Parador La Leona is a historic rest stop on Route 40, roughly halfway between El Calafate and El Chaltén, next to the La Leona River, which connects Lake Viedma with Lake Argentino. For decades it served as a resting place for those crossing the steppe, and today it's a classic stop on the way north into the park.
This is the first stop on our Viedma Full Day Adventure , and every time we get off with a group, someone asks about the name and the stories told there. Here they are.
Where is the Parador La Leona?
On Route 40, on the stretch between El Calafate and El Chaltén, where the road meets the La Leona River, lies an open steppe landscape: vast skies, wind, tussock grass, and, to the west, the Andes Mountains beginning to emerge. In this area, Route 40 follows the river valley, which carries the waters of Lake Viedma to Lake Argentino.
For those traveling by land, this is the dividing point of the journey: Lake Argentino is behind them, and ahead lie Lake Viedma, Mount Fitz Roy, and El Chaltén. We describe the entire route from El Calafate to El Chaltén along Route 40.
Why is she called The Lioness?
The name comes from the river. It is said that the explorer Francisco P. Moreno, during his explorations of southern Patagonia in the 1870s, was attacked by a female puma on the banks of this river, and that is why he named it La Leona (The Lioness). In Patagonia, the male puma was long called a "lion," and the female, a "lion." The rest stop took its name from the river.
Parador La Leona: history of a stop on the steppe
Before the paved roads, crossing this part of Santa Cruz took days. The roads were dirt tracks, vehicles were few, and droves and wool carts moved slowly between ranches and ports. In that context, a place with a roof, water, and a fire by a river was vital. La Leona served as that refuge for travelers, drovers, and settlers, and over the years it went from a way station to a mandatory stop for those traveling Route 40.
Today the journey is much faster, but the pause remains. Getting out of the vehicle at La Leona is a way to understand how much the way of reaching the glaciers has changed.
The most told story: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
According to local lore, the notorious American outlaws Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, along with Etta Place, stayed at La Leona in the early 20th century during their escape through Patagonia. The story goes that they stayed for several days and that the owners of the place didn't know who they were. Every detail is impossible to verify, and like any story told around a campfire, it has grown over the years. What is certain is that it has become part of the town's identity, and many travelers arrive asking about it.
What to see at the stop
- The La Leona River: With clear waters, it runs through the valley towards Lake Argentino.
- The Patagonian steppe: the landscape that surrounded travelers for centuries, with its low vegetation adapted to the wind.
- Heaven: On clear days, the vastness of the horizon is part of the spectacle.
- Steppe fauna: Along the way, it's common to see guanacos, rheas, and birds of prey. More in our article about the fauna of Los Glaciares National Park.
The Lioness in the Viedma Full Day Adventure
| Part of the day | What happens |
|---|---|
| El Calafate | Bus departure from your hotel |
| Parador La Leona | Historic stop on Route 40 |
| Port Bay Tunnel | 4-hour boat trip on Lake Viedma, hike and Viedma Glacier |
| El Chaltén | Visit to the village, views of Fitz Roy and Chorrillo del Salto |
| He came back | Return to El Calafate after a 12-hour day |
The stop in La Leona makes the bus trip part of the journey, not just a transfer. For the full day trip, read our guide to El Chaltén from El Calafate.
Stop by La Leona on your way to Viedma
If you're staying in El Calafate and want to visit La Leona, El Chaltén, and the Viedma Glacier in a single day, the Viedma Full Day Adventure departs daily from September to April, and every other day plus Saturdays from May to August. Check the tour's website for departure schedules, availability, and current rates.
FAQ
Where is the Parador La Leona located?
On Route 40, approximately halfway between El Calafate and El Chaltén, next to the La Leona River.
Why is she called The Lioness?
It takes its name from the river. Legend has it that the surveyor Francisco P. Moreno was attacked there by a female puma in the 1870s, and that is why he named the river La Leona (The Lioness).
Is it true that Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid were in La Leona?
According to local tradition, they would have stayed there at the beginning of the 20th century, but there is no way to confirm every detail of the story.
What excursion does the Parador La Leona stop for?
The Viedma Full Day Adventure, which departs from El Calafate, stops in La Leona on the way to Lake Viedma and El Chaltén.
What does the La Leona River connect?
The La Leona River carries the waters of Lake Viedma to Lake Argentino.
