Parque Patagonia Argentina

Mujeres a la Roca y un vínculo que va más allá del deporte

omaticdev — Mon, 04 May 2026 20:48:38 +0000

Women on the Rock: a bond that goes beyond sport

A group of women from northwest Santa Cruz is driving an initiative that combines climbing, nature, and environmental stewardship. Throughout the summer, they gather in Cañadón Caracoles, and during winters, they keep the activity going in Perito Moreno, drawing a community that grows day by day.

In northwest Santa Cruz, the wind sets the rhythm. Constant, it sweeps across the rock faces and slips into every movement. In that setting, among intense colors and shapes that shift with the light, a group of women comes together to climb. They do so in Patagonia Park’s Cañadón Caracoles in an environment they describe as “completely wild and rugged.”

“Women on the Rock was born from sharing sport climbing between women – mothers, daughters, and friends,” says Luisina Monente, one of the project’s driving forces. That starting point has grown into an open space that seeks something much deeper: “to create safe spaces where self-esteem, sensitivity, inclusion, self-love, and cooperation are protected,” which is their main goal.

The rock, they say, has something special. “It’s super abrasive, super grippy – it embraces you,” Luisina explains, as she describes the canyon’s orange, yellow, and pink walls that change with the light throughout the day. Around them, life continues at its own pace. In the area, you can spot guanacos, Darwin’s rheas, Wolffsohn’s viscacha, and even pumas.

Climbing and caring

The relationship with the environment is central to the experience. The group upholds practices to care for the place, from the most basic to collective actions. “This idea of leaving no trace – of how we move in that space,” is one of the first and most important lessons. But it goes further – there is also an active component of their stewardship. Luisina took part, along with others who visit the area, in planting reeds in climbing sectors.

This action aligns with a broader process underway in Patagonia Park, aimed at restoring sensitive environments such as wetlands and maintaining the balance of the ecosystem. Within this context, the presence of those who live in and move through the area adds a collective dimension that goes beyond recreational use. “What could be more beautiful than the place where you go to climb looking beautiful, looking vibrant?” she says, capturing that bond that blends enjoyment, stewardship, and participation.

This perspective connects with the idea that runs through the entire Women on the Rock project. It’s not just about climbing, but about being part of something, getting involved, and getting to know the place. About recognizing it as a living environment in constant transformation.

Along the way, the group also builds something that doesn’t always appear in other areas of sport. “It helps us create spaces of inclusion and participation in places where men generally dominate,” Luisina explains.

Rather than positioning itself in opposition, the initiative brings its own dimension. “Culturally, we have a different history – we’ve lived different experiences,” she says, and in that shared space, other ways of connecting, supporting one another, and inhabiting the activity emerge.

The call is open. No prior experience is needed. “I believe everyone can climb,” she says. All that is required is willingness – “the desire to try, to learn, and to take that first step toward the rock.”

Continuing in winter

When the cold sets in and conditions change across the steppe, the initiative continues. During winter, Women on the Rock moves its activities to Perito Moreno, maintaining gatherings and welcoming new participants.

“The idea is that the bond doesn’t break,” that the space continues to grow beyond the season. “To be present, getting to know the place.”

In the end, what emerges is something more than a sport. It’s a way of connecting with others, with the environment, and with oneself – a movement that grows and strengthens with each gathering across the Santa Cruz steppe.

La entrada Mujeres a la Roca y un vínculo que va más allá del deporte se publicó primero en Parque Patagonia Argentina.

Migraciones de guanacos: cuando la estepa se mueve

omaticdev — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 15:04:56 +0000

Guanaco migrations: when the steppe moves

With the arrival of cold weather, guanacos prepare to begin their seasonal migrations from the plateau to lower areas – movements that help maintain the balance of the steppe. How these routes come to be is still under study, while they are increasingly affected by fences and other barriers.

In northwestern Santa Cruz, when the cold starts to change how the air feels, the steppe shifts into a different rhythm. It is not something that becomes immediately visible or obvious at first glance, but it happens nonetheless. The guanacos begin to prepare.

For weeks, even months, groups remain on the plateaus. There they spend the summer taking advantage of the tender, nutrient-rich grass shoots that are only available during this season. But when the first snowfalls mark the landscape, something is triggered – and the migration begins.

Year after year, different groups follow the same routes between high-altitude areas and lower regions of the province. “Migratory movements are characterized by seasonal back-and-forth movements involving a large number of individuals at the same time,” explains biologist and scientific director of Rewilding Argentina, Emiliano Donadío.

In Santa Cruz, winter movements usually occur between March and June, although there is no fixed date. “They depend heavily on weather conditions. In general, they begin when snowfall makes it harder to stay on the plateaus.”

“At the moment, these movements in Santa Cruz have not yet started, but it is likely they will soon, once snow begins to accumulate on the plateaus.” The two populations studied to date in the province – in Patagonia Park and Monte León – and the only populations in South America studied in depth using satellite technology, allow these migratory movements to be closely monitored.

