With the arrival of spring, Patagonia Park reopens its doors and unfolds its offering of nature, culture, and adventure tourism in the heart of the northwest of Santa Cruz.
The wind sweeps through the canyons and the first visitors are already walking among plateaus, rivers, and open skies, discovering a region that combines biodiversity, rural history, and archaeological heritage.
Portal Cañadón Pinturas: biodiversity and rock art
More than 50 km of trails, wildlife watching, and access to the Cueva de las Manos
From October 1st, the Portal Cañadón Pinturas offers self-guided and guided trails, where it is possible to observe species such as guanacos, condors, foxes, and orange chinchillas. There are also puma watching outings organized with local guides.
The portal connects with the archaeological site Cueva de las Manos, through a trail that runs along the Pinturas River canyon.
The area has three campsites: El Mollar and La Señalada, which are fee-based and equipped with fire pits, showers, and windbreaks, and the river camping, which is free and rustic.
In La Señalada, there is a country store with packed meals and regional products.
Interpretation Center and Planetarium Elsa Rosenvasser Feher
Reflection, astronomy, and activities for the whole family.
From October 15th, the center offers a self-guided tour on human history on Earth.
Projections of the Patagonian sky, a café with homemade products, and a climbing wall for both adults and children.
Portal Cueva de las Manos and Cañadón Caracoles
On November 1st, the Portal Cueva de las Manos opens, which includes the Cañadón Caracoles, with a climbing area and camping with tables and dry toilets.
Five kilometers away, a homemade café on provincial route 97 offers local products. From there, the trail to the Mirador El Cóndor starts, ideal for picnics and bird of prey watching.
This year, new climbing routes are added in collaboration with the Club Andino Perito Moreno, and a voluntary fee is implemented for non-resident visitors. This will be allocated to the maintenance of trails, campsites, and viewpoints.
Portal La Ascensión and Portal El Sauco: rural history and tranquility
The Portal La Ascensión offers trails that run from the coast of Lago Buenos Aires to the plateau, with lagoons, condor cliffs, and nesting sites of the macá tobiano.
You can also visit the main house of an old estancia, with a shearing shed and rural machinery, and take guided horseback rides.
It has two camping areas: Caburé, accessible by vehicle, and El Rincón, rustic and only accessible on foot. The Portal El Sauco, in the Blanco River valley, is ideal for those seeking silence and direct contact with nature, with trails to the Sierra Colorada, Monte Zeballos, and Cerro San Lorenzo, and a free camping site called Los Choiques.
