"Red Rocks" Park – Comodoro
🏜️A journey to another world in Patagonia: landforms, fossils, and pristine coastline
Just 20 km north of Comodoro Rivadavia, the Rocas Coloradas Protected Natural Area it covers 95,000 hectares combining desert aridity, marine platforms, petrified forests, and surprising coastal biodiversity. Here, the steppe meets the sea, and history is written in the rock itself.
🌋 Why visit Rocas Coloradas?
Surreal landscapes: Known as the “Lunar Valley” or “Patagonian Mars,” its reddish formations, eroded cliffs, and brackish lagoons offer views that seem to be from another planet.
Rich paleontology: The area contains fossilized conifer remains dating back more than 50 million years, Paleocene palm trees, and rocky mesas with preserved natural history.
Stunning coastal wildlife: Facing the sea, the islet La Tómbola It is home to a colony of around 350 South American sea lions, and the nearby waters are a breeding ground for various species. Threatened birds such as Olrog's gull and the ruddy-headed goose also nest here.
Living cultural heritage: Early Boer settlements, paleoclimatic and archaeological remains are preserved among its plateaus, helping to understand different stages of human and environmental occupation. .
🧭Practical information
Best time to visit: Spring-summer (November to March), longer days and better weather.
Equipment: Layered clothing, sunscreen, water, hiking boots, binoculars, and camera.
Difficulty level: Low in vehicles; moderate to demanding on foot. Ideal for backpackers, families, photographers, and geology enthusiasts.