As these movements begin, there are also ways to recognize them in the landscape. It is not necessary to see the animals moving to understand that something has changed. “Winter migration is identified because it becomes possible to observe how the wintering areas start to be populated by guanacos descending from the plateau where they spent the summer,” Donadío explains.

“These movements may still occur in much of the province, but in Patagonia Park they have been well studied, so it is relatively easy to notice when they are happening.” These are movements involving many individuals at once, repeated every year, although they depend on weather conditions.

Not all guanacos behave the same way

“The individuals that migrate can take advantage of better pastures than those that do not migrate,” he notes. And this “would allow them to have a higher probability of survival and successful reproduction.” This difference between groups raises a question that still does not have a single answer: not all guanacos migrate, even when living in similar environments. Understanding why this difference occurs remains an open scientific discussion.

In recent years, some studies have begun exploring an idea that adds another layer to the phenomenon. There are indications that these movements do not depend solely on the environment or climate, but also on information transmitted within groups.

“The central idea of this theory is that migrations depend on socially learned information, rather than a predetermined genetic ‘programming,’” Donadío explains. In other words, “Learning is more important than instinct.”

This line of research suggests that animals are not born knowing how to migrate, but rather acquire that knowledge through experience. “Migrating animals learn routes, timing, and destinations by observing more experienced individuals,” he explains. “Studies conducted in North America show that, in large herbivores, migration is largely cultural and not strictly genetic. Although we do not have studies of this kind on guanacos, it is reasonable to think a similar situation could occur.”

However, the debate is not settled.

What’s at stake is not only movement

“When migrations are interrupted, the cultural memory that sustains them does not simply ‘pause’. It tends to erode and, over time, disappear,” Donadío explains.

“That memory lives in individuals, especially adult females and experienced leaders, and in the social interactions that allow it to be transmitted.”

At that point, the system begins to break down. If animals cannot complete their routes, new generations fail to learn them. And this is where one of the main problems arises.

“In winter in particular, fences can become a lethal barrier for guanacos.” In some cases, snow prevents them from jumping over them and animals become trapped on one side. “They end up dying from cold or starvation,” he describes.

This also occurs year-round, when guanacos attempting to jump get caught. “A study carried out by CONICET researchers in Río Negro showed that at least 6.4% of the population dies after becoming entangled in fences. If extrapolated across Patagonia, this means thousands of animals per year,” he warns.

When this happens in the middle of winter, the situation is even more critical.

“If a group cannot complete its migration, it is because it has encountered an impassable barrier,” he explains. Under those conditions, “it is possible that the animals will not survive an increasingly harsh environment.”

What is beginning to change

To reduce deaths from entanglement, fences themselves can be modified. Emiliano Donadío explains that “the top wire can be removed, since it is the main cause of these entanglements.” Where this solution has been tested, preliminary data show a significant reduction in incidents.

Openings can also be created for younger animals that cannot clear the fence height. These are simple interventions, but with a direct impact on survival.

However, the scale of the problem goes beyond a single location, so “not only at the provincial level, but across the entire range of the species, removing the top wire and modifying intermediate wires could be implemented to create passage spaces,” he suggests.

“The loss of migratory processes does not only affect guanaco populations.” It also impacts ecosystem functioning. “It interrupts processes of nutrient redistribution, seed dispersal mechanisms, and reduces environmental heterogeneity.”

In other words, when these movements stop, the steppe changes too. “It implies the loss of mobile ecological functions, mechanisms that connect ecosystems across space and time.” Each year, when the cold returns, some groups repeat the journey. They move down, cross through, search for different conditions. They follow a map that cannot be seen, but still exists.

Photo credits: Agustina Ojeda – Franco Bucci – Rewilding Argentina

La entrada Migraciones de guanacos: cuando la estepa se mueve se publicó primero en Parque Patagonia Argentina.

Más de 160 chicos vivieron la quinta temporada de Exploradores en la comarca

omaticdev — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 18:17:23 +0000

More than 160 youth across the region participated in the Exploradores program’s fifth season

Camping trips, growing connections, and a community taking shape. The program brought together 168 participants and continues with activities through fall and winter.

With three-day camping trips in places like the Caracoles Canyon and the Pinturas River Canyon, the Exploradores program once again rolled out a summer experience that blends nature, learning, and community living. This season, 168 kids from Perito Moreno, Los Antiguos, and Lago Posadas participated. Five years since it began, the program has now reached over 2,000 young people across the region.

During the final camping trip of the season, as night fell, a group of kids started discussing water conservation. No one had planned it as an activity – it just happened. Through ideas, questions, and different perspectives, they created a sign that summed up what they’d been talking about: “Nature isn’t for sale – it’s meant to be cared for.” They took a photo around it and left it there, almost like a closing moment.

That scene, which emerged spontaneously, says a lot about what happens in Exploradores. “We design experiences and share content, but what we really want is for learning to happen through dialogue, and for the kids to make it their own,” says Pablo Damico, one of the program’s instructors.

A way of being in the world

“Exploradores is a way of being in the world,” he says – and it’s not just a phrase. Over the summer, that idea takes shape in immersive three-day camping trips, where learning about wildlife, plants, night skies, and local culture goes hand in hand with being immersed in those landscapes.

