Allen: Museum, Nature and Vuelta al Valle

Allen lies in the Alto Valle del río Negro and offers different reasons to plan a trip around culture, nature, and an interest in cycling. The city center is 6 km north of the banks of the Río Negro. When choosing a holiday apartment in Allen, you can first consider which of these aspects of the town you want your trip to focus on: the history of the first colonists and immigrants, the wildlife and plant life at Bubalcó, or the beach resort on Island No. 16.

Discover the past at the Museo de Allen

The Museo de Allen is located in the city’s former railway station building. Its exhibitions tell the story of life among the first colonists and immigrants in the Alto Valle. To do so, the museum presents temporary and permanent exhibitions featuring a variety of objects, furniture, photographs, and documents. The different types of objects provide concrete points of reference: photographs and written documents sit alongside everyday items and furniture, while the exhibitions together bring the history of the Alto Valle’s early residents to life.

After the renovation and modernization of its two main rooms, the Museo de Allen reopened. In a new phase for the institution, the museum also introduced a self-guided tour through its own mobile app. Anyone interested in local and immigration history will find a different kind of experience here than on an outing focused on wildlife observation or physical activity. The former railway station building and the exhibition topics each offer their own perspective: the museum’s location points to the city’s history, while the materials on display turn attention to life in the Alto Valle.

Nature watching at Bubalcó

At Bubalcó, the focus is on protecting animal and plant species to preserve biodiversity. Visitors can observe species in a natural Patagonian coastal biome. As you walk along the route, you can see guanacos, llamas, Fjord horses, sheep, Somali sheep, and rheas. These animals make the nature experience tangible: rather than an exhibition about history, the focus here is on observing different species in this biome and encountering them along the route.

The nature experience is therefore different in character from a visit to the Museo de Allen. If you enjoy combining cultural insights and nature watching on a trip, you can include both interests in your choice of activities without presenting them as a single route or as close together. Bubalcó can also be considered a destination in its own right if the variety of animal and plant species protected there is your main interest.

Cycling and time at the beach resort

The Vuelta al Valle has been held since 1944 and runs from Allen to other cities in the region. The race offers another way to discover the town: this is not about museum collections or wildlife watching, but a cycling event with a long history. If you are interested in cycling, the Vuelta al Valle is a distinct reason to get to know Allen in this context. The reference to 1944 describes the event’s history; it does not give a date for a future edition.

Another option for planning your stay is Allen’s beach resort on Island No. 16. Its facilities include barbecue areas, event halls, campsites, areas for beach sports, and a service area. These facilities suit a stay with a range of activities on site, from barbecuing to beach sports and events. In this way, the beach resort offers a distinct experience alongside the town’s cultural and nature-related attractions.

Which focus suits your trip?

When looking for a holiday apartment in Allen, it’s worth first deciding what kind of trip you want. If you’re planning with your family, you can decide together which of these very different experiences interests you most. You can choose Allen as your destination based on your interests, without assuming that all the activities offer the same kind of outing.

Discover more places: Villa Regina, General Roca.

Go to the regional travel overview: Departamento General Roca.