Understand
[edit]Rio Gallegos was originally established to enforce the influence of Argentine over the southern Patagonia. For tourists it can be good jump-off point for exploring Tierra del Fuego and southern Chile.
Get in
[edit]By plane
[edit]- 1 Aeropuerto Internacional Piloto Civil Norberto Fernandez (RGL IATA), Rio Gallegos, ☏ +54 296 644 2340. Small airport built in 1964 on the Atlantic Coast on the banks of the Rio Gallegos. Served by Aerolineas Argentinas, LADE, FlyBondi, and LATAM Chile. Flights arrive from Buenos Aires, as well as nearby cities Rio Grande and Ushuaia. International service on LATAM Chile via Punta Arenas. The airport serves over 200,000 passengers per year and has a very long runway capable of handling large aircraft, such as the Boeing 747.
By bus
[edit]The bus terminal is about 3 km from the center. There are bus connections to Rio Grande (Tierra del Fuego) and Ushuaia. Buses arrive from Buenos Aires (36 hours) and Puerto Madryn (16 hr) along Highway 3.
- 2 Terminal Rio Gallegos (Bus station), Eva Perón 1451-1499, ☏ +54 296 644 2585. 06:30 - 21:00. Good-size bus terminal serving several transportation companies with frequent arrivals and departures to cities throughout the region as well as long distance buses. Restrooms are fairly clean and the WiFi signal is strong. Baggage check services available. A small cafe serves overpriced food. If you have some time to wait between buses, there is a Carrefour nearby where you can buy grocery items at reasonable prices.
By car
[edit]From Buenos Aires the drive goes along the fully paved but sometimes heavily trafficked Highway 3. The distance is 2,587 km. Ruta 40, going along the whole of Argentina from north to south passes through Rio Gallegos. Its southern end is in Punta Loyola, 37 km from Rio Gallegos.
Get around
[edit]Walk.
See
[edit]
- Museo de Arte "Eduardo Minnicelli": Small art museum with free admission.
- 1 Pioneer Museum (Museo de los Pioneros). Weekdays 10:00-19:30. The city's oldest standing house furnished with items from the late 19th and early 20th century. Free.
- 2 Museo Ferroviario Roberto Galián (Railroad Museum), Pellegrini 840, Río Gallegos, Santa Cruz, Argentina, ☏ +54 2966426766. 14ː30 - 17ː30 (closed Saturday, Sunday). History of railroads in Argentina, much of collection is rusty and unrestored.
Do
[edit]Buy
[edit]Eat
[edit]Drink
[edit]- 1 [dead link] La Barrica, Comodoro Rivadavia 379, ☏ +54 2966 43-8572. Wine bar with a large selection of Argentinian wines.
Sleep
[edit]
- Casa de Familia Elcira Cantreras, Zuccarrino 431, +54 2966-429856. Offers cheap dormrooms. Only a 15-min walk from the bus terminal.
- 1 Hotel Patagonia, Monseñor Fagnano 54, ☏ +54 2966 44-4969. Modern, centrally located hotel.
- 2 Hotel Liporaci, Av. Lisandro de la Torre 255, ☏ +54 296 642 1937. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 10:00. Modern hotel with spacious clean rooms in an older commercial neighborhood. Room rates include a good breakfast in the morning.
- 3 Hotel Sehuen, Rawson 160, ☏ +54 296 642 5683. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 11:00. Moderate hotel with clean rooms and reasonable prices. Rooms have cable TV and hot showers. Off-street parking available. A basic breakfast is served in the morning. US$65.
- 4 Hotel Santa Cruz, Av. Pres. Dr. Nestor C. Kirchner 701, ☏ +54 296 642 0601. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 10:00. Moderate business-oriented hotel with adequately furnished spacious rooms. Off-street parking available. Basic breakfast served in the morning. US$63.
- 5 Hostel Elcira, Padre Zucarino 431, ☏ +54 296 642 9856. Basic backpackers hostel run by a friendly family offering clean, basic rooms. Walking distance to bus station. Family atmosphere with kitchen privileges.
Go next
[edit]- There is a penguin reserve about 2 hours south that is right on the Strait of Magellan.
- The glacier Perito Moreno is the only glacier in the world that is still advancing, and is 4 hr or so to the west, close to the village of El Calafate. It is a treat to see chunks of ice the size of a ten-story building falling into the blue depths of Lake Brazo Norte.
- Fly with Latam to the Falkland Islands.