This season, 168 participants between the ages of 10 and 18 joined from Perito Moreno, Los Antiguos, and Lago Posadas. Over five years, around 550 have taken part in the camping trips, and more than 2,000 have been reached through school activities, fairs, and educational outings.

The locations themselves are part of the experience. This year’s camping trips were held in Caracoles Canyon and the Pinturas River Canyon, within Patagonia Park. In the former, rock climbing offers a new way to connect with the landscape. In the latter, hiking between towering rock walls that shift in color, along with constant encounters with wildlife, creates unforgettable moments.

There’s one place in particular – where the canyons meet – that often sparks the same reaction: “Teacher, this looks like a Google wallpaper,” many of them say. And in that comment there’s something deeper: the realization that these landscapes aren’t somewhere far away, but right near their homes.

The kids’ growth

For the team behind the program, the most important outcomes aren’t always about content. “Families are amazed by how much the kids grow in just a few days – not only in what they learn, but in their independence, the way they relate to others, their patience, their tolerance,” Damico explains.

That growth is also visible in the relationships they build. Friendships that begin during camping trips often last over time, even between kids from different towns. “Exploradores has this ability to go beyond where you live and create bonds that are truly lasting,” he says.

The experience doesn’t end when they go home. What they experience during the camping trips carries over into their families, siblings, and friends – and over time, it begins to build something bigger.

Five years in, the program has grown not only in participation but also in its presence within the community. This summer, for example, they hosted a closing gathering at the municipal campground in Perito Moreno, where around forty families participated.

They shared games, food, and a space where families could see firsthand what the kids do. “That’s when we realized we’re not just a team and a group of participants – there’s a whole community around this that makes it possible,” they say.

Demand has grown alongside that sense of community. During peak months, they receive up to twice as many applications as available spots. Even so, the goal remains that every child who wants to participate gets the chance at least once.

What comes with the colder months

With summer over, Exploradores doesn’t stop. In the fall, the program shifts to shorter outings, mainly in urban reserves and nearby wetlands, to observe seasonal changes – migrating birds, falling leaves, shifting cycles.

In winter, the experience moves into the snow, focusing on how plants and animals adapt to extreme conditions. “Exploring in the cold has its own kind of magic, because everything changes and it pushes you to see things differently,” Damico explains.

“Exploradores changes format, location, and number of participants, but its essence stays the same.” Before each activity, they still gather in circles to share expectations – how they’re feeling, how they want to coexist. Because for those behind the program, building a healthy relationship with nature also means building strong relationships with others.

And in that intersection of experience and discovery, the voices of participants come through. Ignacio – “Nachito” – took part this season and puts it simply: “When they told me I was going camping, I felt really curious and excited to see what the experience and the place would be like. The best part was everything I learned and the people I met in the canyon and its history. What I liked most was the confluence – it felt like a magical place. Thanks to Exploradores, I now see the nature around me in a different way.”

After a few days at camp, it’s no longer just a trip. “If Exploradores were a story, it would be called The Magical Story of the Canyon,” he says.

La entrada Más de 160 chicos vivieron la quinta temporada de Exploradores en la comarca se publicó primero en Parque Patagonia Argentina.

El Cañadón del Pinturas, un paisaje que se recorre hacia adentro

omaticdev — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 14:51:52 +0000

Pinturas Canyon: a landscape meant to be explored from within

Unlike mountains, canyons are descended into. In the Pinturas River Canyon, that inward journey reveals a landscape that brings together human history, geological time, and countless ways of moving through the steppe.

When Guido Vittone thinks about canyons, he describes them as “inverted mountains.” As a guide and expert on the landscape of northwestern Santa Cruz, he finds in that image a key to understanding the Pinturas River. “Instead of going up, you go down… it’s about entering the earth a bit, going into its depth.”

The experience shifts from the very beginning. Unlike the mountain range, where the horizon opens up, in canyons the view shortens, curves, disappears. “You never see very far as you go,” he explains. “There are bends, a constant suspense about what might come into view.” Even returning to the same place, there is always something new to discover.

That “intricate” character is not common in Santa Cruz. “Canyons are much less frequent, almost isolated,” he notes. In the Pinturas basin, however, that logic multiplies. “It’s like a great knot of canyons… a network, a labyrinth,” he describes – a landscape that constantly breaks apart and reassembles with every step.

But above all, the Pinturas is a lived-in space. “Mountains were places you went to out of necessity, but not where people lived. Canyons, on the other hand, were,” he explains, referring to the populations that inhabited the area thousands of years ago.

That presence did not remain in the past. It is visible in archaeological evidence, but also in more recent traces. “Stone shelters, plantings, constructions, corrals, even ranches established within the canyons themselves.”

Traveling through time

Exploring the Pinturas also means shifting scale. “The deeper you go… the further back in time you travel,” he says. And in that descent, time becomes visible on the canyon walls.

This journey reveals how the landscape was formed. “The great flows of glacial water, the evidence of their advance… all of that is there,” he explains.

