Cave of the Hands (Cueva de las Manos)

This bizarre Patagonian cave remains shrouded in mystery. Its walls exhibit three distinctive styles of cave art linked to a hunter-gatherer society that flourished in Argentine Patagonia around 10,000 BCE. Archeologists speculate that the small handprints etched on the cave walls belonged to the predecessors of the Teheulche tribe. Detailed murals predate hunting scenes with native guanacos and ostriches predate the handprints, complicating the cave's history. Today, the Cave of the Hands, an official UNESCO World Heritage Site stands as one of the most significant cultural sites in South America.

"I felt the presence of very ancient people, by the painting of their own hands [...] It's worth the hundreds of km of dirty roads to get there," remarks one TripAdvisor user.

The Cave of the Hands is located in Francisco P. Moreno National Park in Southern Patagonia. From Perito Moreno, the Cave of the Hands is located approximately 100 miles south on Provincial Route 97. We recommend booking an excursion with Estancia Cueva de Las Manos, which leads visitors roughly 13 miles up the Pinturas River's Canyon and into the cave by horseback or 4x4 jeep. These day-long expeditions are available Monday through Friday. Excursion prices start at approximately $130 ARS (about $30 USD). For more information, consult Estancia Cueva de Las Manos' website.