cuesta Del Viento, Chilean windsurfers are now beginning to discover the location. But for now, it is still one of Argentina's hidden gems.
Puerto de Palos is only for windsurfers, but kitesurfers are well catered for either at the Finca del Lago hire centre, through Hostel Rancho Lamaral (where both Marco and Octavio teach beginners and those with more experience) or for those with their own equipment, launching is also possible at the eastern end of the lake.
Themal Pools at Pismanta, Near Rodeo
The Hotel Termas at Pismanta has an awesome outdoor geothermally heated "pileta" – or pool, in English. The spring water is naturally heated by geothermal energy and as it flows into the pool at the (very) shallow end, it's pleasantly hot. Locals like to lie in the shallow end next to this inflow, the deeper end is a pleasantly relaxing cooler temperature, and better for swimming.
The pool is well-known to Argentinians living in the Cuyo region, which comprises San Juan state (which Pismanta is in) and the neighboroughing Mendoza and San Luis states, who often drive up for the weekend. The entrance fee for the pool is 6 pesos (roughly $2US) for non-residents of the hotel.
Rodeo may appear to be in the middle of nowhere on a map of Argentina, but there is plenty to see and do here. It is a popular place for Argentinians from the Cuyo region to visit for a weekend, and the legendary Cuesta del Viento draws Argentinian windsurfers from as far away as Buenos Aires.
Chiz Dakin - A keen mountain walker, scrambler, cyclist and occasional climber and sea kayaker for several years, Chiz Dakin has carried a camera with ...