And the human presence makes the experience even more intense. “The rock art is so powerful that it confronts us with our own way of seeing,” he reflects, referring to the hands, animals, and figures painted on the canyon walls. In doing so, it challenges a very common idea: “It might seem like a different history from ours, but it really isn’t… They looked at the night sky – the same one we see – and thought very similar things.”

The Pinturas Canyon feels familiar, even if it is not always deeply known. Still, there is something that repeats itself: “Both visitors and locals are deeply moved when they experience it.”

The challenge of protecting the Pinturas Canyon

Vittone does not seek a single way of interpreting the place. “There are fragmented perspectives,” he says. Some people arrive, take a photo, and move on, with little interest in going deeper. Others pause, ask questions, try to understand. There is also the discourse of conservation, and another, less visible perspective – that of those who live and work in the Pinturas.

Guido draws a distinction: “While the way people once used the canyon – for subsistence – is very different from its current use, which is touristic and recreational… I could also say the canyon feeds me,” he adds with a laugh, “but not through hunting guanacos, rather through the tourists I guide and explain things to.” This, he says, “does make us reflect on societies, the passage of time, and our priorities.”

Within that intersection, knowledge also plays a role. “For me, it’s important to know what publications and archaeologists say,” he notes.

“Everyone can experience it in their own way,” he says. And in that openness lies perhaps one of the best ways to discover the Pinturas Canyon. It is a landscape that moves you, that makes you breathe deeply when faced with its vast presence. And it is a place that, to be understood, must first be entered from within.

Guido Vittone shares this perspective through talks and guided excursions in the area, where he combines knowledge, experience, and a close, engaging way of telling the story of the landscape. He also shares his work and content on social media, where he can be followed at @guido_vittone_47sur_patagonia.

La entrada El Cañadón del Pinturas, un paisaje que se recorre hacia adentro se publicó primero en Parque Patagonia Argentina.

Cuando la naturaleza empieza a recuperarse en la Patagonia

omaticdev — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 12:28:26 +0000

When Nature Begins to Recover in Patagonia

The story of Sofía Ocampo, a veterinarian working on the conservation team at Parque Patagonia, shows how efforts are made to restore native species, rehabilitate ecosystems, and reconnect with our shared home.

In the northwest of Santa Cruz, where the wind is an ever-present companion across the steppe, work happens every day—often unnoticed. This is the work of teams who monitor, relocate, care for, and accompany long-term processes, guided by the conviction that what has been damaged can be repaired.

In this network of efforts stands Sofía Ocampo, a veterinarian at Parque Patagonia, who found in rewilding a tangible way to give back nature its own rhythm and gradually rebuild the balance that sustains life.

Her journey began far away from the steppe. During her years studying at the Universidad Nacional de La Rioja, a specific experience marked a turning point.

Sofía recalls that everything changed for her when a puma hit by a car arrived at the hospital where she was doing her internship. She was involved in its treatment and recovery, and on the way realized something deeper: “We were treating an animal, but we were also helping the ecosystem.”

That idea began to take root. Volunteer experiences came next, followed by initial contacts with conservation, and eventually, rewilding as a tangible way to get involved.

The Value of What Cannot Be Seen

Working at Parque Patagonia is also a sensory experience. “There’s something very special about the vastness of the steppe. Wherever you stand, you see everything; there’s no end to the landscape,” Sofía describes. Added to that is the constant presence of wildlife, which she considers part of the daily driving force.

There’s one more thing, hard to understand until you experience it. “That’s when I discovered what true silence is,” she says. That landscape, together with a team that shares convictions, gives full meaning to a job that, as she explains, “is incredibly intense but also incredibly profound.”

Her daily work constantly changes. It can include planning captures, monitoring species, administering anesthesia, translocations, following up in the wild, or quarantine tasks.

“Nothing is predictable,” Sofía summarizes when talking about working with wildlife. And that statement captures much of the challenge: “You have to be prepared, flexible, and constantly adapt to the species, the moment, and the particular individual,” she explains

Added to that is the context. “The weather, the wind, the distances are extreme,” she says, also noting the logistical complexity of a place where “we live quite isolated.” All of this is part of work that is constantly changing and requires continuous dynamism.

Among so many experiences, one in particular stands out for her. “I think it was the translocation of Darwin’s rheas between Argentina and Chile,” she recalls. The process included capture, quarantine, and relocation with complex logistics, but it also had a particular significance: “It was the first wild-to-wild translocation between the two countries. The animals were captured in the wild and released into the wild,” she explains.

The work “involved a great responsibility, not only at a health level but also technically, coordinating teams, ensuring all tasks were completed and the animals arrived safely,” she remembers.

“It was incredibly moving,” she adds, noting that these are the moments when “you truly understand the magnitude of what you are doing for conservation.”

Restoring Balance, Restoring Meaning

At a time when many ecosystems are degraded or incomplete, rewilding goes beyond nature. “It’s also about people,” Sofía summarizes. Restoring species and ecosystems is also about recovering identity, culture, and ways of connecting with a place.

In Patagonia, that process is still possible. “Each species plays a fundamental role in the ecosystem. When one is missing, the system loses its balance,” she warns. And in restoring that balance, we are also shaping the way we choose to care for and inhabit our shared home.

