National Parks, Nature Reserves and Protected Areas

Nature dominates Argentine Patagonia. Its 16 National Parks, countless provincial reserves and protected natural areas, and sites declared Natural and Cultural Heritage of Humanity represent a vast territory that has successfully conserved its riches. A destination adored by those who enjoy environmentally friendly activities, such as sailing on crystal-clear waters, marveling at birdwatching, observing the region’s flora and fauna, or trekking, mountain biking, and horseback riding through deep forests, along the banks of rivers and lakes. Hotels in harmony with the environment and the service of specialized guides for the various activities complete the offer of experiencing the unspoiled intensity of the most pristine Patagonian landscapes.

An ancient larch forest, with trees over 2,620 years old, is the setting for extensive hikes in “Los Alerces” National Park—a World Heritage Site—in the province of Chubut, 50 km from the city of Esquel. This park invites you to experience kayaking and floating on its magnificent rivers and lakes. Also in Chubut, Lake Puelo National Park offers hiking and trekking surrounded by unique vegetation. On the Chubut coast, we find the “Patagonia Austral” Interjurisdictional Marine Coastal Park, accessible from “Camarones”, which protects the flora and fauna of the steppe and the Argentine Sea.

The natural diversity of Lihué Calel National Park in the province of La Pampa creates a biological island teeming with life, nestled among rock formations and elongated valleys, creating a unique and rugged landscape. There, you can observe ancient rock art and enjoy the vast extensions of the Pampas through mountain biking and hiking.

“Monte León” National Park is a prime spot for marine wildlife watching in the province of Santa Cruz. Its beautiful cliffs overlooking the Atlantic Ocean provide a unique setting for observing colonies of imperial, gray, and rock cormorants, Magellanic penguins, and sea lions.

“Los Glaciares” National Park is home to the most impressive glaciers. They can be reached by boat and hike, or they can be climbed. This area is notable for the chance to spot majestic condors. Nestled among lakes and mountains, far from the province’s main tourist centers, the Perito Moreno National Park offers unbeatable conditions for birdwatching: from condors, guanacos, choiques, red and gray foxes to an enormous variety of lake birds such as black-necked swans, coots, and cauquenes. The “Bosques Petrificados” National Park dazzles with trunks up to three meters in diameter and over thirty meters long, which are a compelling testament to a distant past where volcanic eruptions buried a dense forest of ancient araucaria trees. On the other hand, the Patagonia National Park preserves a species exclusive to Santa Cruz that is endangered: the hooded grebe. Santa Cruz also has two Interjurisdictional Marine Parks: “Isla Pingüino” and Makenke. The star attraction of the former is the rockhopper penguins, as this is the only continentally accessible colony in the world. The island also features the remains of a century-old Lighthouse, now turned into a protected nesting ground for Magellanic penguins. Meanwhile, “Makenke”—“the new ones” in the Tehuelche language—encompasses stories of navigators, pirates, and corsairs from three centuries ago. Stretching across the waters of the Argentine Sea, the park exhibits a remarkable array of fauna; it is possible to observe cauquenes, southern gulls, plovers, sandpipers, swans, black-crowned night heron, flamingos, and colonies of imperial and rock cormorants, complemented on the continental coast by the main breeding colony of the gray cormorant in our country.

Located 12 km from the city of Ushuaia, the Tierra del Fuego National Park is the southernmost Protected Natural Area, one of the few with a seacoast. The various marked trails at the Park traverse forests of coihue, lenga, and cherry trees, revealing panoramic views from which to marvel at their glacial landscape, interspersed with deep valleys filled with lakes, rivers, and peat bogs.

At the Lanín National Park, in the province of Neuquén, the majestic Lanín Volcano is one of the world’s most recognized symbols of the region. This Park’s extensive area includes activities such as fishing, hunting, adventure, and lake tours. It also encompasses a significant part of the Seven Lakes circuit, which connects the city of San Martín de los Andes with Villa la Angostura, passing by lakes of immense beauty. A unique landscape of volcanic sand characterizes the “Laguna Blanca” National Park, between the City of Neuquén and Aluminé, inviting numerous birdwatching opportunities. “Los Arrayanes” National Park, also in Neuquén, is home to one of the most beautiful forests in the world: the “Arrayanes” Forest, the colors of which fascinate visitors from around the world.

One of the most extensive national parks in Patagonia is the Nahuel Huapi National Park, located on the shores of the lake of the same name, which connects the province of Neuquén with Río Negro. Lake tours depart from the city of San Carlos de Bariloche and Villa la Angostura, reaching various points of the park or as far as “Isla Victoria.” Horseback riding along the shores of lakes like Mascardi and Gutierrez, and trekking and climbing its renowned peaks allow you to experience Patagonian nature in all its splendor.

Furthermore, there are large extensions of land that constitute provincial protected areas, safeguarding the biodiversity and natural and cultural resources found there. The Valdés Peninsula Natural Protected Area is particularly noteworthy. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999. Discovering and visiting these places means making a commitment to learn about them, protecting them, and embracing them as one of the best legacies we can leave for future generations.

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