Paso Flores: History, Fossils and Nature

When looking for a hotel in Paso Flores, it helps to understand the destination’s different themes: the old crossing over the Río Limay, the paleobotanical fossil site, and the nature themes at Manantial de Paso Flores. Each offers a different focus—from an earlier travel route to geological history, hiking and nature observation.

The old crossing over the Río Limay

The old Paso Flores crossing over the Río Limay was used to travel toward San Martín de los Andes and Neuquén. It is one of the area’s cultural attractions and makes the crossing’s former role in travel a distinct historical theme. According to a historical reconstruction, the former ford was located slightly west of the town. Small islands made the dangerous crossing easier; today they lie underwater. The destinations of the journeys of that time indicate the direction of the route, while the ford and islands illustrate the historical setting on the Río Limay.

Fossil plant remains and geological context

Paso Flores is designated as the type locality for strata containing fossil plant remains. The fossil site contains plant remains and petrified tree trunks; the geological sequence is assigned to the Upper Triassic. This Upper Triassic classification provides the timeframe for the sequence, while plant remains and petrified wood are its specific fossil contents. This gives the fossil site a distinct geological focus alongside the history of the old crossing.

Nature themes at Manantial de Paso Flores

Hiking in the surrounding Sierras is one of the themes at Manantial de Paso Flores. Other themes there include native flora and fauna, as well as petrified tree trunks. Hiking in the Sierras, observing nature and exploring fossil remains thus appeal to different interests. If you plan a hike or nature observation, check the current options before your visit.

The old route of National Route No. 40

In the wider region, the corridor of the old route of National Route No. 40 runs from north to south between the upper Río Limay and the border with Chubut Province. The landscape along the route is characterized by basalt formations and steppe. The old route also passes through ravines and rocky valleys shaped by wind and river erosion. This broad landscape context adds a regional perspective to the specific themes of the ford and the fossil site.

Other places in Pilcaniyeu Department

The wider destination of Pilcaniyeu Department offers additional visitor attractions at other locations. In Pilcaniyeu, the Vagón Turístico, an old, completely converted railway carriage, serves as a tourist information office and is equipped to welcome visitors year-round. In Comallo, you can climb Cerro de la Cruz on an approximately 20-minute walk over relatively steep terrain. Mercado Artesanal Comallo is a place to buy a wide selection of local handicrafts. These examples appeal to different interests: visitor information, a climb and local handicrafts.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: El Bolsón, Cipolletti.

Go to the main travel overview: Río Negro.