A tree that is about 2,620 years old and 60 metres tall sets a remarkable benchmark in Parque Nacional Los Alerces: the “Abuelo” stands in an ancient alerce forest. In 2017, the park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Chubut can be explored through discoveries as varied as these—from ancient forests and waterways to Welsh culture and railway history.

Forests, Lakes and Coastlines

In Parque Nacional Los Alerces, Ruta Provincial 71 runs through the park. It provides a route from the northern zone to the central zone, passing Lakes Rivadavia, Verde and Futalaufquen. On the Río Arrayanes, you can go on your own in a sit-on-top kayak or take a sea-kayaking tour, independently or with an authorised park guide. Boat trips on Lago Menéndez are also among the visitor experiences on offer.

Another watersports destination is Parque Nacional Lago Puelo, which protects more than 27,000 hectares of the Patagonian Forests ecoregion. Boat trips on Lago Puelo can pass through bays as far as the sources of the Azul or Puelo rivers and the Chilean border. For an authorised watersports activity in the eastern part of the lake, life jackets must be worn throughout the activity.

Península Valdés is in the Argentine province of Chubut and has approximately 400 kilometres of coastline. It is home to some of the world’s most important breeding grounds for southern right whales; diving is also possible there. The whale-watching season in Chubut runs from July to December. The peninsula offers a clear focus on nature and the coast, while the lakes and forests open up other activities.

Hundreds of thousands of Magellanic penguins arrive at Punta Tombo from September to April. The reserve was established in 1972 to protect the animals, preserve them and support further research. A visit to Centro Tombo introduces you to the penguins’ way of life. Coastal paths suitable for people with reduced mobility provide opportunities to observe penguins and their nests. If travelling by car, take Ruta Nacional 3 and then Provincial Routes 75 and 1; alternatively, you can join an organised excursion.

Welsh Heritage and Railway History

Gaiman is considered a symbol of the Welsh colony in Chubut. Welsh chapels, houses with stone or brick walls, and traditional tea houses give the town its distinctive character for visitors. Tea culture is also part of this tradition. Gaiman is home to the Ty Gwyn tea house, which Lady Diana Spencer, Princess of Wales, visited in 1995.

The museums offer a range of insights, too: Museo Histórico Regional de Gales displays photographs of the first immigrants. Museo de Antropología presents traces of the Tehuelche people who lived in the region. Those interested in railway history can visit a railway museum and the workshops of the Viejo Expreso Patagónico in El Maitén. The workshops are open to visitors; maintenance work is carried out there and replacement parts are custom-made.

La Trochita is a historic narrow-gauge railway that continues to travel through the Patagonian steppe in its original condition. It is also known as the Viejo Expreso Patagónico. The return journey from Esquel to Nahuelpan is 18 kilometres long and takes two hours. Another return journey runs between El Maitén and Kilometer 228 and is listed as taking two and a half hours. You can compare the two journeys by their stated durations, although a distance is given only for the route from Esquel. Check the route details before booking.

Choose Your Travel Dates and Focus

July and August are considered especially suitable months for winter sports in Chubut. Centro de Actividades Deportivas La Hoya has a snow park for snowboarding and 11 ski lifts. As infrastructure details may change, check them before travelling. July and August also fall within the whale-watching season, which runs from July to December; the penguin-watching season at Punta Tombo begins later in the year. Check seasonal dates before visiting and road information before setting out.

Use the interests that bring you to Chubut to guide the rest of your plans.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Viedma, Comodoro Rivadavia, Esquel, Trelew, Trevelín, Punta Delgada, Puerto Pirámides, Cushamen Department, Florentino Ameghino Department, Tehuelches Department, Futaleufú Department, Gaiman Department, Escalante Department, Rawson Department, Biedma, Playa Unión, Cholila, Río Senguer Department, Languiñeo Department, Gastre Department, Sarmiento Department.

For the broader travel overview: Argentina.