Comodoro Rivadavia
Argentina · Americas
About Comodoro Rivadavia
Comodoro Rivadavia, often shortened to Comodoro ( KOM-ə-DOR-oh), is a city in the Patagonian province of Chubut in southern Argentina, located on the San Jorge Gulf, an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean, at the foot of the Chenque Hill. Comodoro Rivadavia is the most important city of the San Jorge Basin, and is the largest city in Chubut as well as the largest city south of the southern 45th parallel.
The city is often referred to simply as Comodoro. It was at one time the capital of the Comodoro Rivadavia Territory, which existed from 1943 to 1955. The territory was a part of Chubut before and after its creation, and the city became the capital of the Escalante Department. It had a population of 137,061 at the 2001 census [INDEC], and grew to 182,631 by the 2010 census. Comodoro Rivadavia is a commercial and transportation center for the surrounding region, the largest city of Chubut, and an important export point for a leading Argentine petroleum district. A 1,770 km pipeline conveys natural gas from Comodoro Rivadavia to Buenos Aires.
Founded by decree on February 23, 1901, as a port for the inland settlement of Sarmiento, the first settler was Francisco Pietrobelli. Early settlers included Boers escaping British rule in South Africa, as well as Welsh settlers. The town was named in honour of shipping minister Martín Rivadavia, a proponent of the development of Southern Argentina. It has been prosperous since 1907, when a drilling crew searching for water struck oil at a depth of 539 meters.
The city is the home of the main faculty of the National University of Patagonia San Juan Bosco. Its cathedral is the seat of the Diocese of Comodoro Rivadavia, of which the Bishop is, since 2005, Virginio Domingo Bressanelli. The Cathedral is dedicated to San Juan Bosco, the only cathedral in the world dedicated to the founder of the Salesian Order. It was inaugurated in 1979, although the crypt itself had been dedicated in 1949.
Rada Tilly is a beach resort and now suburb 12 km south of Comodoro. The National Museum of Petroleum is located in the General Mosconi neighbourhood 3 km north of central Comodoro Rivadavia. It was opened in 1987 by the state-owned oil company YPF.
Comodoro Rivadavia is served by General Enrique Mosconi International Airport (Airport Code CRD/SAVC) with daily flights to Buenos Aires and many other Patagonian cities, as it is the main hub of LADE.
Comodoro Rivadavia travel guide
Understand
Comodoro Rivadavia, often simply called Comodoro, is the center of one of the most important oil extraction regions in Argentina. Founded in 1901 as a port for the agricultural colony near Sarmiento further inland, the fate of the city changed in 1907 when petroleum was discovered. The wealth of the city has attracted numerous immigrants from all over Argentina, Chile, Bolivia and Peru. It's one of Argentina's most expensive cities to live in, mainly because of high rents. However, for visitors the prices are similar to other Patagonian cities. The modern city offers very few historical buildings, but has some nice museums and beautiful sights and places to walk. The most interesting area for visitors is the Rada Tilly beach which belongs to an independent town. The northern neighborhoods and suburbs, like General Mosconi, Villa Astra, Caleta Córdova or Diadema Argentina are beautifully located between colorful hills, unfortunately some of the beaches of this area are polluted and swimming is forbidden. The climate is typical for the Patagonian coastline, with warm summers and cool winters. It is often windy, above all in spring. The best time to visit the beaches is between January and March, as the water temperature until December is chilly.
Getting there
By plane The 1 General Enrique Mosconi International Airport is located about 10 km north of the city in Próspero Palazzo neighborhood. There are daily flights to Buenos Aires and connections to cities like Córdoba, Mendoza and Neuquén. Aerolineas Argentinas and LADE, a local carrier, are the two main operators to Comodoro Rivadavia. There are seasonal flights to Chile.
By bus The 2 bus station is located in the city center, 100 m from the Atlantic coast. There are services to Buenos Aires and most Central, North-Western and Southern Argentine provincial capitals.
From Buenos Aires-Retiro: several companies offer buses of differing classes at price ranging from ARS850 for a reclining seat without services to ARS2700 for a first class suite.
By car Comodoro Rivadavia is located at the Ruta Nacional 3, the main access to Southern Patagonia. The whole highway is paved.
Getting around
There are several bus lines serving the distinct neighborhoods and suburbs of Comodoro Rivadavia. The bus to Rada Tilly runs approximately every 30 minutes.
See
1 Museo Nacional del Petróleo, San Lorenzo 250 (in General Mosconi neighborhood, north of the city center). Tu-F 09:00-17:00, Sa 15:00-18:00. The museum shows machinery from petroleum extraction. (updated Aug 2017) 2 Museo Ferroportuario, Inmigrantes Gallegos 199. Tu-F 08:00-17:00, Sa Su 15:00-19:00. The museum, housed in the former railway station, shows the history of the port and the railway line. It is also a cultural center. (updated Aug 2017) 3 Museo Regional Patagónico Antonio Garcés, Avenida Rivadavia and Chacabuco. M-F 09:00-18:00, Sa Su 11:00-18:00. The museum tells the history of the city and gives an overview about nature and geology of the region. (updated Aug 2017) 4 Pinguinera Cabo Dos Bahias (north of CR). Instead of the ridiculously overpriced Punta Tombo National Park, head here for an equally good experience and meeting with the penguins, for free. (updated Jun 2018)
Do
Climb the 1 El Chenque hill and get a spectacular view of the city. The hill can be accessed from the Ruta 3 just north of the center or walking through the poorer neighborhoods west of the center (not recommended after dark). Visit the 2 city beach north-east of the center. The water is fresh, particularly in early summer when it has around 15°C, while in February and March it can reach almost 20°C.
Buy
The downtown area, mainly the sector north of Avenida Rivadavia and between Francia street and the coastline, offers a wide variety of goods. Prices are comparable with Northern Patagonian cities and lower than in Southern Patagonia, so if you are going further south, it's a good idea to buy your daily needs here.
Sleep
1 Hotel Austral, Moreno 725, ☏ +54 297 4472200. A modern, four-star hotel with good views of the city. 2 Hotel del Mar, Ameghino 750, ☏ +54 297 4472025. Mid-price hotel in the city center. 3 Posada del Viajero, Suboficial Jorge L. Herrera 344. One of the cheapest options in Comodoro, located in the north of the city, near the airport, but 9 km away from downtown.
Go next
Rada Tilly is home to one of the most beautiful beaches of Argentina. The resort town is located in a small bay surrounded by steep hills. It lies 10 km south of the city and is a separate municipality of about 10 000 inhabitants. The town is quiet, without much nightlife, and visited mostly by Chileans. It is also a popular "bedroom suburb" of Comodoro Rivadavia. More beaches are located on the way south alongside the Ruta Nacional 3 to Caleta Olivia. Most of them don't have infrastructure. In Sarmiento, about 200 km. inland, you can visit two enormous lakes and petrified woods.
Overview adapted from Wikipedia, travel guide fromWikivoyage (CC BY-SA)。Photography via Wikimedia Commons.