Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
reefs, coves, cliffs, and caverns, is
its biggest attraction. The park
provides refuge to marine fauna
that includes sea lion and
penguin colonies, pods of the
graceful black and white
Commerson's dolphin, and over
130 species of birds. The park's
coast is also a station for
cetaceans such as the Austral
Frank whale. Highlights within
the park include Monte León
Island , a marine bird nesting
site, and La Olla , a natural rock
formation consisting of a
circular cavity supported by a
98-ft (30-m) high natural arch.
A short way inside the park
entrance, Hosteria Monte León ,
part of the estancia of the same
name, offers upscale lodging.
Commerson's dolphins can be spotted easily in the bay of San Julián
e Puerto San Julián
Road map B5. 238 miles (383 km) S of
Puerto Deseado. * 12,000. @ n
Ave San Martín, between Rivadavia &
Moreno, (02962) 454-396.
 sanjulian.gov.ar
along the San Julián bay
offering spectacular views.
E Muestra Arqueológica Florida
Blanca
Ave Costanera 900. Te l (02962) 414-
396. Open varies. Closed mid-Mar-
mid-Dec: Sat & Sun.
Claiming to be the birthplace of
Patagonia, Puerto San Julían
was the site of the first European
settlement in Argentina,
founded by Portuguese explorer
Ferdinand Magellan in 1520.
Francis Drake soon followed
suit, dropping anchor in its
shingle-banked bay in
1578. Despite numerous
attempts at colonization, a
permanent settlement was
not established until the
early 1880s, with the arrival
of British sheep farmers
from the Falkland
Islands (Islas Malvinas).
City highlights
include Museo Rosa Novak ,
which has displays on early
sheep-farming pioneers, and
Monumento Primera Misa ,
where the country's first mass
was held the day after
Magellan's landfall. Located
nearby, Muestra Arqueológica
Florida Blanca has exhibits on
the region's indigenous cultures.
However, the star attractions are
the lively pods of Commerson's
dolphins in San Julián's bay. Also
in the bay are Isla Cormorán
and Isla Justicia , whose shores
are home to large colonies of
Magellanic penguins.
r Parque Nacional
Monte León
Road map B6. 28 miles (45 km) SE of
Puerto Santa Cruz. @ to Luis Piedra
Buena, then taxi. n 9 de Julio and
Belgrano, Puerto Santa Cruz, (02962)
498-184. Open Nov-Apr: daily. ®
 pnmonteleon.com.ar
Apart from being the
newest national park in
Argentina, this is also the
only one situated along
the country's Atlantic
coast. Parque
Nacional Monte León
was created in 2004 to protect
25 miles (40 km) of coastline
and 183 sq miles (474 sq km) of
Patagonian steppe. Its virgin
coastline, dotted with islands,
Hosteria Monte León
Ruta Nacional 3, Km 2399. Te l (011)
4621-4780.  monteleon-
patagonia.com
t Río Gallegos
Road map B6. 215 miles (347 km) S of
Puerto San Julián. * 86,000. k @
n Ave Beccar 126, (02966) 436-920.
 turismo.riogallegos.gov.ar
An important port city, Río
Gallegos is also the capital of
Santa Cruz province. The first
people to settle here were
British sheep farmers from the
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
in the 1880s.
In 1885, Río Gallegos became
the port from which local
wool produce was exported.
Nicknamed “white gold,” wool
sustained the local economy
until the 20th century, when
the shipping of coal from Río
Turbio (see p251) brought
about new prosperity. Today,
it is this “black gold” and gas
that provide Río Gallegos with
most of its income.
Much of the city's architecture
dates from the 1930s, especially
along its main street, Avenida
San Martín. However, some
outstanding examples of
pioneer-era construction can
still be seen. Built by Salesian
missionaries in 1899, the
corrugated-tin and wood
structure of Catedral Nuestra
Señora de Luján is characteristic
Cormorants on Monte
León cliffs
Environs
Unspoiled beaches and some
historical sites dot the beautiful
coastal Avenida Hernán de
Magallanes, which stretches
north from San Julián. The
stretch is a 34-mile (55-km)
drive on the coastal circuit
La Olla in Parque Nacional Monte León
For hotels and restaurants see pp278-83 and pp288-99
 
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