TERMAS DE PISMANTA – ARGENTINA

November 2, 2017 SouthAmerica

NOVEMBER FEATURED HOT SPRINGS – TERMAS DE PISMANTA – ARGENTINA

In western San Juan Province of Argentina, at the base of the Andes, in the arid desert, is a remote hot spring facility called Termas de Pismanta. It is located along Route 151, which goes over Paso Del Agua Negro, the border crossing with Chile. Pismanta is located within the Valle de Iglesia at an elevation of 1,894 m, and the springs are north of the town with the same name. The place is not really worth visiting on a long trip by itself, but makes a convenient layover for travel to and from Chile or exploring the base of the Andes along the north-south running dirt roads.

The facility has 12 private baths, and one outdoor thermal pool with the facilities nicely constructed and clean, but they are somewhat dated. The spa facility is basic, comes with sauna, and the hot spring water are piped into windowless ceramic-lined rectangular small bathes that can fit up to three people. The facilities lie in the middle of the wide flat valley and are unusually from a geological standpoint as to having the thermal center at the center of a sedimentary basin. The hot spring water is clear and odorless. The use of the hotter pools is restricted to ten minutes for medical reasons. The outdoor warm pool is large and rectangular, located far out across the back lot of the facility. The water temperatures vary between 38 to 45°C, but it emerges at 60°C at the spring vent.

The Pismanta hotel has 28 rooms, which overall as small and the mattresses really need replacing. The restaurant offers set meals that have dinner starting at 9:30 pm. Rooms cost US$62 per person with breakfast included. The entrance fee for using the hot springs is US$12.50.

The Termas de Pismanta is a useful explorer’s logistical base for this part of Argentina, and ideal place for relaxing after tracing through the high desert.

As published on: Hot Springs of the Andes