Cuevas Galicho (Walichu Caves)
Another name in the list of the best caves in Argentina is Cuevas Galicho (Walichu Caves or Gualicho Cave) was named by a prominent explorer and academic in Argentina after he made sketches of the geometrical figures he found, mostly U or L like patterns. However, they are actually called Cuevas Gualicho, Gualicho is the Tehuelche word for God. Conglomerates and sandstones, clastic sedimentary rocks produced by Andean debris, make up the rocks. So it is essentially a series erosional caverns made by the waves of the lake and most likely relatively young, in geologic terms. The caves were utilized as shelter by the natives, who painted on the walls. Despite its being toward the ends of the earth, Patagonia has been settled by humans for 15,000 years.
Believed to represent stories of creation and tales of life in these hills, the drawings sat here forgotten for centuries until Perito Moreno discovered the caves in 1877. Today, while some of the drawings have been defaced, and others are modern replicas, they still tell a tale of primitive peoples who wandered this rugged landscape, where hunting, foraging—and even art—were staples of daily life.
Aside from the actual drawings themselves, the setting surrounding Walichu Caves is arguably just as impressive, where rock formations line the shores of crystalline Lake Argentino. The Punta Bonita and Walichu Caves offer a glimpse into the past. The rocky shores of this section of the lake are great for enjoying the stunning beauty of the surrounding landscape and the dreamed-of climate, in addition to its archeological worth.
