Aguada Grande and the Petrified Forests
Accommodation in Aguada Grande
In the wider travel area lies Parque Nacional Bosques Petrificados de Jaramillo. It offers a specific connection to nature and geological history that helps put the destination in context.
Fossil landscapes in the wider travel area
In the wider travel area, Parque Nacional Bosques Petrificados de Jaramillo protects more than 78,000 hectares of the Patagonian Steppe ecoregion. The park also contains one of the country’s most significant concentrations of fossil flora. Among the finds preserved in the park are fossil remains of ancient Araucaria forests, with trunks up to 30 meters long and three meters in diameter, as well as remains of other extinct species.
In the wider travel area, the Laguna Grande–Cerro Madre e Hija landscape lies within Parque Nacional Bosques Petrificados de Jaramillo. It is distinguished by its scenic appeal and rich variety of flora and fauna. Two different aspects can therefore be seen side by side here: fossil plant life and landscape diversity. If you are interested in geological history, the petrified Araucarias offer a specific point of reference; the flora and fauna add a landscape dimension to the subject.
Trails and distances
The park’s interpretive trail is about 2,000 meters long and is rated easy. Along the trail, you can see specimens of a Pehuén species whose origins date back 150 million years. Check current trail conditions before visiting.
Two hiking routes are also listed in the vicinity of Aguada Grande: “PN Bosques Petrificados de Jaramillo,” at 2.67 kilometers, and “Arco iris 5,” at 5.43 kilometers. The listed distances differ considerably. Check trail conditions before including either route in your plans.
Other places in Departamento Deseado
Reserva Provincial RĂa Deseado is located in Puerto Deseado, in Departamento Deseado. The protected area offers the chance to encounter coastal species such as Commerson’s dolphins, sea lions, Magellanic penguins, and cormorants. Boat trips on RĂa Deseado are offered there as a visitor activity; excursions to Parque Interjurisdiccional Marino Isla PingĂĽino are also offered from Puerto Deseado. An old lighthouse, inaugurated in 1903, stands on Isla PingĂĽino.
Jaramillo and Fitz Roy offer further historical and cultural points of interest in Departamento Deseado. The first school in the province to be declared a cultural heritage site has been preserved there. The provincial historical and tourist route about the “1921 Strike” ends in Jaramillo and Fitz Roy; the “La Era del Hielo” themed museum is also listed as an excursion destination there.
Caleta Olivia offers a different experience: its 4.5-kilometer waterfront promenade invites you to stroll by the sea, and the bay that gave the city its name has been an urban nature reserve since 1992. Caleta Olivia is also called the “City of Whales” because of the diversity and concentration of whales and other cetaceans in the area, as well as how easily they can be observed. These regional destinations offer a broader perspective on Aguada Grande without conflating the nearby petrified forests with the coastal locations.
Discover more destinations: Puerto Deseado, Caleta Olivia.
Go to the wider travel overview: Departamento Deseado.
