Monte León National Park is one of Patagonia’s most underrated treasures. Located along the windswept Atlantic coast of Argentina, it combines striking coastal landscapes with abundant wildlife, offering a unique contrast to the mountainous regions of Patagonia.
How to Get There
Monte León is conveniently located near Ruta Nacional 3, making it an easy stop on any road trip through Southern Patagonia. Here’s how far it is from key destinations:
- Río Gallegos: ~130 km (1.5–2 hours). Here is an airport with direct flights to and from Buenos Aires.
- Puerto Santa Cruz: ~40 km (30–40 minutes)
- El Calafate: ~340 km (4–4.5 hours). Here is also an airport with flights to several destinations.
- El Chaltén: ~470 km (6–7 hours)
This makes it accessible as a full-day excursion from El Calafate (a long day), or as a scenic stopover when driving between the Atlantic and Andes.
A Coastal National Park Rich in Wildlife
Monte León is Argentina’s first coastal national park, spanning over 60,000 hectares. The landscape features dramatic cliffs, wide beaches, fossil sites, and steppes. It’s home to:
- A large Magellanic penguin colony (over 60,000 individuals during breeding season, Sept–March)
- Guanacos, foxes, sea lions, and a variety of seabirds
Visitors can enjoy hiking trails, wildlife viewing, and incredible photo opportunities. The “Sendero Costero” trail offers beautiful views of the coastline and cliffs.
We’re a local tour operator based in Buenos Aires, which offers custom tours in Patagonia and other regions of Argentina and Chile. We invite you to contact us, and start planning your next incredible journey to South America!
Get inspired by some of our travel ideas, listed below:
Where to see penguins in Patagonia
Patagonia Road Trip: From El Calafate to Ushuaia
Peninsula Valdes: Wildlife tour
0
