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Monte León National Park

Santa Cruz

One of the least-visited national parks with particularly beautiful cliffs overlooking the sea, islands, small bays, beaches, rocky areas and sandbars that appear with low tide. The sea fauna is its biggest attraction, with the Magellanic penguin as its most emblematic animal.

You can visit all year round. The best time to visit is from October through April. Free admission to the park. Registration at the Information Centre is required (National Route 3, km 2400).

What to see
Observing the fauna

One of the main colonies of Magellanic penguins in the country, with over 75,000 breeding pairs. Throughout the Pingüinera trail (1-hour round trip) you will get panoramic views of the colony (penguins start arriving in October).


You will also find seagulls, cormorants, giant petrels, plovers, snowy sheathbills, Commerson's dolphins, Peale's dolphins, South American sea lions, and it is also a good place to see pumas and guanacos.

Viewpoints and trails

From the viewpoint on the access road to the coast, you can see the Lion's Head, a geological formation that looks like a lion or a sphinx.


The 400-metre pedestrian trail Lobería invites you to observe a resting point of the South American sea lion and to enjoy excellent views of the sea.

Beach and fishing

At the foot of the cliffs, the beaches are a good place to rest looking at the endless immensity of the sea.

The fishing season extends from January to April (permits are required).

Puerto Santa Cruz

The coast of Puerto Santa Cruz is a good place to spot Commerson's dolphins, coastal and beach birds, and in winter, it is a great destination to see the elusive hooded grebe.

How to get there and move around

The closest towns are Comandante Luis Piedra Buena, 37 km away, and Puerto Santa Cruz, 55 km away. From both towns, you can reach the park by taxi, fixed-fare taxi or transfer service. The road leads to the beach, but it is best to check the road condition before travelling: under impassable road conditions, the park remains closed.

The closest airport is located in Río Gallegos (Santa Cruz, 210 km away).

Where to stay

The towns of Comandante Luis Piedra Buena and Puerto Santa Cruz provide accommodation and cuisine services.

More information