Santa Cruz Province

Santa Cruz Province

Housing the majority of majestic Patagonia, Santa Cruz boasts excellent trekking filled with mountainous scenery complete with glaciers. In terms of size, Santa Cruz province in the second biggest Argentine province after Buenos Aires Province (see Buenos Aires section)—243,940 kilometers squared (94,185 miles squared)—and the least densely populated in all of Argentina. After tourism, coal mining and sheep production are the biggest economic drives of the province. Sea fishing is also a large source of income for Santa Cruz Province. Native Americans lived in Santa Cruz before Europeans came in 1520. Jesuit missionaries traveled to Santa Cruz from Rio de la Plata in the mid 1700s. Along the highways in Santa Cruz Province, wildlife such as Patagonian ostriches and guanacos are common to spot.

North of Puerto Deseado city in northeast Santa Cruz Province, Reserva Natural Ria Deseado (Deseado Nature Reserve) has wildlife such as cormorants, penguins, seabirds, dolphins, and sea lions. One of the most famous sights of Santa Cruz, El Perito Moreno Glacier outside of El Calafate in Parque Nacional Los Glaciares (Glaciers National Park), is a massive glacier reaching 60 meters (197 feet) high. The sound and splash the ice makes when falling into the water is immense. A popular activity is trekking on the glacier with crampons, easily organized through one’s accommodation. The town of El Calafate has the large Bahia Redonda lake, where flamingos gather along the banks. About 160 kilometers (100 miles) south of El Calafate, Cueva de Las Manos (The Hands Cave) is a UNESCO sight of old cave drawings. The rock paintings of hands in the 24-meter (79 feet) deep cave date back about 9,000 years ago. There are also drawings of guanaco like animals and hunting scenes.  El Chalten, a town about three hours north of El Calafate has the notable Fitz Roy mountain range. There are many day and overnight hikes in the area with gorgeous scenery. Los Antiguos, north of El Chalten, is located along the Lago Buenos Aires (Buenos Aires Lake) with popular activities including kayaking, hiking, and fishing. Los Antiguos also houses the annual Fiesta de la Cereza (Cherry Festival) in early January. In the area are also small farms with lots of fruit such as cherries, strawberries, apricots, peaches, and apples.

Even further in northern Santa Cruz Province and southern Rio Negro Province lies the lake district. Barilcohe is the main town and in the summer is bustling with domestic and international tourists alike. Kayaking, rafting, biking, hiking, skiing (in winter), and horse backing riding are popular activites. The lakes set in front of the snow capped mountains create an incredable scenery, especially in the fall when the trees are bright yellows and reds.