Ria Deseado

Information

It is a ria located in the northeast of the province of Santa Cruz in Argentina. It has an approximate length of 50-60 km, from Paso Marsicano where the Deseado River would be, to its mouth in the Atlantic Ocean. At the mouth, on its northern shore lies the city of Puerto Deseado.

It is an estuary with islands and inlets that are part of a protected area, a natural reserve. On sunny days one can appreciate the turquoise color of its waters, offering a truly spectacular landscape. It can be traveled by two different vehicular gravel/dirt roads:
— One that starts near the port and borders the shore of the ria, from where the Quinta and Quiroga islands can be seen. This road reaches the Paraguayo inlet.
— The other starts from the route to Tellier, about 5 kilometers before reaching this hamlet. It first leads to a grotto and later allows access to different points along the coast. It is recommended to check the condition of this road beforehand.

A remarkable feature of the whole area is the abundance of wildlife, especially coastal birds. Large numbers can be observed such as the blackish oystercatcher (Haematopus ater), Magellanic oystercatcher (Haematopus leucopodus), and the species of red-legged cormorant (Poikilocarbo gaimardi) and the rock shag (Phalacrocorax magellanicus).

In Puerto Deseado one can also hire boat excursions to navigate and access islands inhabited by Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) and South American sea lions (Otaria flavescens). During the trip it is also possible to spot Commerson's dolphins (Cephalorhynchus commersonii).