Paso Flores can be explored through two distinctive themes: the old crossing over the Río Limay and a fossil site with plant remains and petrified tree trunks. Hiking and nature observation are also available at Manantial de Paso Flores. This distinction is helpful when deciding what to focus on: the river’s history concerns earlier journeys, while the fossil site and nature observation reveal other aspects of the area.
The old crossing on the Río Limay
The old Paso Flores crossing over the Río Limay was used for travel toward San Martín de los Andes and Neuquén. It is one of the area’s cultural attractions. According to historical reconstruction, the former ford lay a little west of the settlement. Small islands made the dangerous crossing easier; today, these islands are underwater. The direction of travel and the reconstructed location of the ford complement each other as historical clues, but describe different aspects of the crossing.
Fossil plant remains and petrified trunks
Paso Flores is designated as a type locality for strata containing fossil plant remains. The technical term refers to the geological strata as a point of reference; the fossil site contains plant remains and petrified tree trunks. The geological sequence has been assigned to the Upper Triassic. Those interested in Earth’s history can consider specific plant remains alongside their geological classification.
Hiking and nature at Manantial de Paso Flores
A tourist description of Manantial de Paso Flores mentions hiking in the surrounding Sierras. The undated description also mentions native flora and fauna, as well as petrified tree trunks. The distinction is useful when choosing a focus: hiking draws attention to the Sierras, while flora, fauna, and petrified trunks are things to observe.
The old Ruta 40 in the wider region
In the wider region, the old route of Ruta Nacional No. 40 runs as a north–south corridor between the upper Río Limay and the border with Chubut Province. In the wider region, the route passes through basalt formations and steppe, as well as ravines and rocky valleys shaped by wind and river erosion. The scale here is regional: the corridor characterizes the broader landscape, while the ford is a historical location in the area.
Broader context: Departamento Pilcaniyeu
The wider travel destination of Departamento Pilcaniyeu offers additional regional context. In Pilcaniyeu, the Vagón Turístico was inaugurated in February 2026: an old, completely renovated railway carriage that serves as a tourist information office and is equipped to welcome visitors year-round. Near Comallo, you can climb Cerro de la Cruz on a roughly 20-minute walk over relatively steep terrain. Mercado Artesanal Comallo is a place to buy a wide selection of local crafts. If you plan to visit Cerro de la Cruz, you can take into account both the approximate duration and the relatively steep terrain; the market and tourist information office offer different points of interest.
Discover more destinations: Cipolletti, El Bolsón.
For the main travel overview: Río Negro.
