Campos del Tuyú National Park (parque nacional Campos del Tuyú) is a protected natural area protecting an area of grassy plains and Atlantic shoreline in the Pampas region of Argentina. The park is a designated Ramsar wetland.
Understand
[edit]
The park covers an area of 3,040 hectares.
History
[edit]The park began as a private natural reserve in the late 1970s. The lands were donated to the federal parks administration and the park was established as part of the Argentina national parks system in 2009 to preserve coastal grassland ecosystems.
Landscape
[edit]The park consists of grassy plains, coastal beaches, and wooded areas. It lies on the southern side of the Samborombon Bay.
Flora and fauna
[edit]The park's most popular resident is the endangered pampas deer (as well as other, more numerous types of deer). There are also numerous capybara, the crab-eating fox, and some smaller wildcat species.
More than 100 species of bird can be found in the park including the rhea (a large, flightless bird similar to an ostrich or emu), the crested caracara, black and white monjitas, thrushes and an abundance of aquatic birds in the waters of the Samborombon Bay.
Various venomous snakes are found in the park including the Jararaca (also called the yarara or the big snake). Several amphibians make their home in the park including some small lizards, the cave toad and the native frog.
Climate
[edit]The park is in a temperate area with an average annual temperature of 15 °C, Winter lows are in the single digits and the summer high temperature is near 40 °C. The park receives annual rainfall of about 1000 mm. The most pleasant weather is between November and March.
Get in
[edit]The park does not allow recreational visitors.
The only way to access the park is to book a tour to Punta Rasa, typically departing from San Clemente del Tuyu. The tours pass through a section of park using 4̊WD trucks.
Fees and permits
[edit]Entry is not allowed as of Feb 2025.
Get around
[edit]Roads in this area are sandy and frequently washed out by tides and runoff. A 4̊WD truck is necessary to travel through the marshy wetlands.