Florentino Ameghino Department: Coast, Nature and Wildlife

Florentino Ameghino Department shows Patagonia from its maritime and nature-rich side. More than 103,000 hectares of the Argentine Sea and Patagonian Steppe ecoregions are preserved in the Patagonia Austral Interjurisdictional Marine Coastal Park. Along the coast of Camarones, coarse-sand beaches, hidden coves and views of the deep blue sea shape the landscape. There are also protected habitats, trails for wildlife watching and cultural insights into the town’s history.

Discover the Coast and Protected Areas

The Cabo Dos Bahías Protected Natural Area covers 160 hectares in the department. The flightless white-headed steamer duck, an endemic species, and several cormorant species breed here. From a 1 km elevated loop trail, you can observe Magellanic penguins and the resting places of two sea lion species. For those who want to take their time exploring the coastal landscape, the trail to the park’s easternmost point on the mainland offers another way to experience the area: the round trip takes approximately two and a half hours. This point separates the Gulf of San Jorge to the south from Bahía Camarones to the north.

The Mirador de las Islas offers a different view of the island world. It is accessible via a drivable road and offers a panorama of a representative selection of the park’s island environments. Excursions to the Islas Blancas also depart from Camarones Bay, where toninas can be observed. The underwater remains of the A.R.A. Villarino off the Islas Blancas are protected as national archaeological heritage.

Trails for Nature Watching

La Pingüinera runs for 800 m through an important Magellanic penguin nesting area. The trail is easy to walk, and the colony can be observed there from September to April. This provides a clear seasonal guide for anyone planning their trip especially around penguin watching. The Punta Tombo Protected Natural Area, also in the department, also has a 3 km loop trail with several viewpoints. During the breeding season, visitors can observe and photograph penguins, their nests and their behavior.

A visit to Punta Tombo also includes the Centro de Interpretación. Its route explores themes from the seabed to the surface and the coexistence of people with local wildlife. The trails offer different points of focus: at Cabo Dos Bahías, the experience includes sea lions and nesting birds as well as penguins; at Punta Tombo, the walk combines wildlife watching with several viewpoints and a visit to the interpretation center. This allows you to choose destinations based on the nature topics that interest you most.

Camarones: History and Local Tradition

Camarones was declared a National Historic Town in 2018. The Museo de la Familia Perón focuses on the history of the house where the Perón family lived after settling in Camarones at the beginning of the 20th century. The original building was damaged by a fire; the museum is a reconstruction. Its displays include objects belonging to the family and the general, period furniture and decorative elements, historical photographs and other related materials. Casa Rabal tells another side of the town’s history: the area’s first general store still serves its original purpose.

Every February, Camarones celebrates the Fiesta Nacional del Salmón. The three-day festival attracts fishermen and visitors from different parts of Argentina and Chile and ends with the well-known Chupín del Pescador banquet. If you want to plan your stay around the festival, you can consider visiting in February; the protected areas and local history offer their own reasons to explore at other times.

Choose Your Accommodation Based on Your Destinations

When looking for a vacation rental in Florentino Ameghino Department, it helps to decide first which experiences you want. Camarones is the stated starting point for Cabo Dos Bahías: from there, Provincial Route No. 1 heads south; the protected area can then be reached after 28 km on a gravel road. If this nature visit is your main focus, you can use Camarones as a guide when choosing your accommodation. If you are mainly interested in the penguin trails, coastal scenery or the town’s history, you can plan your trip around those interests accordingly.

More Destination Pages

For further guidance, see Dos Pozos, Camarones and Cabo Raso. Other destinations in the same overview include Gastre Department, Viedma, Sarmiento Department, Languiñeo Department and Rawson Department.

For the broader travel overview: Chubut.