Adolfo Alsina Department: Coast, Viedma and Hotels

Around Adolfo Alsina Department, coastal towns meet Viedma’s history and culture. If you’re looking for hotels for a stay in the region, it helps to choose your focus in advance: the Atlantic coast with its landscapes and wildlife, or cultural attractions and events around Viedma.

Coastal route and seaside resorts

The Camino de la Costa connects Viedma with Puerto San Antonio Este and follows the Atlantic coast through the seaside resorts of El Cóndor, La Lobería, La Ensenada, Bahía Creek and Punta Mejillón. The route is a useful guide for anyone wishing to include several coastal towns in their travel plans. In the wider Río Negro destination, the Camino de la Costa runs for 210 kilometers along the province’s coast on Provincial Route 1. Check local road conditions before setting out.

Landscapes and wildlife

El Cóndor is characterized by wide, quiet beaches, high cliffs and rich biodiversity. At low tide, natural rock pools appear in La Lobería, where adults and children can swim. Bahía Creek lies on the northern coast of the Golfo San Matías: there, cliffs give way to a bay edged by low dunes, with clear water and wide sandy beaches. The coastal towns therefore offer a variety of landscapes, from rock pools to a dune-lined bay.

Nearby, the Punta Bermeja protected area is home to a permanent colony of South American sea lions. Their number is estimated at more than 5,000, and the colony is described as the largest in northern Patagonia. Numerous bird species from the Monte and the coast also live there, including southern giant petrels, cormorants and gulls. Every summer, many sea lion pups are born in Punta Bermeja. Another distinctive feature is the Colonia de Loros Barranqueros, considered the world’s largest burrowing parrot colony: its nests are cavities in the cliffs.

Whales and Commerson’s dolphins are especially seen off the coast of Bahía Creek between July and September. El Cóndor and the Camino de la Costa offer natural conditions year-round for land sailing, kitesurfing, windsurfing, paragliding and kite buggying. These seasonal and year-round nature and activity options can give your trip different focuses.

History and culture in Viedma

Viedma was founded by Francisco de Viedma y Narváez on April 22, 1779. Plaza Alsina is the city’s oldest square and was declared a National Historic Site in November 1986. Plants from different parts of the world grow there; they are exotic in Patagonia’s climate. The Manzana Histórica in the heart of Viedma comprises buildings that preserve the city’s historical and cultural heritage.

The Puente Ferrocarretero is another landmark for orientation along the Río Negro: it crosses the river and connects Carmen de Patagones in Buenos Aires Province with Viedma in Río Negro. The Museo Salesiano “Cardenal Cagliero” documents the Salesians’ religious, educational, health and cultural activities throughout history.

Events and excursions

Every January, the Fiesta del Mar y el Acampante takes place in the seaside resort of El Cóndor, featuring sports and cultural activities as well as free performances by nationally known musicians. The Fiesta del Río in Viedma takes place in February and includes recreational, cultural, sporting and institutional activities. If you’re planning to travel for an event, check the dates for your chosen year in advance.

Guardia Mitre is considered to have been founded on December 16, 1862; parts of the old settlement have been preserved and now form its historic center. The Regata del Río Negro passes through Guardia Mitre and Viedma, among other places. It covers 300 kilometers, lasts seven days and takes place every year in the first days of January. Between Viedma and Carmen de Patagones, you can explore the Río Negro on sightseeing boats or rowing excursions.

“El Cóndor Cielo de Aves” offers planned birdwatching walks suitable for everyone. Possible locations include the Mirador del Ceferino or the mouth of the Río Negro; the meeting point is arranged in advance. Check whether a date is available for your preferred time.

Discover more destinations: Viedma, El Cóndor Seaside Resort, La Lobería, Pichi Mahuida Department, Pilcaniyeu Department, Avellaneda Department, Bariloche Department, San Antonio Department.

Go to the broader travel overview: Río Negro.