Giving Back Nature Its Own Rhythm

When we talk about rewilding, it’s not enough to just protect what remains. We must rebuild what has been lost and resume natural processes that have been interrupted for years.

Sofía explains it from her field experience: “Rewilding is a form of conservation that seeks to restore entire ecosystems. The idea is to recover them, often through the reintroduction of species that have locally disappeared.” She adds that the goal is “to allow nature to function on its own again, returning ecosystems to their original dynamics.”

In this process, one aspect is transversal to all of the work. “Rewilding works extensively with local communities, creating connections, job opportunities, and new ways of connecting with nature,” she notes. As she emphasizes, it is this network that “allows projects to be sustainable over time” and builds a possible balance between people and the environment.

La entrada Cuando la naturaleza empieza a recuperarse en la Patagonia se publicó primero en Parque Patagonia Argentina.

La Señalada: el pequeño refugio de la estepa que enamora a quienes recorren el Parque Patagonia

omaticdev — Sun, 15 Mar 2026 23:54:07 +0000

La Señalada: a beloved stop in the heart of Patagonia Park

In northwest Santa Cruz, La Señalada has become a beloved stop for those exploring Patagonia Park. Between freshly made empanadas, hiking trails, yurts, and star-filled skies, the place has expanded its offerings each season and welcomes visitors from around the world.

Located a few kilometers from Cueva de las Manos, La Señalada offers a respite in the middle of the steppe. Today, between its campground, yurts, and small country store, many visitors to Patagonia Park and the Planetarium find something more than just a place to take shelter.

Most people arrive after hiking the trails and spending hours exploring the park. The La Señalada country store emerges from the steppe, along with the aroma of freshly made food.

“I always say people come with a hiker’s hunger,” says Valeria Visconti, who has worked there for the past three years.

As she prepares food, conversations unfold – where visitors are coming from, which trails they’ve hiked, whether they’ve already visited Cueva de las Manos, or how long they’ve been traveling.

In that moment, the place becomes a point of connection as well.

“It’s like inviting them into my home,” she says. “We chat while I cook and share what each of us has experienced in the park.” The feeling she tries to convey is simple and familiar, so that anyone who arrives feels welcomed. “I always say I want it to feel like when you arrive at your grandmother’s house and she already has something ready for you to eat.”

Some of the foods served at the store have become a signature of the place. The empanadas are the clear favorite, especially for those continuing onto more trails. But there are also milanesa sandwiches on homemade focaccia bread, savory pies, vegetarian options, choripán, and other simple, freshly made dishes. The budines and alfajores are also made here and supplied to other café stands throughout the park.

Everything has a homemade touch that surprises those who make their way to this corner of the steppe.

A place on the rise

La Señalada has also changed a great deal in recent years. When Vale first arrived, the campground was very basic. There were only six wind shelters for pitching tents, and no showers.

The following year the site began to expand. More wind shelters were added, and hot-water showers were installed – an addition that quickly encouraged more visitors to stay overnight.

Today, the space includes nine wind shelters for tents, parking for campers, and a campground with hot showers that makes it much more comfortable.

The most recent growth came with the addition of three yurts equipped with beds and bedding. Designed for visitors who arrive without camping gear, they allow people to sleep in the middle of the steppe without needing to bring a tent or sleeping bag.

These developments are also reflected in the visitors who come through.

Travelers from many countries pass through La Señalada – Germany, France, Switzerland, Italy – but increasingly also people from nearby towns such as Perito Moreno, Los Antiguos, Caleta Olivia, Comodoro Rivadavia, Las Heras, and Pico Truncado.

On weekends, they sometimes organize open-fire meals – lamb or chicken stews, capturing the spirit of the place. “Food always brings people together,” Vale sums up.

The story behind the store

Three years ago, Vale’s life looked very different. She lived in Buenos Aires and worked at a restaurant in Palermo. She was going through a period of personal challenges, when a friend told her about Patagonia and the possibility to join a conservation project there. The idea of traveling south began to feel like an opportunity.

“When they said Patagonia, I said yes,” she recalls. “The truth is I knew very little about the project and about this side of Patagonia – about the steppe. But I took the leap.”

That’s how she arrived at La Señalada, along with others who were starting their work at Patagonia Park. Over time, the open landscape, the wind, and the distance from urban life create a very particular feeling.

“There’s something this place changed in me,” she says. “The steppe allowed me to quiet the noise and connect with myself.” She adds with a laugh, “Out here, we’re each other’s neighbors.”

Staying at La Señalada

La Señalada’s location is also part of its charm. Those who choose to spend the night discover a new side to the park. After a day on the trails, walking through the steppe, or visiting Cueva de las Manos, the rhythm of the park shifts and La Señalada becomes a place to slow down.

In this part of the steppe there is no light pollution. The sky fills with stars and the landscape changes completely. “Sometimes you don’t know which landscape is bigger – the earth or the sky,” says Vale.

For many visitors, that experience becomes one of the reasons they return. “The steppe has a very deep silence,” she reflects. “And when you stop to listen to it, something very special happens.”

