Department of Lavalle, which has as its capital the city of Villa Tulumaya is located in the northeast corner of the province of Mendoza. It is one of Mendoza’s least populated areas, since with a surface of more than 10,000 km, it is only inhabited by 40,000 people. The feature of the place is to be a plain with few elevations, which occupies the foothills of the cordillera de los Andes. Historical archaeological wealth in the area is immense, and is one of the reasons that generates tourism in Mendoza, since the Huarpes, the ancient pre-Columbian inhabitants, inhabited this region, taking advantage of existing loopholes of which fished to feed. Even being the departmental capital, Villa Tulumaya only has 7000 inhabitants. The main activity of the region is the agricultural livestock. The desert climate has been aggravated in recent years by the evaporation of lagunas de Guanacache, a marshy system which feeds rivers Mendoza and San Juan and discharge into the Desaguadero River.
These 25 Lakes were surrounded by of land suitable for animal husbandry, occupying an area of approximately 1500 km. However, because of overexploitation of the mentioned rivers have lost much of its volume, although when there are major thaws, they reappear. Since 1999 there is a recovery plan for these gaps, due to the wealth of regional fauna. It is one of the few places in Argentina where even you can see cats Wildcats and pumas. Tulumaya is a picturesque town to explore and know closely the Huarpe culture, given that large number of representatives of this ethnic group live in the region. Here you can visit the Museo Historico y Natural de Lavalle, with rich palaeontological and mineralogical.
Gilvicollis nature reserve lies about 120 km from the city of Mendoza. It is an enormous extension of 24,000 has inhabited hundreds of species typical of the biodiversity of this ecosystem. In an effort to protect these natural species, the area is protected by the law. Also works here a center of interpretation which seeks to preserve the language Gilvicollis, native peoples of the region. For lovers of history and Paleontology, Lavalle Department provides an ideal place to be discovered in your next holiday in Mendoza, and approaching the pre-Columbian cultures that they had found their home here.