Allen: Museum, Nature and Cycling

Allen lies in the Alto Valle del río Negro and brings together three distinct themes for planning a trip: local history at the Museo de Allen, wildlife observation at Bubalcó, and cycling with the Vuelta al Valle. You can plan your stay around whichever of these interests you most. The geographic details about the city center and the municipality help place Allen at different scales.

Understanding the city center and municipality

Allen’s city center lies 6 km north of the Río Negro riverbank. The municipal area is a separate matter: it extends from the river’s northern left bank and lies 16 km from the confluence. These figures therefore refer to different geographic units and reference points: one describes the city center in relation to the riverbank, the other the municipal area in relation to the confluence. When locating Allen on a map, this distinction helps you avoid confusing the location of the center with the extent of the municipality.

Museum history in the former railway station

The Museo de Allen is housed in the city’s former railway station. Its temporary and permanent exhibitions use a variety of objects, furniture, photographs and documents to trace and bring to life the experiences of the first settlers and immigrants in the Alto Valle. The exhibits thus combine objects and visual and written materials to tell the story of the region’s settlement. In May 2024, the provincial government announced that the museum had reopened following the renovation and modernization of its two main rooms. As part of this new phase, the museum also introduced a self-guided tour through its own mobile app.

Wildlife observation at Bubalcó

Bubalcó Park is located in Guerrico, Allen, and helps protect animal and plant species to preserve biodiversity. Visitors can observe species there in a natural Patagonian coastal biome. Along the trail, you can walk among guanacos, llamas, Fjord ponies, sheep, Somali sheep and rheas. The focus combines biodiversity conservation with an opportunity to observe nature firsthand.

The riverside resort and the Vuelta al Valle

Allen’s riverside resort on Island No. 16 offers another experience. In January 2024, the provincial tourism authority described it as having barbecue areas, event halls, campsites, areas for sand sports and a service area.

The Vuelta al Valle is also associated with Allen: it has been held since 1944 and runs from Allen to other cities in the region. If you want to include a particular edition in your travel plans, check its dates in advance.

More destinations in the General Roca Department

The wider destination of the General Roca Department offers other cultural and nature experiences. In General Roca, the Museo Patagónico de Ciencias Naturales displays fossils and minerals. The Área Natural Protegida Paso Córdoba has trails, trekking opportunities and viewpoints, offering a different focus from the museum’s natural history collection. In Cervantes, the buildings and grounds of the Antigua Sinagoga and the Salón Comunitario de la Colonia Rusa are designated as a national historic site. Bodega Humberto Canale offers visits to its historic vineyards and tastings; check the current arrangements before visiting.

Discover more destinations: Villa Regina, General Roca.

Return to the wider travel overview: General Roca Department.