Discover Santa Cruz: Cave Art, Coast and Nature

Explore Santa Cruz through a range of interests: thousands of years of cave art, protected natural areas, hiking trails, and activities on lakes and along the coast. Its attractions range from archaeological traces to places for birdwatching and excursions. When planning, consider which of these experiences you want to shape your trip around – this will give you a concrete sense of the province’s different sides.

Cave Art and Archaeological Sites

Cueva de las Manos on the Río Pinturas contains an extraordinary collection of cave art created between 13,000 and 9,500 years ago. A 1.5-kilometer trail leads to rock overhangs, rock walls and a cave. There you can see hunting scenes, negative handprints, animal depictions and abstract figures. The trail combines a specific hiking route with several forms of rock art; the motifs range from human handprints to depictions of animals.

Another example of the archaeological heritage is Cueva del Puma, whose rock paintings are more than 3,000 years old. Parque Nacional Perito Moreno, in turn, preserves archaeological evidence of human presence in the region dating back about 10,000 years. Exhibitions at Museo de Arqueología Carlos Gradin showcase archaeology and regional cultural heritage. Together, these places offer different points of interest for travelers interested in early traces of human activity and the region’s history.

Coastal Landscapes, Trails and Birdwatching

Parque Nacional Monte León lies on the coast of the Argentine Sea in Santa Cruz Province. Its hiking trails include Mirador Cabeza de León and Sendero a Pingüinera. A colony of more than 60,000 pairs of Magellanic penguins is located along Sendero Pingüinera. The trails and the colony make the park a destination where hiking and wildlife watching go hand in hand.

Another way to experience the province’s nature is Laguna de los Cisnes, a protected natural area in Perito Moreno that is suitable for birdwatching. Birdwatchers will find a different focus here than on the coast at Monte León, where the Magellanic penguin colony along Sendero Pingüinera is one of the area’s distinctive natural features.

Activities on the Lakes and in the Towns

In Los Antiguos, visitors can tour agricultural farms growing specialty fruits. The local offerings also include water-based activities and horseback riding around Lago Buenos Aires. These two interests – fruit farming and activities on the lake – offer different ways to shape your stay in Los Antiguos. Sport fishing is possible at Lago Posadas and Lago Pueyrredón, making both lakes destinations for this activity.

Visitors can set out from Puerto Deseado to explore Isla Pingüino. Those interested in the town’s history can learn about it at Museo Regional Mario Brozoski. Near El Chaltén, a hike leads to Huemul Glacier. These examples appeal to different interests: exploring an island, learning about a town’s history, or hiking to a glacier.

Ruta 40 also helps put Santa Cruz into perspective as a larger travel region: in the province, it connects the Andes with the Atlantic Ocean. The activities and attractions mentioned are located in different places and each offers its own focus. You can start by deciding whether cave art, coastal trails, birdwatching or activities on the lakes should take priority in your travel plans.

Discover more destinations: Departamento Lago Argentino, Ger Aike, Departamento Deseado, Departamento Río Chico, Lago Buenos Aires Department, Neuquén, Catamarca, Río Negro.

For the main travel overview: Argentina.