Refugio Alférez Portinari | Informal Campsite

February 15th, 2021 by Monkeys on the Road

Update a year later! You can only pass through between 8am and 8pm. If you arrive after 8pm then you have to sleep outside the gate and then enter in the morning. Once through the gate, you can stay as long as you like.

December 29th, 2019 by Monkeys on the Road

Note that this is not a refugio as the name here suggests, it's just wild camping. There is a building you'll pass by on the way in, where you give your name and ID to a friendly guard, then you drive up and can wild camp wherever you like. Water from river but no other services. Great rock climbing - get the guidebook for "Arenales" or just walk up to the obvious wall (about 20-30 mins) to see a sea of bolted routes with bolted anchors! Further up the canyon are tons more routes, and an empty free building for tent camping.

October 12th, 2018 by st.agricola

Wonderful place to start hiking to Cajòn de los Arenales. No problems to stay overnight.
Please note: you stay at 2450 mNN

March 18th, 2018 by instagram.com/clairemydia

15 minute hike to a brilliant climber's Refugio. Approaches from the Refugio to the base of most climbing are strenuous (loose scree and steep) but you're rewarded by a lifetime supply of fabulous multi pitch trad climbing on 3/5 quality alpine granite.

November 7th, 2017 by 42Strong

Parking lot at a refugio operated by the Gendarmería Nacional. Serves as gateway to the Cajon de Arenales and Portillo Argentina wilderness areas. No facilities, but beautiful and ideal for those wanting to explore the region (trekking, climbing, etc). Several people claimed that the water in the river nearby is clean enough to drink without filtering.

The gendarmes are helpful, although one of them was pretty creepy. Just watches you, not real talkative...probably wonders what side dish you go best with.

Creeper aside, lots of people leave their cars here while they go camping further on in the mountains. Literally hundreds of climbing routes to choose from.