Not to be confused with the glacier: Perito Moreno is also a town in northwestern Santa Cruz, on National Route 40. The province bills it as the Archaeological Capital of Santa Cruz and the ideal starting point for the Cueva de las Manos, whose provincial park is managed by the municipality.
Things to do
- Laguna de los Cisnes: a protected natural area for birdwatching, right in town.
- Historic Walk: the María Inmaculada Reina de las Victorias parish church and the Salón Iturrioz.
- Carlos Gradin Archaeology Museum, with exhibits on archaeology and regional heritage (Gradin led the scientific studies of the Cueva de las Manos from the 1960s).
- Day trip to the Cueva de las Manos and Parque Patagonia.
- A 58 km detour to Los Antiguos and Lake Buenos Aires.
Getting there
According to the province: by car via RN 40 and provincial routes 41 and 43; by bus, with arrivals from Comodoro Rivadavia, El Calafate and Bariloche; and by air, LADE flights from Comodoro Rivadavia, El Calafate and Río Gallegos. Frequencies: check before you travel at Turismo Santa Cruz – Perito Moreno.
Tips
It's the last big place to fill up, get cash and shop before heading down Route 40 towards Bajo Caracoles. See our guide Route 40 in Santa Cruz: fuel, gravel and distances.
Tourism office: Av. San Martín 2005 and Gendarmería Nacional.
