Located in the north of the province of Santa Cruz and on the shores of the Argentinean sea, there are many things to do in Puerto Deseado, which we will tell you about below.
Puerto Deseado is gaining more and more visitors every year. Its location on the banks of the estuary makes it very attractive for bird watching, penguin and other marine fauna. Our recommendation is to stay at least three days in the city to do the main excursions.
While it remains an unknown city to many as far as tourist attractions in Patagonia Argentina are concerned, there are plenty of things to do. We’ll tell you about them below!
🔎 Check out the must-see places to visit in Patagonia Argentina.
Table of Contents
1) Visiting Penguin Island by excursion
At 22 kilometres to the south of Puerto Deseado and after a short navigation you will arrive at Pingüino Island, one of the main attractions to see in Puerto Deseado.
The history of this particular island tells us that an old factory used to process sea lion fat, together with a lighthouse, both of which are now in ruins. But the most important part of this excursion is the sighting of marine fauna such as sea lions and elephant seals, seagulls and the main protagonist, the yellow-plumed penguin, with its yellow feathers.
The excursion departs from Puerto Deseado very early in the morning, around 8 a.m. and lasts six hours. It takes place between october and march when the penguins can be seen.
📷 Book the Penguin Island from Puerto Deseado here.
2) Touring the Deseado estuary
Another place to visit is the estuary. On the excursion you sail for two and a half hours, visiting several islands to see cormorants, fur seals, dolphins and Magellanic penguins. There is even an excursion to one of the islands to have closer contact with the penguins.
The excursion runs from september to march and has two daily departures, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.
On the estuary it is very common to see sportsmen and women kayaking, windsurfing and kitesurfing. The weather conditions, with gusts of wind, are ideal for these water sports.
📷 Book the Deseado Estuary boat tour here.
3) Cabo Blanco Provincial Reserve
Located 90 kilometres north of Puerto Deseado and accessible by a gravel road, the Cabo Blanco Reserve shows the landscape of the Patagonian coast in its purest state. Here you can observe islets and marine fauna such as the two-haired sea lions.
There is also a 67-metre high lighthouse dating back to the beginning of the 20th century and the ruins of an old post office.
4) Excursion to Darwin Camp
Around the middle of the 19th century, a certain Charles Darwin went on an expedition deep into Patagonia and set up his camp 40 kilometres away at the end of the Deseado Estuary. The visit will not only narrate the objectives of that expedition, but there will also be time to visit the Cerro del Paso ranch, rock formations, the landscapes that the scientist contemplated and even ancestral cave paintings. The excursion is a full day tour.
📷 Book the excursion to Darwin Camp from Puerto Deseado here.
5) Things to do in the centre of Puerto Deseado
Although it is a small city there are museums and other attractions to see.
The train no longer arrives in Puerto Deseado since the late 1970s, but the old station has been transformed into the Railway Museum, to tell the story of its construction with rocks from the area and to display the furniture and objects that were part of its operation. Admission is free.
The Mario Brozoski Municipal Museum is the other place worth visiting. Its main attraction is the remains of the corvette Swift, which was shipwrecked off the coast of Puerto Deseado in 1770. It also exhibits machinery, objects and old photos of the city. Admission is free.
6) Lourdes Grotto
At 15 kilometers from Puerto Deseado on route 281, and after traveling the detour through a three-kilometer gravel road, the Sanctuary of the Lourdes Grotto gathers the faithful who travel the road to come to venerate the Virgin of Lourdes through a beautiful canyon.
It is located in a natural crevice on the old Cañadón de las Bandurrias.
The landscape and the tranquility of the place give it an impressive degree of spirituality. We recommend a visit even if you are not religious.
7) Jaramillo Forest
It is about 250 kilometres from Puerto Deseando along route 281, route 3 heading south and then the fork in the gravel Route 49, but it really is a place to see.
Millions of years ago the landscape was not what it is today. Here there was a forest with a humid climate, but a great volcanic eruption transformed it into what it is today, a petrified araucaria forest. The tour takes place with a guide from the park who tells the story.
🔎 Do you want more information? Take a look at our article on how to visit the petrified forest of Jaramillo.
8) The 7 Caves Circuit
Accessible by a gravel road of a little more than two kilometers from downtown Puerto Deseado, these caves are located at the base of the cliff above the mouth of the estuary. To visit some of them, such as the cave of the Lions, it is necessary that there is low tide, since with high tide the water covers them.
It is an excellent visit to make with children, since in addition to the caves, you can visit the panoramic point Punta Cavendish where you can see the entrance of the estuary. In addition, when the tide is low, natural pools are formed and you can find starfish and crabs.
If you are going to spend the day, it is recommended to bring food and drink, since there are no services here.
Where to eat in Puerto Deseado
- Lo de Piola: in the centre of town, has a wide variety of food including pizzas, seafood, fish, pasta and meat. Plenty of food.
- Puerto Cristal: on the Costanera Avenue, is ideal for eating fresh fish and seafood.
- Juniors: family atmosphere and good prices. Its speciality is the parrillada.
Where to stay in Puerto Deseado
The city has a handful of hotels, all in the city centre or on the estuary. Our recommendations for where to stay are as follows:
- Hotel Los Acantilados Puerto Deseado: on the estuary and with nice views. The hotel is a bit old but with a good breakfast and price.
- Tower Rock Puerto Deseado: flats in the heart of Puerto Deseado. Modern, comfortable, spacious with kitchens and nice views.
🏨 See here where to stay in Puerto Deseado and find your ideal accommodation.
How to get to Puerto Deseado
By plane, the nearest airport is Comodoro Rivadavia, located about 300 kilometres north of Puerto Deseado. Aerolineas Argentinas has several daily flights from Buenos Aires. LADE also offers non-scheduled flights from different parts of the country, such as El Calafate, Ushuaia and Neuquén.
By car, Puerto Deseado is accessed from route 3 and then you have to take route 281 for 120 kilometres until you reach the city. The whole road is paved.
When is the best time to visit Puerto Deseado?
Contrary to what you may think due to its southern location, summers are mild in Puerto Deseado with temperatures hovering around 23 degrees in the afternoon. At night it tends to get cooler, which makes it necessary to wear a coat.
In winters the temperature is low and does not exceed 10 degrees Celsius all day long. At night it drops to below freezing.
The best time to visit Puerto Deseado is during the months of october to march, when temperatures are pleasant during the day and penguin watching takes place at the Penguin Island Marine Park.
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