Perhaps that’s why those who pass through La Señalada often stay a little longer than they planned. Between the open steppe, homemade food, and star-filled nights, the place ends up becoming much more than just a stop along the way.

La entrada La Señalada: el pequeño refugio de la estepa que enamora a quienes recorren el Parque Patagonia se publicó primero en Parque Patagonia Argentina.

Cuando la escalada se vuelve restauración en el Cañadón Caracoles

omaticdev — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 00:10:58 +0000

Climbing meets restoration in Caracoles Canyon

A group of 13 climbers from Los Cóndores – a sport climbing club based in Buenos Aires, Argentina – spent six days camping in northwest Santa Cruz. Drawn by the climbing routes of Patagonia Park, they also participated in a wetland restoration day, planting reeds alongside the park's conservation team.

In northwest Santa Cruz, Caracoles Canyon is a refuge amidst the steppe. It is there, where rock walls shelter a wetland teeming with life, that a group of visiting climbers decided to bring more than just ropes and carabiners.

The experience brought 13 members of Los Cóndores to Patagonia Park to climb for several days. Between camping and sessions on the canyon walls, they dedicated a day to collaborating on the restoration of a reed bed to support wetland recovery.

The initiative was born when group members came across the park on social media and saw that the canyon featured sport climbing sectors. Later, while attending a talk on regenerative climbing at the Centro Andino Buenos Aires, they learned more about the restoration work being carried out in Patagonia. Centro Andino Buenos Aires, conocieron en profundidad el trabajo de restauración que se desarrolla en Patagonia.

"That’s where we learned about the park's purpose, the restoration work, and its goals. So, we decided to propose a joint initiative," said Joaquín de Hero, one of the group members. From that moment on, they began planning the trip.

An Unexpected Landscape in the Steppe

For the climbers, Caracoles Canyon was a surprise.

"Many of us climbers usually pass through that area only as a transition point toward the mountain ranges. We didn't expect to find a place with those characteristics hidden within the steppe," Joaquín recounted.

At the bottom of the canyon, the rock walls shield the wetland from the wind. Joaquín says those walls form "a refuge from the strong winds and the sun," a place with a concentration of life in the middle of the steppe.

"The canyon is full of life. Foxes, lesser grisons, wild guinea pigs, and many other species inhabit the wetland, and you encounter them as soon as you get out of the car. Looking at the sky, it’s common to see condors soaring, and on the canyon crevices, you might even see a puma resting if you're lucky, ," he describes.

When Climbing Can Also Restore Nature

The group remained at the site for six days, camping near the climbing sector and organizing their trip to be completely self-sufficient.

"Being climbers, we are used to camping logistics, but the challenge here was water scarcity. We solved it by carrying a 200-liter tank in the truck, which allowed us to be self-sufficient throughout the stay."

The days combined climbing with rest, and it was precisely on one of those "off-days" from the wall that they participated in planting reeds in the wetland.

"Usually, rest days are a bit boring, but in the Canyon, we were able to take the opportunity to do something different and contribute from another angle," he said.

The experience also changed the way the group observed the environment around them.

"As climbers, we know the concept of 'Leave No Trace,' but participating in the restoration made us appreciate the scale of work behind the park. We understood the importance of the wetland and how our actions directly impact the wildlife that depends on it," Joaquín explained.

During the day dedicated to restoration, they learned about the ecosystem functioning and the conservation work taking place there.

"We were surprised to see how they control invasive species so they don't consume the water, and how the reed bed helps retain water throughout the sector. We learned to read the landscape in a different way, seeing not just climbing routes, but a living ecosystem."

The experience also sparked a broader reflection on the link between sport and nature. "Regenerative climbing gives the climber an active role within the environment they visit. It’s not just about avoiding negative impacts, but also about contributing positively to conservation," Joaquín says.

For the group, the experience has opened a wider discussion on the link between sport and conservation. Joaquín explains that regenerative climbing goes beyond the classic "leave no trace" mantra. "It gives the climber an active role," he notes.

In the climbing community, certain practices are already ingrained, such as waste management or caring for climbing sites. However, the growth of the sport also opens new sectors and raises discussions about impact – ranging from the use of climbing chalk to the creation of unplanned trails.

In this context, he notes, regenerative climbing "can become a concrete tool for the conservation and restoration of different ecosystems."

La entrada Cuando la escalada se vuelve restauración en el Cañadón Caracoles se publicó primero en Parque Patagonia Argentina.

Parque Patagonia suma refugios en el corazón de la estepa

omaticdev — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 19:02:14 +0000

Patagonia Park adds new yurts in the heart of the steppe

At the La Señalada campground, new wooden yurts are now welcoming guests – an alternative for those who want to spend the night in the steppe without camping. From this central location, trails of Portal Cañadón Pinturas set out, the Planetarium is just steps away, and beginning this season, visitors can arrive to the park by bus.

At Patagonia Park, staying overnight is part of the adventure. At the La Señalada campground, that came to life in a new proposal: the “Patagonian yurts” – wooden shelters set in the steppe, inspired by classic mountain refuges and designed for those who want to be closer to nature without giving up comfort.

