Comallo: Paleoparque, Landscape and Fiesta de la Cordialidad

Comallo combines a focus on paleontology with a distinctive river landscape and its own festival tradition. Local highlights include the Paleoparque, Arroyo Comallo, Fiesta de la Cordialidad and the Tren Patagónico railway station. The wider destination of Departamento Pilcaniyeu offers further points of interest for visitors.

Paleoparque: Miocene Animals

The Paleoparque in Comallo features a reconstruction of Kelenken guillermoi, a phorusrhacid bird almost three metres tall. Its walking route includes purpose-built paths with life-size sculptures of species that lived in this region during the Miocene, 23 to 5 million years ago. The Paleoparque was designed as a centre for interpretation and science communication, and is aimed at visitors, students and tourists. The almost three-metre-tall reconstruction provides a tangible size comparison with the life-size figures along the route.

Arroyo Comallo and the Landscape

Comallo lies in the valley of the stream of the same name, at the last foothills of the Andes. Intense erosion has created particularly distinctive landforms there. Where the stream flows through Comallo, it has cut a deep channel; very high, steep banks and reddish terrain define this stretch. At the same time, the watercourse supplies Comallo and the surrounding fields with water. Arroyo Comallo is therefore both a defining landscape feature and part of the water supply for the town and its fields.

Fiesta de la Cordialidad

The Fiesta de la Cordialidad takes place each year around mid-March. At the Fiesta Popular de la Cordialidad, Comallo’s local tradition of criollo horsemanship on a bucking horse comes to life again. The celebration includes popular singing and dancing associated with Argentina’s national culture. Folklore is part of the festivities from dusk until dawn. If you plan your stay around the Fiesta, treat mid-March as an approximate timeframe and check the exact dates for the relevant year.

Comallo and the Tren Patagónico

Comallo is a station on the Tren Patagónico, whose services pass through the town. The train is presented as a tourist attraction for visitors seeking a historic journey connected with the identity of Río Negro and Patagonia. This railway connection adds another perspective on the region to Comallo’s paleontological, landscape and cultural themes.

In the Wider Destination of Departamento Pilcaniyeu

Cerro de la Cruz is located near Comallo, in Departamento Pilcaniyeu. It can be climbed in a walk of about 20 minutes over relatively steep terrain. Mercado Artesanal Comallo, also in Departamento Pilcaniyeu, is a place to buy a wide selection of local handicrafts. In Pilcaniyeu itself, the Vagón Turístico was inaugurated in February 2026. The old, fully refurbished railway carriage serves as a tourist information office and is equipped to welcome visitors year-round.

For the wider travel overview: Departamento Pilcaniyeu.