Chubut: 5 natural wonders you probably didn't know existed in Argentina

When people think of Chubut, most travelers imagine whale watching in the Valdés Peninsula or a classic visit to the penguin colonies in Punta Tombo. But this Patagonian province hides a range of natural, historical, and cultural wonders that even many Argentines don't know exist.

With four airports (Comodoro Rivadavia, Esquel, Trelew, and Puerto Madryn), more than 99 weekly flights, and a tourist infrastructure that includes 832 accommodations with 20,322 beds, Chubut is a complete destination where you can see some of nature's most wonderful postcard views, along with great options for adventure, relaxation, and gastronomy.

You don't have to travel outside the country to experience these landscapes. Some of the most striking are:

1) The incredible Sarmiento petrified forest

It is a Protected Natural Area created in 1970 to protect one of the largest accumulations of petrified wood in Patagonia. It covers 1,832 hectares of Patagonian steppe, located in the Department of Sarmiento, 30 km south of the town of the same name.

The area has a Visitor Center and a 2,400-meter nature trail where you can observe remains of flora and fauna from the Mesozoic-Cretaceous, Cenozoic-Early Tertiary, and Quaternary periods. Along the way, there are various viewpoints from which you can enjoy the panoramic beauty of the area and the various polychromatic rock formations, exotically shaped erosions, large mountains, volcanoes, and more.

2)      Red Rocks from another planet in Comodoro Rivadavia

It is a paradise nestled in the south of the province of Chubut that blends the incredible natural beauty of Patagonia's Atlantic coast with the incalculable archaeological value contained within its 95,000 hectares of land and sea.

There, flat plateaus and terraces combine with desert aridity and the immensity of the sea. Rocas Coloradas is also home to the Lunar Valley and Meteorite Mountain, both of which contain valuable anthropological and cultural resources.

Its territory contains a great diversity of coastal vegetation and fauna, a petrified forest with remains of conifer trunks more than 60 million years old, and the presence of palm tree remains from the Paleocene.

Regarding wildlife, off Rocas Coloradas is an islet called La Tómbola, home to a rookery of South American fur seals with a colony of approximately 350 individuals. It's also a breeding ground for sharks, so its declaration as a Protected Natural Area also reflects the importance of its protection and conservation.

3) The southernmost beaches in Rada Tilly

Rada Tilly, nestled between Punta Marqués to the south and Punta Piedras to the north, is considered the southernmost beach resort in the Americas. It combines a vast, sandy beach with firm ground ideal for a variety of outdoor activities and sports. It offers a wide range of dining options and attractions that invite you to connect with nature and the local culture.

Rada Tilly is also the South American capital of sand yachting, the use of a three-wheeled sailboat propelled by the wind and controlled by a pilot. The beach, considered one of the best courses in the world, offers optimal conditions for this sport, among others.

4) The curious Standing Stone of Gualjaina

A rock with a base of 100 meters and a height of 240 meters rises next to the Chubut River. At the center of the caldera is a volcano 25 kilometers in diameter, whose chimney has solidified. With monumental canyons, caves, cave paintings, and an endless color palette of yellow, green, gray, red, and pink minerals, it is a fascinating place.

Fifty million years ago, a massive volcanic eruption occurred at Piedra Parada. Part of the lava turned into rocks of various hues, creating a stunning landscape. Located on the banks of the Chubut River, Piedra Parada also offers sport fishing in various waterways. It is also home to endemic native species, such as the chinchilla rodent, as well as birds and reptiles.

5) The Gondwana Valley, land of dinosaurs

The Gondwana Valley tour crosses the upper, middle, and lower reaches of the Chubut River, showcasing diverse landscapes and cultural features. A unique journey that combines incredible geological scenery, native fauna such as guanacos, chorizos, pumas, maras, and condors, and flora with surprising adaptations to their environments.

The tour follows the course of the Chubut River, through the upper, middle, and lower reaches of the river, showcasing diverse landscape and cultural features, adding to the incredible geological scenery where many of Chubut's important fossil remains, such as the Patagotitan Mayorum, the largest herbivorous dinosaur in the world, were found.