Argentina's newest park blends marine protection with local-led tourism, offering wild swims, eco-lodges and a thriving new future for a once-overlooked coastline.

From my window seat on the three-hour flight from Buenos Aires to Comodoro Rivadavia, I watched the land shift from green to gold. Lush river delta gave way to straw-coloured steppe, eventually turning a vivid cobalt where high desert meets the sea. I was heading to Patagonia Azul, a newly declared provincial park on Argentina's South Atlantic coast.

This is not the Patagonia of postcards. There are no snow-capped peaks, trout-filled lakes or gleaming glaciers. Instead, this protected territory stretches across more than three million hectares – nearly the size of Yosemite – where arid plains collapse into a rugged, wind-battered coast.

Patagonia Azul is one of South America's most recent marine conservation efforts. More than 60 islands and islets rise from the Atlantic here, forming the most biodiverse stretch of Argentina's coastline. Long gravel roads cut through remote hills where guanacos graze and elusive pumas roam, while the sea harbours kelp forests, sea lion colonies, penguins, dolphins and four whale species.

Just 200 nautical miles offshore lies the edge of Argentina's Exclusive Economic Zone, a boundary closely monitored but frequently breached by foreign industrial fishing fleets, drawn by the region's rich marine life. The designation of Patagonia Azul as a provincial park in April 2025, covering both land and sea, aims to spotlight this undervisited coast as a model for immersive, sustainable tourism and protection.

Historically, aside from marine biologists and intrepid surfers, Patagonia Azul hasn't attracted many crowds. But now, with eco-lodges, gourmet local cuisine and guided adventures, this coast is poised for change.

Attracting visitors takes a holistic approach that blends conservation, designation and community. To protect and expand public land, Rewilding Argentina, a nonprofit born from the Tompkins Conservation legacy, began acquiring vast, often neglected ranches around a Unesco Biosphere Reserve, which was officially designated in 2010. Their goal: to create a protected corridor along the Patagonian coast. For more than four years, they've worked with local governments, trained community guides and built infrastructure to support low-impact tourism.

Plan your trip:

What: Patagonia Azul, Argentina's newest provincial park

Where: A maritime park on the coast of Chubut Province

Why go: A protected portion of sea and coastline, great for hiking, horse riding, snorkelling, wild swimming and dining

When to go: Open between October-April each year

How to get there: By private vehicle or tours arranged through the park

How much: All-inclusive rustic luxury accommodations, gourmet meals and tours packages are

US$200 per day per person. Camping in three designated campgrounds is free.

How to book: www.rewildingexperience.com

"Becoming a provincial park brings national and international recognition for what we're........

© BBC