Deseado Department
Accommodation in Deseado Department
In Deseado Department, experiences along the coast meet striking evidence of Earth’s history. In Puerto Deseado, Ría Deseado and Parque Interjurisdiccional Marino Isla Pingüino are among the area’s notable natural destinations. Further afield, Parque Nacional Bosques Petrificados de Jaramillo reveals a very different side of the landscape: the national park preserves one of the country’s most significant concentrations of fossil flora. Which of these interests you most can help shape the focus of your trip and your choice of a place to stay in a holiday apartment.
Marine nature around Puerto Deseado
Reserva Provincial Ría Deseado is located in Puerto Deseado. Coastal species visitors may encounter there include Commerson’s dolphins, sea lions, Magellanic penguins, and cormorants. Boat trips on Ría Deseado are offered as a visitor activity. Another option is an excursion from Puerto Deseado to Parque Interjurisdiccional Marino Isla Pingüino. Isla Pingüino is home to an old lighthouse, inaugurated in 1903. These natural and historical attractions offer different ways to enjoy a stay exploring coastal areas and wildlife together.
Other activities offered in Puerto Deseado lead to different landscapes, including a visit to Reserva Natural Cabo Blanco and hikes in Parque Provincial Monte Loayza. Those interested in local history can learn about the town’s past at Museo Regional Mario Brozoski and the former railway station. Viejo Vagón Histórico is also open to visitors. In Puerto Deseado, nature experiences and historical discoveries sit side by side, so you don’t have to build your trip around just one theme.
Fossils, history, and routes further afield
At Parque Nacional Bosques Petrificados de Jaramillo, you can see petrified Pehuén specimens dating back 150 million years. A roughly 2,000-meter-long, easy-to-moderate interpretive trail complements the visit. Those especially interested in fossil flora and Earth’s history will find a different travel focus here than in the activities around Ría Deseado.
Jaramillo and Fitz Roy also share historical attractions: the province’s first school to be declared a heritage site is preserved there. The “La Era del Hielo” themed museum is also among the suggested destinations. A historic and tourist route through the province about the “1921 Strike” ends in Jaramillo and Fitz Roy. These places complement the focus on nature with insights into the province’s cultural heritage and history.
Caleta Olivia: waterfront promenade and local cuisine
Caleta Olivia has a 4.5-kilometer waterfront promenade for seaside walks. The bay that gives the city its name has been an urban nature reserve since 1992. Caleta Olivia is known as the “City of Whales” because of the great diversity and concentration of whales and other cetaceans, as well as how easy they are to observe. The name reflects this distinctive focus; it does not guarantee a sighting at any particular time.
One of the city’s notable landmarks is El Gorosito: the nearly 13-meter-high bronze statue was erected in 1969. There is also a regional culinary highlight: the catch of the day is a local dining classic in Caleta Olivia. The city is also the first stop on the Ruta Azul tourist corridor. If you want to focus on seaside walks, the nature reserve, and the city’s sights, you can make Caleta Olivia a destination in its own right.
Getting there and exploring the towns
Puerto Deseado can be reached by car via Ruta Nacional 3 and then Ruta Provincial 27. When choosing a holiday apartment, it’s worth first deciding which experiences matter most to you: Puerto Deseado is known for the estuary and the nature and history activities offered there, while Caleta Olivia offers a different focus with its waterfront promenade, nature reserve, statue, and local cuisine. You can plan around the places and themes that interest you without assuming any particular connection or distance between them.
For an overview at the town level: Aguada Grande, Puerto Deseado, Caleta Olivia.
For the broader travel overview: Santa Cruz.
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