The Ventania Massif
The well-known Sierra de la Ventana is located about 580 km southwest of the city of Buenos Aires and belongs to the great Ventania massif, one of the oldest in the Americas, formed in the Precambrian, more than 500 million years ago.
Imagining a slope or a spot where a 360-degree view stirs every emotion is no small thing. The summit of Cerro Tres Picos, at 1239 m.a.s.l. and the highest point in the province, is a clear and perfect example of that. It's enough to list a few well-known places and sites visible from its summit in every direction: Laguna Las Encadenadas, Lago Paso Piedras, Pigué, Tornquist, Bahía Blanca, Sierra de la Ventana (the town), Villa Ventana, Cerro Ventana and its hollow, Cnel. Pringles...
We will spend the night at the Cueva de los Guanacos (Guanaco Cave) and its surroundings, about 4 hours of trekking from Glorieta (the starting point), and on its side walls and nearby areas we will carry out interesting rappelling and climbing practices with appropriate technical and safety gear. Possible sightings of guanacos and other native wildlife can also be an extra, greatly admired bonus.
Unlike other, more conventional itineraries, we will enter the sierras through the southern slopes and ravines, reached from the town of Tornquist, about 65 km north of Bahía Blanca, and from the main house of one of the area's most historic ranches.
Given their age, the Sierras de la Ventana have been part of (and remain witnesses to) evolutionary, geological, and climatic processes of global significance. Water and wind are some of the agents that cause distinctive landforms, carving out a naturally artistic shape. Such is the case of the famous "Hueco" (hollow) at the summit of Cerro Ventana. Every spot offers a corner to discover, a living example of the surprise and enjoyment it generously provides.
A great number of caves and rock shelters were formed by major erosion combined with weathering effects. That's why we invite you to discover the marks left by early humans — "cave art" — within the very natural settings where they were created.
Both in autumn and in the winter months, the wind in the sierras produces a greater sensation of cold and a drop in temperature readings which, in winter, do not go above 18° C, and snowfall is even possible, giving the place an even more attractive and exciting character.
Itinerary
What we present here is the planned route for the trek, but the exact route, the duration of each walking stage, and the choice of alternative itineraries are subject to various factors such as weather conditions and the guides' group assessment.
Day 1 Meeting in the town of Tornquist, 8 am. Transfer to Estancia Funke. Gear check, restroom break, and off we go!. From La Glorieta we begin the gradual climb to the southwest toward the Cueva de los Guanacos, passing through wooded areas and other great viewpoints, ideal for getting the best snapshots. Light lunch along the way. Next to the cave we will set up our camp, a spot with great views of Cerro Tres Picos, the highest point in the province. Afternoon snack. If possible, we will do some aerial rappelling practice (20-meter rope descent, above the cave). Dinner. Overnight stay.
Day 2 Time to get up nice and early. Breakfast. We will attempt the summit of Cerro Tres Picos (1239 m.a.s.l.); a roughly 4-hour round-trip hike to the highest summit in Buenos Aires province, with great views. On the way back, we'll have a light lunch and continue with introductory climbing practice, for those who dare, under full safety measures. Afterward we will begin the descent of the sierras to the ranch, where our vehicle will pick us up to return to Tornquist. End of our services.
