Plaza Huincul can be explored through two distinct themes: the region’s oil history and paleontology. Pozo Nº1 links a specific place to a datable historical event; the Museo Carmen Funes adds a distinctive focus with a dinosaur discovery. There are also cultural venues and memorial sites, whose highlights you can choose according to your interests.
Oil History Between the Well and the City’s Memory
The emblematic Pozo Nº1 is located in Barrio Uno in Plaza Huincul. The province of Neuquén’s first oil was discovered there in 1918. The place and date provide a clear point of reference for the story. The Casa museo de los veteranos de YPF complements it with objects and stories about life in the oil region.
The Casa museo exhibition begins with a chronological account of YPF’s origins. The museum also presents the beginnings and key turning points that shaped life in the two cities. This places a timeline of YPF alongside a perspective on life in the oil region.
The historic Paseo La Pasto Verde trail also has a documented connection to oil history: when it was inaugurated, it was described as having seven stops, with its starting point at the entrance on Ruta Nacional 22. Its features included a carriage, corrals, a replica of the “caserío,” the “aguada,” and a restored grave. If you plan to visit the trail, check its current accessibility in advance.
A historic site in Plaza Huincul commemorates Carmen Funes, known as “La Pasto Verde,” at the place where she settled in 1900. The development of the Circuito del Petróleo as a tourist route was also agreed upon for Plaza Huincul, with Pozo Nº1 and the refinery as features along the route.
Cultural Venues and Paleontology
The Sala de Arte y Exposiciones is located in the former bakery of the Campamento Central de YPF. The oven door from the former bakery is preserved there as part of the local cultural heritage. A municipal description from 2024 identifies the Sala as a venue for exhibitions, as well as courses and workshops organized by the cultural administration. This brings cultural activities and a preserved feature of the former building together in one place.
Argentinosaurus huinculensis is displayed at the Museo Carmen Funes. The dinosaur was discovered in 1989 and is considered the world’s largest herbivorous dinosaur. Alongside its memorial sites devoted to oil history, the museum offers a focus on paleontology.
In the Broader Destination of Departamento Confluencia
In the broader destination of Departamento Confluencia, river and museum experiences complement Plaza Huincul’s themes. The confluence of the Limay and Neuquén rivers forms the Río Negro and gives Departamento Confluencia its name. Along a 14-kilometer stretch of the Río Limay, the Paseo de la Costa has designated paths and bicycle paths. Local providers offer kayaking, canoeing, and other water excursions, as well as trekking. Check availability with providers for specific dates.
The museums in Departamento Confluencia also offer their own highlights. The Museo Ernesto Bachmann in Villa El Chocón displays original remains of Giganotosaurus carolinii and a life-size replica of its 195-centimeter-long skull. In Neuquén Capital, there are three local museums with permanent exhibitions—Saracco, Gregorio Álvarez, and Paraje Confluencia—as well as the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes.
Discover more destinations: Neuquén, Plottier, Villa El Chocón, Senillosa, Centenario.
Go to the broader travel guide: Departamento Confluencia.
