Monte Leon National Park Voyage Tips and guide

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Monte Leon National Park (Parque Nacional Monte Leon in Spanish) is a protected natural area in the southeastern part of the Patagonia region of Argentina. The park protects both an area of steppe on land and an area of the Atlantic coast that is home to a large colony of penguins. The park is known as the only place in the world where pumas hunt penguins.

The park was originally inhabited by hunter-gatherer indigenous tribes about 10,000 years ago. There are known archaeological sites within the park, including caves where tool remnants have been found. During the 18th and 19th century, Chile made some unwelcome incursions into the area, trying to enlarge its territory at the expense of Argentina, but these were eventually repulsed. Between 1996 and 2002, the land was acquired and given to the Argentina national parks administration. In 2004, the park was formally created as part of the national park system and designated as its first marine park.

The park covers an area of more than 62,000 hectares. There's 3 distinct landscapes in the parkː

• Steppe - rolling hills covered in grasses.
• Coast - high jagged sandstone cliffs with rocky beaches where the penguin colonies live along with sea lions, who also sun themselves on small rocky offshore islands. The park includes 36 km of coastline. The park's most distinctive geologic feature is a rock formation known as Cabeza de León because of its distinctive shape that imaginitive souls say looks like a lion's head.
• Coastal waters - the ocean views from the top of the cliffs is remarkable and whales are frequently sighted offshore.

The park is home to several interesting animals, though most popular among tourists are the colony of some 60,000 penguins, most of which are Magellanic penguins. Unfortunately for the penguins, they are a favorite prey of local pumas. The park is the only place in the world where pumas hunt penguins.

The steppe area is blanketed by dry grasses, including several endemic species. In the spring, the steppe blooms with various flowers, herbs, and small forbs. The grasslands provide food for deer and a type of llama called the guanaco. The park provides habitat for three species of cormorant as well as flightless birds called rheas.

The coastal waters provide protected habitat for a variety of marine species. Whale watching is popular among tourists who frequently spot the southern right whale close to shore.

The park is cold and semi-arid with frequent winds and little annual rainfall (usually occurring in fall and winter months when it falls as snow). The mean temperature is 6.8 °C, though winter temperatures dip far below 0 °C. The best times to visit are the months of January and February.

The nearest commercial airport to Monte Leon National Park is Rio Gallegos (RGL  ^IATA). It is served by one daily flight from Buenos Aires Aeroparque Jorge Newbury (AEP). The 3-1/2 hour flight will cost about US$380.

From Rio Gallegos, you can rent a car (4WD truck recommended) or hire a taxi. The park is 210 km south of Rio Gallegos via highway RN-3.

There is no cost to enter the park. Park gates are open daily 10ː00 - 17ː00 from May to September and daily from 09ː00 - 20ː00 from October to April. The best time to visit the park is during the summer, from December through February. During the winter, rainy or snowy weather can make the roads impassible.

Visitors are required to register at the Park Visitor Center, located at KM 2400 on Ruta Nacional 3. Permits are also required for camping and fishing, though the permits are free. Stopping and registering let's the park rangers safeguard your visit and gives you a chance to get accurate local information about weather and road conditions.

A car is handy for getting between different sites in the park. Park road 63 connects that various park facilities. It is a gravel road that may be difficult to navigate during the winter months (June-August).

During summer months, a bicycle can be an enjoyable way to get around the park.

• Estancia Monte León - during much of the 20th century, the land that is now the park was a sheep ranch. The Estancia is the former ranchhouse and is now used for the park Administration Building. A former sheep barn and shearing shed is an interpretive center with exhibits about the park's history, geology, wildlife and mission to protect Argentina's natural heritage.

• Monte León Island - at KM 18.8 on park road 64 is a mirador with views of the Monte Leon Island, which is a protected reserve for aquatic bird species, particularly the neotropic cormorant, gray gulls, and kelp gulls. Bring binoculars and a camera with a zoom lens.

A number of hiking trails branch of park road 63. There are generally marked trailheads with parking areas at each trail. Most trails are not suitable for handicapped visitors. Trails includeː

• Cabeza del León - at 400 meters, it is a short, easy trail that leads to a scenic overlook (mirador) with views of a landing where sea lions haul themselves out of the water for some seriously warming sun bathing.

• Penguin Trail - the trailhead is at the KM 15 marker on park road 63. A 2-1/2 km trail is moderately difficult with some steep sections and a rocky surface. The walk is worth itː the mirador looks over the park's famous colony of Magellanic penguins. The penguins migrate here in October to build their nests and molt. Interpretive signs along the trail provide info about the penguins and the park environment. The trail is open from 09ː00 - 17ː00 from October to April and from 10ː00 - 15ː00 from May to September.

Fishing is allowed from the beach near the Juan Quiñonez recreation area between January 1 and April 30. Fishing rods are required (no nets or other devices). A fishing permit is required for each person who will fish. Permits are free can be obtained at the park office at KM 2400 on RN-3.

A kayak can be a good way to see the coastal areas and get close to the sea lions, dolphins, and right whales.

The park has no store or food service facilities. There is also no source of potable drinking water in the park. Be sure to bring anything with you that you will need and pack out all trash. The two closest towns with stores are Puerto Santa Cruz and Comandante Luis Piedrabuena.

The two closest towns where you may be able to find rooms to rent are Puerto Santa Cruz and Comandante Luis Piedrabuena.

• -50.017823-68.5142061 La Posada del Pinky, 25 de mayo y Tucuman 111, Puerto Santa Cruz. Check-in: 15ː00, check-out: 11ː00. Moderate hotel with clean, comfortable rooms that have TVs and hot water. Friendly service. On-site restaurant with big breakfast. US 50. (updated Feb 2025)
• -50.014429-68.5189222 Hosteria Municipal Puerto Santa Cruz, Av. Piedrabuena, Puerto Santa Cruz. Check-in: 15ː00, check-out: 12ː00. Moderate hotel with spacious rooms. On-site restaurant can be hit or miss. (updated Feb 2025)
• -49.980674-68.9230413 El Alamo Hosteria, Av. Belgrano 677, Cmte. Luis Piedrabuena, ☏ +54 296 249 7166. Check-in: 15ː00, check-out: 10ː30. Moderate hotel with comfortable rooms. Basic furnishings. Includes breakfast from 7-10am. Pets allowed in some rooms. AR$22,000. (updated Feb 2025)

The park has a designated camping area with cleared sites. There are no water sources, electric hookups, restrooms, or shower facilities. Camp sites can be reserved by calling +54 2962 406116 between 09ː00 and 17ː00.

• Rio Grande
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• Rio Gallegos