According to the province, Monte León National Park protects 62,169 hectares of Patagonian steppe and 36 km of coastline on the Argentine Sea. It occupies a former cattle ranch whose main house, shearing sheds and corrals can be visited. It takes its name from a landform resembling a lion lying down.
What to see
- Magellanic penguin colony: reached after a roughly 40-minute walk on an easy trail.
- Cabeza de León lookout and the Lobería trail (sea lion colony).
- Isla Monte León lookout and the beach at the Juan Quiñonez Recreation Area.
- Plateau wildlife: guanacos, lesser rheas, foxes and, if you're lucky, pumas.
Official opening hours
According to National Parks: the park is open October to April, 9 am to 8 pm, and May to September, 10 am to 5 pm. The penguin colony is open October to April, 9 am to 5 pm, and May to September, 10 am to 3 pm. Allow a full day: just getting in and out of the area takes about 2 hours. Check before you travel at parques nacionales – monte león: horarios y cómo llegar.
Getting there
Via RN 3, km 2400: 35 km from Comandante Luis Piedra Buena, 50 km from Puerto Santa Cruz and 200 km from Río Gallegos. Registration is mandatory at the Operations Center, in the former ranch house (8 km from the RN 3 entrance). Inside, you drive on RP 63, a gravel road; ask the park office about its condition (Corrientes 845, Puerto Santa Cruz).
Combine it with Piedra Buena and Puerto Santa Cruz, or continue north to Puerto San Julián.
