Less than an hour from the city of Concordia , on the banks of the Uruguay River in the department of Colón , is the El Palmar National Park . Created in 1965 through Law No. 16.802 , its main objective is to conserve on…
Less than an hour from the city of Concordia, on the banks of the Uruguay River in the department of Colón, is the El Palmar National Park. Created in 1965 through Law No. 16.802, its main objective is to conserve one of the last palm groves of Butiá yatay, an indigenous species that grows on an area of 8,213 hectares within the Espinal.
ecoregion. This park is a place where nature, history, and cultureintertwine, offering visitors a unique experience in contact with the natural environment and the historical legacy of the region.
Among the most prominent activities are bird watching, walks along pedestrian and vehicular trails, a visit to La Calera del Palmar, and enjoying its beach on the river. The park also has a wide range of services for visitors, such as a general store, restaurant, cafeteria, kiosk, picnic area, camping, craft market, and guided tours, among others.
El Palmar National Park is recognized as a Ramsar Site y Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA), which highlights its great ecological value. In addition to the iconic Butiá yatay palm groves, it houses a remarkable diversity of natural environments such as gallery forests, thorny woodlands, savannas, grasslands, riparian zones, and aquatic ecosystems.
The park's fauna is abundant and varied. Among the most characteristic mammals are vizcachas, crab-eating foxes, rheas, brocket deer, and capybaras. For birdwatchers, it is a privileged site where woodpeckers, herons, parakeets, kestrels, and many other species can be spotted. Reptiles and amphibians also inhabit the area, contributing to the biological richness of this unique environment.
In addition to its natural wealth, El Palmar National Park preserves a valuable historical and cultural heritage that reflects the traces of ancient Charrúa and Guaraní occupations, the influence of Jesuit missions, and the presence of historical figures such as Justo José de Urquiza.
One of the most prominent places is La Calera del Palmar, an 18th-century archaeological site that preserves the ruins of an old Jesuit quicklime operation. Surrounded by native vegetation, this historical construction invites visitors to delve into the past of the Argentine littoral in a unique natural setting steeped in history.
Location
Opening hours
Entrance fee
* By presenting a valid student ID, certificate of regular student status, or similar, issued by formal public or private institutions, regardless of place of residence and level
** By proving through D.N.I. (National ID) that the person resides in the town of Ubajay or Berduc
*** Those organized groups that aim to visit the protected area as part of an educational trip and wish to request an exemption from the park entrance fee must send an email to: elpalmareducacion@gmail.com
**** By presenting the Unique Disability Certificate
Contact
