Puerto Deseado, Argentina

Puerto Deseado, originally called Port Desire, is a fishing port in Patagonia in the Santa Cruz Province of Argentina, on the estuary of the Deseado River. The coast boasts spectacular scenery and colonies of marine wildlife close to the town.

The town has a couple of pleasant squares, a former railway station and two museums, one with a collection of indigenous artefacts. The other is located at the seafront with relics from the caravel Swift which sank in 1770, recovered after its wreck was discovered in the port in 1982.

A highlight is a terrestrial safari to Cabo Blanco Natural Reserve, where you can observe colonies of birds and fur seals, go hiking and climb to the lighthouse.

Things to see and do

* Sea bird colonies
* Cabo Blanco Safari
* Expedition to Penguin island
* Deseado Estuary
* Lighthouse

Cruise Season – Jan - Dec
Currency – Argentinian Nuevo Peso (Arg$)
Language – Spanish
Population – 15,000 approx
Electricity – 2 round pins European style and 2 angled pins and 1 flat pin centred below Australian style
Time – GMT minus three hours
International Country Telephone Code – + 54

Port Location – The port of Puerto Deseado is located at the estuary of the Deseado River, approximately 1.5km from the town centre.

Transport Links – Aerolineas makes the 90 minute flight several times a day during the high season to Buenos Aires and Sol Líneas Aéreas and weekly flights to Patagonia served by LADE. There are domestic flights to Puerto Deseado from Rio Gallegos.