Parque Patagonia Argentina

About the Park

Patagonia Park is a vast protected area open to the public that, thanks to ongoing conservation and restoration work, has become a wildlife oasis within the Patagonian steppe. Combined with high-quality visitor infrastructure, it offers an exceptional nature-based tourism experience in Argentine Patagonia.

Located along the iconic National Route 40 in the northwest of Santa Cruz Province and linked to Chile by two border crossings, Patagonia Park Argentina covers more than 200,000 hectares. It encompasses four public access portals that include major attractions such as Patagonia National Park and the Cueva de las Manos archaeological site, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Inspired by Tompkins Conservation’s vision of creating a binational park spanning the Atlantic and Pacific watersheds, Fundación Rewilding Argentina has been working in Patagonia Park since 2011. With support from organizations like Wyss for Nature, Freyja Foundation, and Elsa Rosenvasser Feher, the initiative seeks to expand protected areas, restore ecosystems through rewilding, strengthen environmental education for coexistence, and foster local economic development through nature-based tourism.

The long-term vision for the park is to develop a watershed restoration model that can be replicated and scaled across the desert steppe, helping bring Patagonia’s oasis back to life.

History

2012-2014

Rewilding Argentina acquires the El Sauco ranch with the goal of protecting a key nesting site for the hooded grebe and donates the land to the Santa Cruz province

The Santa Cruz province transfers this land to the Argentine national government to create Patagonia National Park

2017

Ecological restoration work and infrastructure development begin at the La Ascensión Portal as the first step toward the park opening to the public

Freyja Foundation joins Rewilding Argentina as a lead partner in building Patagonia Park

An ecological study of the area is carried out to inform future rewilding work

2018-2019

Rewilding Argentina acquires the El Unco ranch, where it establishes a biological station focused on scientific research for conservation

2019

Rewilding Argentina donates land to the Santa Cruz province to create Cueva de las Manos Provincial Park, and other land to the national government to create the La Ascensión National Wildlife Reserve

Cañadón Pinturas Portal: the portal opens to the public, rewilding work begins, and a volunteer program is launched to build trails and infrastructure

2022

The free outdoor education program Exploradores is launched for youth from communities around the park

2023

The Elsa Rosenvasser Feher Interpretation Center and Planetarium is inaugurated

2024

The Cueva de las Manos Portal opens, along with a new climbing area

Visit Us

Come discover one of Argentine Patagonia’s best-kept secrets. Whether you’re traveling solo or with a group, you can plan a one-of-a-kind adventure in the park. Learn how to get here, explore the activities and experiences waiting for you, find out where to stay, and more!