“The idea came up because we realized we were missing an option for those who prefer a more immersive stay, but one that still has amenities,” says Natalia Correa, Coordinator of Nature Tourism Destination Development at Patagonia Park. “The park welcomes road trippers, families, and groups of friends who do not camp or travel by camper, yet still want to stay at La Señalada. Until now, there was no option created specifically for them. The yurts help us respond to that need.”

The new yurts are not tents, yet they are not a lodge either. Built on windbreak structures that shield them from the wind, they allow guests to experience the environment up close. “You can feel the breeze and the fresh air while resting comfortably in your bed,” she explains. They are equipped with bedding, pillows, a table for sharing the day, and a solid structure that provides shelter from the wind while still allowing one to be immersed in the steppe.

The location is no coincidence. La Señalada is the hub of the park’s Cañadón Pinturas Portal. Just a few meters away are the Interpretation Center and the Planetarium, and from there, visitors can access the trail network without getting back into their vehicle. From the same point begins the trail to Cañadón Pinturas and Bajada de los Toldos, connecting with the Cueva de las Manos area and returning via Vertientes or Balcones.

From La Señalada, the Vertientes trail also sets out and can be combined with the Guanaca trail. “It offers an incredible view from Cerro Amarillo, where you can see the meeting point of Cañadón Caracoles and Cañadón Pinturas,” Naty describes. For those seeking a greater challenge, she mentions Huella de Gradin – a 12-kilometer route designed for more experienced hikers.

The key is that everything can be explored on foot. “Guests staying in the yurts can experience the park without needing to get back into their vehicle,” she explains. The rhythm changes when the day begins and ends in the same spot in the steppe.

“The area is also ideal for wildlife watching. Guanacos and rheas are part of the experience, and at Balcones or Bajada de los Toldos you can often spot the endemic orange Wolffsohn's viscacha. From the Guanaca trail, condors are commonly seen,” she says. Outings with local guides allow visitors to cross different environments, pass by springs and wetlands under restoration, and understand how the landscape is gradually being repopulated with native wildlife.

Campfires, Open Skies, and a Traveling Community

At La Señalada, the day extends beyond the hike. The yurts invite guests to gather around the communal fire pit, cook over an open flame, and share stories with fellow travelers as daylight fades and the sky begins to fill with stars.

“This place really fosters the shared spirit of traveling in Patagonia,” says Naty. Families with children, groups of friends, travelers on the road. The structure functions as a large refuge open to the sky – comfortable and dynamic.

“The recommendation is to stay at least two nights,” Naty shares. Not only to explore the trail network at an unhurried pace, but also to arrange a wildlife outing, share a campfire, and enjoy Patagonian skies from that very spot – without rushing or skipping routes.

That experience is now even more accessible. Chaltén Travel has inaugurated a stop at the entrance to Portal Cañadón Pinturas, making it possible to arrive by bus from other destinations in the region. “Having a bus stop at Patagonia Park is a major step forward,” she notes. From there, the park team coordinates internal transfers to La Señalada for those who need them.

Today, choosing to stay at Parque Patagonia also means choosing the rhythm of the journey – one in which the day begins with trails just steps away and ends beside the campfire, under an open sky that needs no filter.

La entrada Parque Patagonia suma refugios en el corazón de la estepa se publicó primero en Parque Patagonia Argentina.

Ya se puede ver “Rewilding Patagonia”: el documental que recorre la creación de los parques en la región

omaticdev — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 19:39:41 +0000

Watch now: “Rewilding Patagonia,” a documentary recounting the story of park creation in the region

Disponible de manera gratuita en YouTube, la película dirigida por Arnaud Hiltzer y Aurélie Miquel sigue el trabajo de conservación en la Patagonia argentina y chilena, a través de una travesía que conecta naturaleza, comunidades y el legado del rewilding en la región.

Desde esta semana, “Rewilding Patagonia” puede verse de forma abierta y gratuita en YouTube con subtítulos en español. La película propone un recorrido inmersivo por uno de los movimientos de conservación más transformadores del continente; la creación y recuperación de parques en la Patagonia argentina y chilena.

Para entender el detrás de escena, conversamos con Arnaud, fundador de la productora Hello Emotion y creador de esta serie de películas que buscan mostrar cómo la naturaleza vuelve a ocupar su lugar cuando se le da espacio. Su sorpresa al llegar a la Patagonia, y lo que se llevó de regreso a Europa, cuenta tanto como las imágenes que filmó.

Sobre el inicio de este camino, Arnaud recuerda que descubrió el rewilding “después de la muerte de Douglas Tompkins. No sabía nada sobre él”, cuenta. “Leí un artículo sobre su accidente y así empezó todo. Me enamoré del concepto y de todas sus posibilidades”.

A partir de ese impacto fundó Into the Rewild, que ya produjo tres películas que recorren diferentes modelos de reasilvestración en el mundo. La tercera, estrenada este año, mira de frente a la Patagonia y la muestra como un territorio donde la escala, la cultura y el vínculo entre comunidades y ecosistemas adquieren un sentido que difícilmente puede replicarse en Europa.

