Coastal Patagonia

Patagonia’s cavorting right whales, penguin colonies and traditional Welsh settlements are all accessed by Argentina’s coastal RN 3. While this paved road takes in some fascinating maritime history, it also travels long yawning stretches of landscape that blur the horizon like a never-ending blank slate. It’s also a favored travel route for oversized trucks on long-haul trips.

Wildlife enthusiasts shouldn’t miss the world-renowned Península Valdés, the continent’s largest Magellanic penguin colonies at Área Natural Protegida Punta Tombo, and Reserva Natural Ría Deseado’s diverse seabird population. The quiet villages of Puerto San Julián and Camarones make for quiet seaside retreats, while Gaiman tells the story of Welsh settlement through a lazy afternoon of tea and cakes.

Explore Coastal Patagonia

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Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Coastal Patagonia.

  • Museum

    Museo Paleontológico Egidio Feruglio

    Showcasing the most important fossil finds in Patagonia, this natural-history museum offers outstanding life-size dinosaur exhibits and more than 1700…

  • Museum

    EcoCentro

    Celebrating the area’s unique marine ecosystem, this masterpiece brings an artistic sensitivity to extensive scientific research. There are exhibits on…

  • Wildlife Reserve

    Reserva Faunística Península Valdés

    Lying on Argentina's barren eastern Patagonian coast, this oddly shaped peninsula is home to some of the country's richest wildlife. Elephant seals,…

  • Wildlife Reserve

    Área Natural Protegida Punta Tombo

    Continental South America’s largest penguin nesting ground, Área Natural Protegida Punta Tombo has a colony of more than half a million Magellanic…

  • Wildlife Reserve

    Punta Norte

    At the far end of Península Valdés, solitary Punta Norte boasts an enormous mixed colony of sea lions and elephant seals. Its remote location means it is…

  • Museum

    Museo Nacional del Petróleo

    This museum provides an insider look at the social and historical aspects of petroleum development. Don’t expect balanced treatment of oil issues – it was…

  • Wildlife Reserve

    Cabo Dos Bahías

    A rough 30km southeast of Camarones, the isolated rookery Cabo Dos Bahías attracts far fewer visitors than Punta Tombo, making it an excellent alternative…

  • Cultural Center

    Centro de Visitantes Istmo Carlos Ameghino

    This cultural center, 22km beyond the entrance of Reserva Faunística Península Valdés, focuses on natural history, displays a full right-whale skeleton…

  • Beach

    Playa Unión

    The region’s principal playground, Playa Unión is a long stretch of white-sand beach with blocks of summer homes and restaurants serving crisp, fresh…

  • Wildlife Reserve

    Observatorio Punta Flecha

    Run by Fundación Patagonia Natural, this whale-watching observatory sits 17km north of Puerto Madryn on Playa el Doradillo. It offers tourist information…

  • Museum

    Museo Malvinas Argentinas

    Perhaps a must-see for Brits, this museum gets inside the Argentine claim to the Islas Malvinas. New exhibits include signs made by ex-combatants and a…

  • Plaza

    Plaza San Martín

    A pretty plaza, with quiet benches in the shade of poplars and purple-blossom jacarandas.

  • Park

    Monumento Natural Bosques Petrificados

    During Jurassic times, 150 million years ago, this area enjoyed a humid, temperate climate with flourishing forests, but intense volcanic activity buried…

  • Wildlife Reserve

    Reserva Provincial Cabo Vírgenes

    Magellanic penguins nest September through March at Argentina's second-largest penguin rookery in this provincial reserve. There's also a lighthouse and…

  • Landmark

    Vagón Histórico

    In the center of town, this restored 1898 wagon is famous as the car from which rebel leader Facón Grande prepared the ‘Patagonia Rebellion.’ In 1979 the…

  • Wildlife Reserve

    Punta Delgada

    In Península Valdés' southeast corner, 76km southeast of Puerto Pirámides, sea lions and, in spring, a huge colony of elephant seals are visible from the…

  • Bird Sanctuary

    Isla de los Pájaros

    In Golfo San José, 800m north of the isthmus, this bird sanctuary is off-limits to humans but visible through a powerful telescope. It contains a replica…

  • Historic Site

    Estación del Ferrocarril Patagónico

    Train fans can check out the imposing English-designed train station off Av Oneto, built by Yugoslav stonecutters in 1908. Puerto Deseado was once the…

Top experiences

Whether it’s a guided tour of a historic landmark, private tasting of local delicacies, or an off-road adventure — explore the best experiences in Coastal Patagonia.

  • Activities