Patagonia Pintada: A New Nature Destination Takes Shape
Maps of the Patagonia Pintada region – click to enlarge
In the northwest of Argentina’s Santa Cruz province lies a remarkable and largely unexplored corner of Patagonia. Known as Patagonia Pintada – or Painted Patagonia – this region is defined by colorful rock formations, vast open steppes, dramatic canyons, expansive lakes, abundant wildlife, archaeological sites, and scenic drives.
Stretching from the towns of Los Antiguos and Perito Moreno in the north to Lake Posadas in the south, and from the legendary Route 40 and Patagonia Park in the east to Lake General Carrera in Chile in the west, Patagonia Pintada encompasses a vast and diverse landscape.
There are countless ways to experience it: drive its scenic roads, hike its trails, spot pumas, guanacos, choiques, and condors, or explore remarkable archaeological sites – like Cueva de las Manos, a world-renowned UNESCO World Heritage Site featuring 9,000-year-old cave paintings.
Discover some of Patagonia Pintada’s highlights:
One Destination, One Shared Identity
Bringing together the region’s shared landscapes, attractions, and stories, a group of tour operators from Perito Moreno and Los Antiguos joined forces with the support of local governments to create a shared identity and promote the region as a unified destination. Freyja is supporting this collaborative effort to establish Patagonia Pintada as a distinctive nature destination, raising its profile and helping more people discover what makes this region unique.
Patagonia Pintada was officially unveiled at the 2026 International Tourism Fair (FIT) in Buenos Aires, one of Latin America’s leading tourism events. This year’s fair set a new attendance record, welcoming more than 143,000 visitors. The launch brought together the tour operators behind the initiative, representatives from the municipalities of Perito Moreno and Los Antiguos, and provincial authorities.
Patagonia Pintada emerged from a shared vision among Chelenco Tours, Zoyen Turismo, Huellas Aventura Sur, 47° Sur, Kau Patagonia Subandina, Franco Bucci, Safari Patagonia Argentina, and Cabalgatas El Buen Samaritano.
A Shared Vision for Nature and Community
At Freyja, we support conservation models that can endure over time while delivering lasting benefits for both nature and local communities. Since 2017, we have worked alongside Rewilding Argentina at Patagonia Park, located within the Patagonia Pintada region, supporting ecosystem protection and restoration, the recovery of native species, and the development of nature-based tourism that connects visitors with the landscape while creating opportunities for local communities.
Now, we are building on this experience by supporting the development of Patagonia Pintada as a new, regional nature destination. This initiative extends our work in the region, bringing together local tourism operators and governments around a shared vision for its future. It reflects our belief that nature-based tourism can strengthen local economies while protecting the natural and cultural heritage unique to this part of Patagonia.
