BARITU NATIONAL PARK

With its rough profile crossed by torrential streams during the southern hemisphere summer season, green and varied vegetation and mixed fauna, the Parque Nacional Baritú National Park is a truly natural world with its deep smell of leaves and wet soil. An almost secluded place to sunlight and man that reaches unknown magnitudes.

This is the Baritu National Park, where the tropical forest goes all the way up to its highest peaks, and untouched nature rejoices itself in its unique specimens.

In order to preserve a region were the Cloud Forest has remained practically untouched, because of its inaccessibility and uneven terrain, the National Park was created in the year 1974, and its difficult terrain has been the main motive to prevent wood extraction from that area.

With an area of 72 thousand hectares, Baritú is located in the Northwest of the Province of Salta, in the Departments of Orán and Santa Victoria, on the border to Bolivia.

The Park is naturally enclosed by four mountain ranges: to the North stands the Sierra del Porongal, to the East the Las Pavas Highlands, at an altitude ranging about 2000 m.a.s.l. To the South the Cerro Negro Mountain and the Rio Pescado Highlands. And to the West the Highlands of the Cinco Picachos, with altitudes of about 1900 m.a.s.l..

Despite of the uncounted expeditions that had managed to travel through the Park, it remains as an unknown territory that has not unravelled all of its secrets. Accordingly, it still raises the constant curiosity of explorers, sportsmen and adventurers alike.

To be inside the Tropical forest is like dwelling in a hot tub, because the sunlight seldom passes through the vegetation, and the smell of the leaves that carpet the ground is so very intense. The Baritú lands are known as "Nuboselva" or Cloud Forest because of the permanent rains and clouds that hide the sunrays, contributing to create a very damp microclimate.

Among the uncounted rivers that run across the Park we can mention the Río Lipeo River, that runs in the North, and the Porongal and Pescado Rivers that take their waters into the Río Bermejo River, a small portion of which leaves the limits of the northern border of the Park.
Within the deep silence of the Baritú National Park, the sound of a single leaf falling to the wet ground can be perfectly heard and the air seems to be filled with concentrated perfumes of greenery. This is an environment where the densest and tropical forest can freely develop.

This is the northernmost protected areas that safe keep the forests where tree ferns and Strangling fig (Ficus maroma) grow. Like some figs or native rubber trees, this last specie is very unique, because it is able to germinate above other trees, and thus lives as an epiphyte during its first years of life, and later reaches for the ground with its roots.

Once it touches ground, the ficus maroma grows at fast speed, surrounding and suffocating the host tree until it eventually dies. The Salta cedars that grow here, presenting us with their invaluable wood, reach extremely large sizes in these lands.

On several damp locations, and usually standing above 800 m.a.s.l, grows groves of myrtle tree together with the so-called horco molle Pepper tree, the mato and the güili trees, among other species.

Tipa, Pacarás and Cebil trees, tarcos and cochuchos, represent the Transition Forest. There are no groves of queñoa, nor any highland pastures inside the Baritú National Park. Some small trees grow in the borders of rivers and streams, as the tusca and the pajaro bobo, along with certain bushes as the trementina.
Regarding the animal wildlife, it is assorted and plentiful.

Twelve species of fish are registered, among which it is worthwhile mentioning the dientudos, viejas, bagres (catfish) and yuscas; 20 species of amphibians, 18 species of reptiles such as laggards, some of them that live on trees, and vipers like the Pit viper or yarará, the rattlesnake, the coral snake and many others. There are also many species of birds and 59 species of mammals among which we can mention the Jaguar or yaguareté, the puma, the tapir, the peccary, the corzuela deer, mountain foxes, squirrels, coatis, ferrets, monkeys and many more.

Among birds, flocks of many kinds of parrots and toucans are a usual sight, along with all types of birds of prey searching for their victims from some high viewing point. There are also herons, guans and many smaller birds.

The Baritú Park is also the homeland to some endangered species as the jaguar or yaguareté, which, although being scarce, subsists in isolated areas of the "yunga" area. Another feline, the onza cat or ocelot, much smaller than the puma, proudly shows its dark spotted yellow hide.

The tapir is a major character among mammals. Its big footprints can usually be spotted along the paths and on the periphery of the water springs. Other common species are the collared pecari, the coati, the mountain fox, the agouti and the cai monkey.

Nearby some rivers and fountains, where clear water ponds inhabited by so called boga and shad fish, some aquatic carnivore predators appear, such as the lobito del río River otter and the mayuato or racoon dwell. The former boasts of a very shiny dark brown coloured hide, with two kinds of hair, a longer and heavier layer covering the other, which is shorter and thinner. The mayuato or racoon can be easily recognised due to its black mask, covering its eyes and muzzle, and by its ringed tail.
Other typical dwellers of these areas are the mirlo de agua or water blackbird, often found among the rocks of the streams, and the yapú, a big sized thrush (Yanthornus decumanus) that builds hanging nests. We can also find bats, as the big fisher, who feeds on fish and water borne insects hunting them with its claws while flying in groups close to the water surface. A very rare marsupial toad, the red striped one, dwells in the highlands of the Park.

CLIMATE
The weather is known as sierra sub-tropical. 90 percent of its annual rain descent is achieved during the southern hemisphere summer, reaching an annual rate of 18,000 millimetres. The annual average temperature is 21º C in the Summer season. There are no camping facilities, nor any other tourist commodities. The tourist affluence is minimal, due to its difficult access, so the only entrance is through the Bolivian border.

WHEN TO COME
To reach the Parque Nacional de Baritú National Park you have to schedule an expedition with expert guides and preferably make it during the southern hemisphere winter or spring seasons, because in summer the access becomes almost impossible due to the higher flow of the rivers and streams that cross the Park. Furthermore, dangerous animals migrate in summer upon the increase of the big rains and the fierce sunshine. Recommended season: winter and early spring.

HOW TO GET THERE
Due to its isolation, the access to the park is raather complicated. The tourist industry development collides head on with the state of the roads, because they are unpaved and very muddy in summer.

There are three ways to access the Reserve:

• Travelling from Salta to Orán and from there to Aguas Blancas across National Route No 50 and over the Bermejo River. Once in Bermejo in Bolivian territory, you go through Nogalito, La Mamora, then cross the river for a second time, this one onto the Argentinean side, arrive to the town of Los Toldos, then to the Lipeo River and from there to the Baritú National Park doing a total of 464 kms. From San Ramón de la Nueva Orán you can take the National Route. No 50 to Aguas Blancas, it being the closest town to the protected area. From there departs the Ruta Provincial No 19 that will take you to the southern boundary of the Park across 34 kms of a dirt road track. You will have to pass through Los Toldos, entering Bolivian territory.
• As in the first option, travel from Salta to Orán, then to Aguas Blancas and from there to Angosto del Pescado, from were you sail up the river for some eight kms until reaching the place where the Porongal and Pescado Rivers join, already inside the Park. Sailing on the Angosto River is an unforgettable experience. This option is 360 kms in distance.
• As in options 1 and 2, travel from Salta to Orán. Get to the Rio Blanco River and from there across the Piedras, Astilleros, Iruya and Alisar rivers until getting to the Porongal River from where you drive up the Sierra del Porongal to get into the jungle. This option has a total 380 kms distance.

ACTIVITIES
For visitors planning to take an expedition, really the only way in, the activities will undoubtedly turn out to be varied and memorable. Baritu offers the adventurous a real tropical safari, although it does not have tourist infrastructure. Simply getting into it is pure trekking, and once in the Park, watching plants and animals becomes a main activity.