Page 234 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Argentina

232  ARGENTINA REGION B Y REGION

7 Reserva
Provincial Punta Easy day trips run daily from
Trelew and Puerto Madryn to
Tombo the preserve.
Road map B4. 68 miles (110 km) S of
Trelew. Open Sep–Apr: 8am–8pm 8 Camarones
daily. n Ruta Provincial 1, S of Trelew,
(02965) 1520-9900. & - Road map B5. 156 miles (252 km) S of
∑ puntatombo.com Trelew. * 2,200. @ n Estrada 467,
(0297) 496-3013. _ Fiesta Nacional
A narrow, stony peninsula that del Salmón (Feb).
juts out abruptly into the
Atlantic Ocean, Punta Tombo Literally translating into
har bors South America’s largest “shrimps,” Camarones is a small,
colony of Magellanic pen guins. picturesque fishing village of Gauchos riding at expansive Estancia
From September to April, over one-story buildings and dusty Patagonica in Camarones
650,000 of these black and streets. Located on the shores 9 Comodoro
white birds use the peninsula of an eponymous bay, this
to incubate their eggs and village is the main point of Rivadavia
prepare their off spring for access to Reserva Provincial Road map B5. 229 miles (370 km) S
migration. They nest in Cabo dos Bahías. Inaugurated of Trelew. * 180,000. k @
scrapes underneath the bushes as a tribute to Juan Perón, the n Yrigoyen & Moreno, (0297) 444-
and both male and female Museo de la Familia 0664. ∑ comodoroturismo.gob.ar
penguins take turns to guard Perón exhibits Perón
their nests, protecting eggs family memorabilia from Argentina’s oil capital and one
from avian predators. These Juan and his brother of the biggest cities on its
predators include the giant Avelino’s early youth in Atlantic coast, Comodoro
petrel as well as various Patagonia. The family first Rivadavia is located on the
species of gull, skua, lived in Río Gallegos, less shores of the majestic Golfo
and cormorant. than 60 miles (100 km) San Jorge and is overlooked by
These humble north of the Strait of Cerro Chenque. Also the leader
penguins are not as A Magellanic Magellan, then further in renewable energy, the city is
glamorous as their larger penguin north near Camarones. home to Latin America’s biggest
cousins, the king and wind farm.
emperor penguins. While Environs Drilling rigs and storage tanks
they can be observed from About 19 miles (30 km) can still be seen in the city,
extremely close quarters, southeast of the town is where oil was first struck in
visitors need to be careful not Reserva Provincial Cabo dos 1907. The site can be visited at
to touch them. An ideal time to Bahías, which protects a Museo Nacional del Petróleo,
visit is between November and 12,000-strong colony of where exhibits trace the
January when there are plenty Magellanic penguins. Visitors evolution of Argentina’s oil
of chicks. Apart from these can also observe the sea lion industry. The city’s railroad
penguins, several marine bird colony on Isla Moreno. history is traced at Museo
species can also be spotted. Ferroportuario. The short taxi
The nearby countryside is a E Museo de la Familia Perón ride to Cerro Chenque ends
great place to see land fauna, Estrada 467. Tel (0297) 496-3014. with breath taking vistas of Golfo
including Patagonian hares, Open 9am–7pm Mon–Fri, 2–7pm Sat, San Jorge, the city, and the
guanacos, and greater rheas. Sun, & hols. beaches at the upscale resort
of Rada Tilly.
Environs
The eerily silent wind farm, El
Parque Eólico Antonio Morán, is
7 miles (12 km) outside
Rada Tilly.
E Museo Nacional del Petróleo
Carlos Calvo & San Lorenzo, Barrio
General Moscón, Km 3. Tel (0297) 455-
9558. Open 9am–5pm Tue–Fri,
3–6pm Sat, Sun, & hols. &
8 Spanish only.
E Museo Ferroportuario
Ave Rivadavia & 9 de Julio. Tel (0297)
Guanacos in the Reserva Provincial Punta Tombo 444-4874. Open 9am–5pm daily.
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp282–3 and pp296–8

232-233_EW_Argentina.indd 232 05/08/16 10:05 am