Río Gallegos
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Río Gallegos, Santa Cruz, Patagonia
Near the end of the world, Santa Cruz is a Patagonian province with an awful lot to offer, from small towns to open landscapes to estancias, lakes, rivers, forests, and — always — wide-open skies. It is only logical, then, to assume that the capital of such a province will be as charming as the rest of the land. And Río Gallegos is just that, a capital at the end of the earth, capping off continental Argentina — the gateway to the excitement that is Tierra del Fuego, and beyond.
Río Gallegos is named for the river of the same name that runs through the area, surrounded by gently rolling foothills. As it is the capital city of the province, it has more than enough infrastructure for tourists, including fantastic restaurants and plenty of places to stay. This is also home to the airport that you will probably use if flying south to Ushuaia. For more information about traveling around Patagonia, see this Argentina Travel Guide.
If you travel to Rio Gallegos, you’ll see tha the city offers a wide variety of activities and sights to see, from cultural experiences to fun in the great outdoors, to historically relevant sights. You may want to start your time here by visiting the different museums in town, which give great insight to the culture and history of the region. The Museo Regional Padre Jesús Molina provides answers to some of the most elusive questions about the region; the Museo Gobernador Gregores gives a glimpse into the life of a former governor of the province; the Museo Malvinas Argentinas documents the battles that have occurred over the Falkland Islands; the Museo de Arte Eduardo Minnicelli is the only art museum in the province; and the Museo Marítimo y Naval de la Patagonia Austral displays the history of the Armada Argentina, with artifacts of over 100 years of age, just to name a few.
Once you are ready to venture outside of the city of Rio Gallegos, plenty of wonders await. Visit the Punta de Loyola, where the river meets the ocean; marked by incredible beauty, it is on the must-see list of every visitor. The volcanic Laguna Azul will invigorate your senses with its deep blues, contrasting with the beautiful surroundings. In Cabo Vírgenes, you can visit an ancient cemetery, as well as observe thousands of penguins during mating season.
Estancias are another important part of the landscape, where rural traditions are carried on on a daily basis, and visitors are welcome to visit these important parts of Patagonian culture, gaining insight into the daily activities of a ranch.
The capital sits in the south of the province, right on the coast. It is accessible by air, or on RN 3 or the famed RN 40.