in Santa Cruz Province, Argentina
Cueva de las Manos
This remote cave contains incredible 9,000-year-old handprint paintings creating one of the oldest examples of human art in South America. The UNESCO site showcases hunting scenes and mysterious symbolism.
Cueva de las Manos (Cave of the Hands) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most significant repositories of prehistoric rock art in the Americas, located in the Río Pinturas canyon in the remote steppe of Santa Cruz Province, Patagonia, Argentina. The site takes its name from the extraordinary panels of hand stencils — 829 documented examples of mostly left hands — painted onto the canyon walls using mineral pigments between approximately 9,300 and 1,000 years ago.
The cave is not a deep cavern but a series of rock overhangs and shallow shelters carved by the Río Pinturas into the canyon walls. The paintings span several hundred metres of cliff face across a painted gallery roughly 160 metres long. The hand stencils dominate the older layers — created by placing the hand against the rock and blowing pigment through a bone tube — but the panels also include dynamic hunting scenes depicting guanaco herds being corralled by human figures, geometric shapes, and abstract symbols rendered in a palette of red ochre, black manganese oxide, yellow, and white mineral pigments that have survived millennia remarkably intact.
The site is reached via Ruta Provincial 97, which connects it to the town of Perito Moreno approximately 100 km north and to the Los Antiguos area roughly 135 km south on Ruta 40. Guided tours are mandatory and included in the admission price; they last approximately 90 minutes and follow a defined pathway along the canyon floor and up to the main painted panels. Guides explain the stratigraphy of the different artistic periods and point out the subtler hunting scenes and abstract markings that visitors might otherwise overlook.
Photography can only be taken without flash to protect the pigments, and visitors are not permitted to touch the rock surface. The best vantage points for photographing the hand panels are from the designated viewing platform approximately 3 metres from the main stencil gallery, in the morning when the sun illuminates the canyon from the east. The canyon itself is visually spectacular — layers of red, orange, and grey volcanic rock descend to the silvery river far below, framing the painted walls in a dramatic natural setting that adds enormously to the experience.
Hours: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM (summer), 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM (winter)
Best for: history buffs, archaeology enthusiasts, photographers, adventure travelers
Location
Ruta Provincial 97, Santa Cruz Province
-47.1500, -70.6667 — View on map
Highlights
- 829 prehistoric hand stencils spanning 9,000 years of human occupation — among the oldest rock art in the Americas
- UNESCO World Heritage Site with one of the highest concentrations of painted surfaces in South America
- Dramatic Río Pinturas canyon setting with layered volcanic cliffs framing the painted gallery
- Hunting scenes depicting guanaco drives that offer a direct window into Patagonian hunter-gatherer life
- Mandatory guided tours that explain the multi-era stratigraphy and original painting techniques
Tips
- Remote location - 3 hours from nearest town
- Guided tours mandatory - included in admission
- November-March best road conditions
- Bring water and snacks - no services nearby
FAQ
How long does a visit to Cueva de las Manos take?
Guided tours run approximately 90 minutes from the entrance to the main panels and back. Allow an additional 30 minutes for the drive down to the canyon floor and for browsing the small exhibition at the entrance building.
Is photography allowed inside the cave?
Yes, photography is permitted throughout the site, but flash photography is strictly forbidden to protect the pigments. A camera with good low-light performance is recommended for clear shots of the painted panels.
Is the site suitable for children?
Yes, children generally find the hand stencils immediately engaging and accessible. The walking path is moderate and manageable for children over six, though the canyon rim can be steep in places and requires supervision.
How do visitors get to Cueva de las Manos without a car?
Independent access without a vehicle is difficult. Organised day tours depart from the town of Perito Moreno and from some operators in Los Antiguos; these are the most practical option for travellers without their own transport.
Accessibility
The canyon path involves an uneven descent and some steps; full wheelchair access to the main painted panels is not possible. The entrance area and an introductory exhibition are accessible on flat ground, and photographic reproductions of the panels are displayed there for visitors with limited mobility.
When to visit
November through March is the optimal window — roads are in best condition, temperatures are milder, and daylight hours are longest for the full canyon experience. Morning visits before 11 a.m. capture direct sunlight on the painted panels.