Trelew brings together paleontological collections, historical heritage, astronomy and birdwatching.

Fossils and Patagotitan mayorum

The Museo Egidio Feruglio (MEF) houses a scientific collection of more than 1,700 fossils of extinct species. Carefully crafted life-size replicas made by its expert team offer another way to explore the finds. At the Museo Paleontológico Egidio Feruglio, Patagotitan mayorum is the exhibition’s centrepiece. This means a collection featuring many fossils sits alongside one specifically named centrepiece—a useful distinction if you want to focus your visit mainly on paleontology.

Welsh history and city life

The Museo Regional Pueblo de Luis is housed in the former railway station of the Ferrocarril Central del Chubut. Its collection includes a historic English-made harmonium dating to around 1845. In 1865, it arrived on the coast of Chubut aboard the sailing ship Mimosa, together with the first group of Welsh settlers. The object thus connects a specific story of craftsmanship and heritage with the settlers’ arrival, without treating the two dates as the same.

The Museo Municipal de Artes Visuales offers a different perspective on the past. It preserves graphic and artistic records of history, as well as of urban, social and cultural life. The Centro Cultural por la Memoria brings culture and memory together and offers activities for schools and families; its program may evolve. In contrast to the historic individual object at the Museo Regional, the art museum focuses on city life, while the cultural centre brings culture and memory together.

Astronomy as a seasonal activity

At the Centro Astronómico Trelew, a guided tour lasting about 90 minutes in summer includes the outdoor themed park, an observatory, an experience in the planetarium hall and a final projection. The centre also has a night observatory and a solar observatory. The tour and the two observatories offer different ways to explore astronomy: a multi-stop visit and two specifically named observation facilities. If the tour is important to your plans, check when it is offered during your stay before visiting.

Birdwatching at Laguna Chiquichano

Visitors go birdwatching at the Reserva Natural Municipal Parque Recreativo Laguna Chiquichano. A 1,900-metre health trail adds a clearly measured route to this nature experience. While Trelew’s museums offer a way to explore the city through collections and history, birdwatching and the trail take centre stage here.

Coast and estuary in the Rawson Department

The Rawson Department, which includes Trelew, also has its own coastal attractions. Playa Unión is a five-kilometre-long sandy beach beside the mouth of the Río Chubut. Open-sea conditions make surfing possible there, a sport that has been practised for more than 20 years. Surfing areas include La Curva and Puerto Rawson; wind and wave conditions also make kiteboarding and windsurfing possible. Conditions in the surfing areas vary seasonally.

Patagonian dolphins, sea lions, elephant seals and coastal birds can be spotted in the Río Chubut estuary. The Estación Marítima Commersoni offers an approximately one-hour trip departing from Puerto Rawson. Its route passes the mouth of the Río Chubut and Puerto Rawson, with its yellow fishing fleet, before reaching the open sea; the trip is intended for spotting Commerson’s dolphins. Check departure times in advance, as schedules may change.

Discover more destinations: Puerto Pirámides, Playa Unión, Comodoro Rivadavia, Cholila, Trevelín, Esquel, Punta Delgada

Return to the main travel overview: Chubut.