The penguin colony
Magellanic penguins.
Monte León National Park was created on 20 October 2004 on the coast of Santa Cruz province, running along 36 kilometres of Atlantic shore to protect a well-preserved sample of Patagonian steppe and coast and important fossil sites. Its coast is high cliffs, bays and broad beaches laid bare at low tide, home to a Magellanic penguin colony, sea lions and cormorants on a small island near the shore, with guanacos and rheas on the steppe. Short trails drop from viewpoints to the beaches and colonies. Entry is currently free. The inner road is gravel, and some beaches can be reached only at low tide, so check the tide tables before going down; the tide here rises very fast.
Magellanic penguins.
At low tide.
Guanacos and rheas.
National Route 3 south of Puerto Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz
Some beaches can be reached only at low tide, and the tide rises very fast and cuts them off.