Discover Patagonia Park Argentina
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Patagonia Park Argentina is one of South America’s best-kept secrets. New impact investment over the past few years from the Freyja Foundation and run by Rewilding Argentina has resulted in brand new attractions to the park, allowing tourists to experience its full beauty and natural phenomena.
The optimum time to book when flying long haul to South America is six months ahead of departure, when prices are more affordable. For those looking to visit Patagonia Park Argentina during peak season, November-April, European tourists should start their search this Spring to find the best deals on flights.
Below are some of the top attractions in the park, including adventurous new trails and places to spot the local wildlife, including Andrean condors, guanacos and the elusive puma.
Get lost in history
The park is host to the Cueva de las Manos (The Cave of the Hands), a site with 9,300 year old cave paintings from ancient indigenous communities. The cave is located in the east side of the park, next to Portal Cañadón Pinturas, one of the three main entrances to Patagonia Park Argentina.
Visiting the Caves costs $2,000 Argentinian pesos per person (concessions apply) and includes a guided tour of the UNESCO heritage site, and how it has been astonishingly preserved over time.
(Cueva de las Manos, Patagonia Park Argentina)
Explore the wilderness
New trails spanning over 60km have already been built in the area, offering nature-lovers the chance to explore the terrain with breath-taking views and awe-inspiring landscapes. The trails are expertly built by a team of veteran trail builders who specialise in creating hiking routes that blend into the landscape. Trails can be enjoyed at any pace in Patagonia, according to every individual’s level of fitness and interest.
The terrain is different across Patagonia, however, both short walks and longer treks offer the chance to get close to native flora and fauna. The shortest trail within Patagonia Park Argentina is 2.6km and can be completed within 1hr. The longest is a 25km circuit, taking 6 hours to complete for experienced hikers, and includes more remote landscapes and majestic canyons.
(Trail Land of the Colours, Patagonia Park Argentina)
Relax under the stars
Three new campsites have been built where visitors can relax under the stars and take a well-deserved rest in between hikes.
The campsites are affordable for any travel budget and available to book ahead for the peak season (open from November-April). Choose to camp inside of a canyon at Portal Cañadón Pinturas or pitch up amongst the wilderness at La Señalada. All campsites are perfect for adventure travellers, looking to cook on an open fire and enjoy locally brewed beer or a glass of Argentinian wine.
Alternatively, opt to stay at the solar-powered eco-lodge, La Posta de Los Toldos, which is open during the peak summer season (November – April), where guests can enjoy locally sourced and expertly prepared food.
For budding astronomers and night owls, the lodge has a charming open-air observatory that on any clear night, is lit up with a sky full of stars.
(Stargazing observatory, Patagonia Park Argentina)
In November 2023 (the start of the next summer season), travellers will be able to visit the impressive new Planetarium and Interpretation Centre, funded by the late Argentinian scientist and philanthropist, Elsa Rosenvasser Feher. Here, visitors can interpret the night sky through stunning projections and videos.
Spot the local wildlife
The park is run by Rewilding Argentina, an organisation dedicated to re-populating key species crucial to local ecosystems. The puma, guanaco, viscacha and condor (the largest bird on earth) are just some of the incredible animals you can spot in the park. These animals can be seen whilst on hikes or tours, or even as you wake up in the canyon campsites.
Private tours for puma spotting are available to book via social media. Facundo Epul a rancher-turned-tour guide offers private puma trekking tours. He’s currently the only guide in Argentina offering puma-tracking tours ($250/£210 per group per day, book online through @elchoiqueguia).
(The elusive puma, Patagonia Park Argentina)
Sofia Heinonen – Director of Rewilding Argentina says, “We are incredibly excited to welcome new visitors to the park, showing off this beautiful and undiscovered part of Patagonia. The activities offered are perfect for adventure seekers wanting to escape the ordinary and experience the wild. The park is an ideal destination for an off-the-beaten-track adventure between November and April when the weather in the park is at its best.
Our team is excited to see more people taking in the scenery and uncovering their sense of adventure.”
Book now for an Easter holiday to remember, or plan in advance for a winter break for 2023.