La Patagonia como territorio de otra dimensión

“Estaba muy entusiasmado por venir y ver con mis propios ojos lo que significa restaurar un ecosistema entero, junto con la gente local”, cuenta. La conservación aquí no solo transforma el ambiente, sino que genera trabajo, orgullo, cultura, pertenencia. Involucra a los municipios, a los gobiernos, a toda la sociedad. Es como viajar al futuro”.

Ese “futuro” también tiene raíces profundas. Y es que, lo que más lo conmovió fue “la conexión entre naturaleza y cultura”, algo que encontró en libros, en casas y restaurantes, en conversaciones, en la forma en que la gente nombra los vientos y las aves. “Sentí que proteger la naturaleza era parte de la identidad. Si cuidas la naturaleza, la naturaleza te cuida. Eso me impactó muchísimo”.

A diferencia de otras producciones, Rewilding Patagonia muestra a sus directores en escena, viajando, acompañando tareas de campo, preguntando. Ese formato nació de una necesidad.

“En Europa casi nadie conoce la historia de Tompkins ni la creación de esos parques patagónicos. Para mí era importante llevar esta historia a festivales y a la prensa para mostrar que una acción individual puede generar un impacto enorme”, explica Arnaud. “Es una fuente de esperanza. Una manera concreta y luminosa de hacer ecología”.

Cuando le preguntamos si la Patagonia puede convertirse en un ejemplo para otras regiones del mundo, Arnaud no tiene dudas: “Absolutamente», dice y agrega que «lo que está pasando en la Patagonia ya es el futuro. Pero también es esencial el trabajo de vincular a las comunidades con los ecosistemas. En un mundo tan polarizado, esa unión es algo sagrado”.

La película se puede ver en el siguiente link:

Rewilding Patagonia, avec Kristine Tompkins | Into the Rewild

La entrada Ya se puede ver “Rewilding Patagonia”: el documental que recorre la creación de los parques en la región se publicó primero en Parque Patagonia Argentina.

La Patagonia como safari, una experiencia en el corazón de la estepa

omaticdev — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 19:33:28 +0000

A Patagonian safari: an experience in the heart of the steppe

Las mejores fotos de la experiencia de Diego Cabanas entre fauna, paisajes y conservación

Diego Agustín Cabanas nació en Comodoro Rivadavia y vive en Rada Tilly. Se define como patagónico y fotógrafo de naturaleza desde hace casi veinte años. Durante mucho tiempo combinó la fotografía con el trabajo en el ámbito privado, hasta que decidió volcarse de lleno a la producción audiovisual vinculada a la naturaleza y la conservación.

En ese recorrido, registró durante años la presencia creciente de la ballena sei en la costa del Golfo San Jorge, un trabajo que derivó en su participación en un documental producido por Jumara Films con colaboración de National Geographic. Pero esta vez, el viaje lo llevó tierra adentro.

En esta vuelta al Parque Patagonia buscó la fotografía desde la mirada creativa. “Atardeceres naranjas como de sabana, grandes animales moviéndose en libertad, escenas que te obligan a cambiar el ritmo”, cuenta.

Framing the trip as a Patagonian safari allowed him to see the steppe with fresh eyes. Guanacos moving at dusk, the intense colors of the landscape, and a silence broken only by the wind came together to create an experience very different from his visit years before.

El recorrido incluyó puntos emblemáticos como la Cueva de las Manos. Ahí, una de las primeras pinturas rupestres que se observan en el circuito llamó especialmente su atención.

Desde los miradores cercanos, también pudo observar cóndores andinos planeando sobre el cañadón.

Más allá de las imágenes, el viaje estuvo marcado por el contacto directo con el trabajo de conservación. Diego participó en actividades de monitoreo de fauna, recorrió juncales donde se desarrolla la reintroducción del coipo y tuvo su primer encuentro, después de años de búsqueda, con el chinchillón anaranjado, una especie endémica muy buscada por fotógrafos de naturaleza.

“Ver el trabajo de los técnicos de campo, la restauración, la reintroducción de especies, te cambia la cabeza. Te da otra perspectiva del esfuerzo que hay detrás de cada decisión”, señala.

Uno de los momentos más intensos del viaje llegó con el avistaje de pumas. Mirta, una de las hembras monitoreadas por el equipo de Conservación de Parque Patagonia, se dejó ver a pocos metros del alojamiento. Más tarde, en el Cañadón del Río Pinturas, apareció un macho adulto, tranquilo, observando al grupo desde una formación rocosa. “Fue el mejor encuentro del viaje”, recuerda.

La experiencia se completó con escenas más silenciosas: choiques alimentándose al atardecer, la inmensidad del cañadón cortando la estepa y juegos de luz pensados desde una mirada más artística que documental.

Diego volvió con fotos, videos y una certeza reforzada; “Toda esta riqueza la tenemos dentro del país. Fauna, flora, paisaje e historia, todo en un solo lugar. Conocerlo también es una forma de cuidarlo”.

La entrada La Patagonia como safari, una experiencia en el corazón de la estepa se publicó primero en Parque Patagonia Argentina.