Campos del Tuyú National Park: how to visit it by boat on the Ría de Ajó and where to see birds
Destination guide · Updated November 2026 · By Centinela Explora
In a nutshell
Campos del Tuyú National Park lies on the southern shore of Samborombón Bay, next to General Lavalle, about 3 to 4 hours from Buenos Aires and very close to San Clemente and the Partido de la Costa beach towns. It is often said that it cannot be visited, and that is partly true: the park has no visitor facilities. But there is a way to see it: the boat trip on the Ría de Ajó, which leaves from a pier in General Lavalle and explores the park from the water, with good chances of seeing the pampas deer. Around it there are several birdwatching sites you can visit on your own. The best season is spring and summer.
Quick facts
| Location | Southern shore of Samborombón Bay, next to General Lavalle (Buenos Aires province) |
|---|---|
| Getting there | By car or long-distance bus, about 3 to 4 hours from Buenos Aires |
| Area | 3,040 hectares |
| How to visit | Boat trip on the Ría de Ajó with a local operator, from the General Lavalle pier |
| Flagship species | Pampas deer |
| Best season | Spring and summer |
| Nearby | San Clemente del Tuyú, Punta Rasa and the Partido de la Costa |
What is Campos del Tuyú National Park?
It is a national park created in 2009 that protects 3,040 hectares of grasslands, cordgrass marshes, crab flats and channels on the southern shore of Samborombón Bay, a wetland designated a Ramsar site of international importance for its rich birdlife. Its flagship species is the pampas deer, once counted in the hundreds of thousands and now surviving in a few small populations; one of them, of around 200 animals, lives in Samborombón Bay.
The park is more than 15 years old, but since it cannot be explored on foot, many people don't even know it exists, even when they pass very close by.
Can you visit Campos del Tuyú National Park?
Partly. The park currently has no visitor facilities, so you cannot enter on foot. But there are two exceptions:
- The boat trip on the Ría de Ajó, which explores the park from the water (see below).
- Special visits, such as school trips or events like the Big Day organized by the park itself. To find out about them, we suggest following the park's official social media.
What is the Ría de Ajó boat trip like?
The National Parks Administration built a pier in General Lavalle, and from there excursions sail the Ría de Ajó toward Samborombón Bay. The trip does not reach the open bay, where the tide is stronger, so it is calm and safe.
Along the way you watch the local birds, see the park's crab flats and look for the pampas deer, which often appears on the banks. You do not go ashore, since there is no pier inside the park, but it lets you get to know it from the water.
The trip is run by a local operator and includes a guide. If you want to do it, you can contact the park or write to us and we will share the operator's contact.
Can you see the pampas deer?
Yes. We have been lucky enough to see it several times from the water. It is a beautiful animal: at the distance of the boat it seemed curious about us and did not run away.
Where else can you see birds in the area?
Around the park there are several very important birdwatching sites that you can visit on your own (although a good guide always helps you make the most of them):
- Camino del Palenque: a rural road between lagoons, grasslands and farms.
- Canal 2: open water and reed beds with many waterbirds.
- Tapera de López: a shoreline with sandbanks and estuaries, near San Clemente.
- San Clemente harbor.
- Punta Rasa: at the southern tip of the bay, a key site for migratory shorebirds. Check the road conditions before going, as it is not always passable.
When is the best time to go?
Spring and summer. The National Parks Administration recommends these seasons because in winter the rain makes the roads difficult. It is also when shorebirds that breed in the Northern Hemisphere spend their non-breeding season on the bay's shore and at Punta Rasa.
How do you get there?
From Buenos Aires it takes about 3 to 4 hours, by car or by long-distance bus to General Lavalle. It is also close to San Clemente del Tuyú and the rest of the Partido de la Costa.
Is it worth it if you are on vacation on the coast?
Yes. If you are on vacation in San Clemente or the Partido de la Costa and want your family to see animals, a boat trip on the Ría de Ajó is a way to see them free, in their natural habitat, just a few kilometers from the beach. We hope visiting this national park becomes a habit.
What should you bring?
- For the boat trip: binoculars and a windbreaker.
- For the other sites: boots, since some places tend to be muddy, and insect repellent.
If you want to travel with everything organized
If you want to travel with everything organized, check out our group departures.
