Jaramillo Petrified Forest: Patagonia's Stone Trees

Bosques Petrificados de Jaramillo National Park protects the largest petrified tree trunks on Earth, araucarias that fell about 150 million years ago and now lie as silica-rich stone across 78,543 hectares of Santa Cruz Province. Entry is free, the gate sits roughly 50 kilometers off National Route 3 via Provincial Route 49, and most visitors see the core of the park in two to three hours. This is not a forest in any living sense — it is a graveyard of Jurassic wood, and that is exactly the draw.

The drive in tells you what kind of place you are entering. Paved highway gives way to riprap, roadside fences vanish, and the horizon flattens into wind-combed scrub. Guanacos watch from a distance. Fuel stations disappear behind you: the park sells no gasoline, and the nearest reliable pump is back in Jaramillo or Caleta Olivia.

Getting to the Petrified Forest

By car from National Route 3

From the km 2,074 marker on Ruta Nacional 3, turn onto Provincial Route 49 and continue about 39 kilometers of gravel to the park boundary, then another 11 kilometers to the ranger station and public-use area. The gravel is generally in decent condition for a standard car in dry weather, but rain turns the surface slick and snow closes it entirely in winter. Distances to plan around: Jaramillo 152 km, Caleta Olivia 234 km, Puerto San Julián 249 km, Comodoro Rivadavia 312 km. A second approach exists via Provincial Route 12 from Pico Truncado, which intersects with the main corridor — useful if you are coming down from the north.

Nearest airports and onward connections

Comodoro Rivadavia has the closest working airport with regular commercial flights, roughly 390 kilometers away by road. Caleta Olivia is closer at about 234 kilometers of driving but receives fewer flights. From either city, you need a rented car or a long bus ride followed by a taxi arrangement — public transport does not reach the park gate, and there is no shuttle service. I would not attempt this without your own vehicle; the last stretch is empty country with no settlement of any size.

Fuel, water and supplies

Fill the tank before leaving the highway. The park has public restrooms and nothing else — no potable water, no food, no shelter, no camping. Carry at least four liters of water per person for a summer visit, plus food and a windproof layer. Wind gusts here regularly exceed 100 km/h, and there is no tree cover to break them.

What to See and Do Inside the Park

The paleontological trail

The main trail is a 2.4-kilometer loop with about 76 meters of elevation gain, and it takes most people 60 to 90 minutes at an unhurried pace. Along the way, fallen trunks lie where the volcanic ash buried them: some measure two meters across and nearly 30 meters long, their growth rings and bark textures preserved in agate and jasper. The colors are subtle — grays, ochres, occasional rust-reds — and they read better under low morning light than at midday, when the flat sun washes out the mineral banding. There is no shade anywhere on the route. Hats and sunglasses are not optional.

Museo Guardaparque Peter Garrahan

The small museum at the entrance station explains how an Araucaria mirabilis forest ended up as stone: ash falls, silica-laden groundwater, and 150 million years of pressure. Labels are in Spanish, and the displays are modest, but the context makes the outdoor walk far more legible. Ranger staff are on hand during opening hours and can answer questions about the geology. This is also where you register on arrival.

Watching the Patagonian steppe

The park is not only fossils. The surrounding scrub supports guanacos, rheas, armadillos and a scattering of raptors, and the eroded volcanic cones on the horizon give the plateau an almost lunar profile. Photographers tend to rush the fossil loop and miss this. Give yourself an extra hour to scan the terrain with binoculars — the emptiness is the point, not the interval between attractions.

Opening Hours, Seasons and Practical Rules

The gate opens 9:00 to 19:00 from October through March, and 10:00 to 17:00 from April through September. Entry is free for visitors without pets. Fees and hours can change — confirm current details with the Administración de Parques Nacionales before a long drive, since this is a remote outpost and a closed gate means a wasted 300-kilometer round trip.

November to April brings the mildest conditions and the longest daylight; summer daytime temperatures reach around 25°C, though 40°C spikes are recorded and nights stay cold. Winter means subfreezing temperatures, snow, and the possibility of the access road becoming impassable. Average annual rainfall is only about 200 millimeters, but wind is a constant and can hit 140 km/h in gusts. Spring is my pick — fewer vehicles, softer light, and the steppe still holding a little color before the summer burn.

Pets are not allowed. Do not remove or chip fossil wood; it is a federal offense and rangers do enforce it. Stay on the marked trail — the surrounding ground is fragile and easy to scar.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to visit Bosques Petrificados de Jaramillo?

Plan two to three hours on site: roughly 90 minutes for the 2.4-kilometer loop and 20 to 30 minutes in the museum. The drive from National Route 3 adds about an hour each way over gravel.

Is there an entrance fee?

No. Admission is free, and the park has no ticketing system. You simply register at the ranger station, which is also where the museum sits.

Can I get there without a car?

Not practically. Buses run along National Route 3 but do not turn onto Provincial Route 49, so the final 50 kilometers of gravel require your own vehicle or a pre-arranged transfer from Caleta Olivia or Jaramillo.

What should I bring?

Water, food, sun protection and a windproof jacket. The park has restrooms but no drinking water, no shop and no fuel, and the nearest services are more than 150 kilometers away.