in Los Antiguos, Santa Cruz, Argentina
Los Antiguos Cherry Farms
This small town on the Chilean border is famous for sweet cherries in January. During harvest season, visitors can pick fresh cherries, enjoy cherry-themed festivals, and admire views of turquoise Lake Buenos Aires.
Los Antiguos is a small agricultural town of approximately 3,500 residents situated on the southern shore of Lake Buenos Aires (Lago Buenos Aires) in Santa Cruz Province, Patagonia, immediately adjacent to the Chilean border. Despite its remote location on the steppe, the town sits in one of the most climatically anomalous pockets in Patagonia: the enormous thermal mass of the lake — shared with Chile, where it is called Lago General Carrera — moderates temperatures and creates a sheltered microclimate warm enough to support fruit orchards that would be impossible to sustain anywhere else at this latitude.
The town's agricultural identity centres on sweet cherries, which ripen across the farms of Los Antiguos each January. Dozens of small family-run orchards open their gates for the harvest season, allowing visitors to pick fruit directly from the trees — a hands-on experience that has become the main draw for travellers who time their Ruta 40 journey to coincide with the cherry season. Beyond cherries, the farms also produce strawberries, raspberries, apricots, and apples, and many sell homemade jams, cherry chocolates, cherry liqueur, and dried fruit direct from farm stalls.
The Fiesta Nacional de la Cereza (National Cherry Festival) is held in Los Antiguos in early January each year and draws visitors from across Patagonia and Argentina. The festival includes farm tours, cherry-picking competitions, live music, craft markets, and the crowning of the festival queen — a regional social event that provides a cultural context to the agricultural experience. Accommodation options in town are limited; booking several weeks in advance is essential during festival week.
The lakeside setting provides an additional visual layer: Lago Buenos Aires is an intense turquoise-blue in summer sunlight, ringed by the brown steppe plains to the south and by the snowcapped peaks of the Andes on the Chilean border to the west. The town itself is quiet and unhurried — a practical and rewarding stop on the long Ruta 40 drive between Perito Moreno town and the south, combining naturally with a visit to Cueva de las Manos 135 kilometres away.
Hours: Farms open January daily 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Best for: foodies, families, road trippers, nature lovers
Location
Los Antiguos, Santa Cruz Province
-46.5500, -71.6333 — View on map
Highlights
- Cherry orchards offering pick-your-own harvesting in January at Argentina's cherry capital
- Fiesta Nacional de la Cereza (National Cherry Festival) held annually in early January
- Farm stalls selling cherry jams, liqueurs, chocolates, and freshly picked fruit direct to visitors
- Stunning lakeside setting on the turquoise shores of Lago Buenos Aires against the Andean border peaks
- Ideal stop on the Ruta 40 route, combining naturally with nearby Cueva de las Manos
Tips
- Visit during National Cherry Festival in early January
- Sample cherry products - jam, chocolate, liqueur
- Beautiful route along Ruta 40 to get here
- Combine with Cave of Hands visit
FAQ
When is the best time to visit Los Antiguos for cherry picking?
The cherry harvest peaks in the first three weeks of January, with the National Cherry Festival typically held in the first week of the month. Visiting outside January means the farms are closed for picking, though the town and lake remain accessible year-round.
Is cherry picking suitable for children?
Cherry picking is particularly suited to children — the experience is straightforward, the farms are welcoming, and eating fruit directly from the tree is a highlight for young visitors. The lakeside park in town also has open space for children.
How do visitors get to Los Antiguos?
Los Antiguos lies 2 kilometres south of the junction with Ruta 43 near Perito Moreno town and is best reached by car or bus on the Ruta 40 circuit. ETAP and other regional bus operators serve the route from Comodoro Rivadavia and Río Gallegos.
Accessibility
The town centre and main farm access roads are flat and accessible by vehicle. Individual orchards vary in terrain — most have flat grass rows between trees manageable for visitors with limited mobility. The lakeside promenade is paved and wheelchair accessible.
When to visit
January is the only month for cherry picking and the National Cherry Festival; the microclimate is pleasantly warm by Patagonian standards at this time. Outside December to February, most farms are closed to the public, though the lake scenery is accessible year-round.