Península Valdés Sea Wildlife

• Transfer from the airport to your hotel in Puerto Madryn- Enjoy your Free day!

Welcome to Puerto Madryn, the wildlife paradise of Patagonia! You will land in Trelew and we will drive you one hour to your hotel in the city of Puerto Madryn.

Puerto Madryn is the closest city to the famous Peninsula Valdés, where the Southern Right Whales migrate every year to mate and raise their calves. Thousands of travelers make the annual journey to participate in this natural spectacle.

In fact, the Peninsula Valdés Natural Reserve was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site, and is home to many different mammals and birds which can only be seen in this part of the globe. Come to see the whales, as well as short-haired sea lions, magnificent (and huge!) elephant seals, black and white dolphins called ‘toninas’, and the always-adorable Patagonian penguins.  

Say Hueque Tips

Our recommended activity for your free day in Puerto Madryn:

• Visit the Ecocentro, a museum overlooking the coastline, where you can learn about the native wildlife and awaken your inner-ecologist. Experience the feeling of being inside the belly of a whale in a room that is modeled after the size and shape of these enormous creatures, and enjoy some amazing views of the Atlantic Ocean from a tower which doubles as a cozy reading room! Ecocentro is just 30 minutes away from downtown, and can be reached via a breezy walk on the beach.

• Get closer to the whales!

Today we will pick you up from your hotel and take you explore the amazing wildlife reserve of Península Valdés during 10 hours. Get your camera ready for some breathtaking pictures of whales, elephant seals, sea lions, guanacos and rheas!

To get to Peninsula Valdes, you will cross an incredibly narrow strip of land that is sandwiched by the sea on either side. Further along the journey, you will arrive at Caleta Valdes, a large natural creek that is home to a colony of elephant seals who will happily pose for photos.  

After admiring Caleta Valdes and its animal inhabitants, you will continue along the road as it winds through a crescent of golden cliffs overlooking the bright blue bay of Golfo Nuevo and the picturesque village of Puerto Piramides. This is a classic spot for whale watching; every year whales arrive at the bay to mate and raise their calves, which is a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle to see.

In Puerto Piramides, the whale watching starts. You will take a 2-hour boat trip around Golfo Nuevo Bay and watch these immense creatures gliding past. This peninsula navigation allows you to get incredibly close to the whales! Enjoy the experience of sailing side-by-side with these beautiful and peaceful animals. At the end of the tour, we will drive you back to your hotel in Puerto Madryn.

Say Hueque Tips

• Our recommended optional wildlife tour:

Now that you have gotten a taste of Patagonia’s wildlife tours… we recommend that you experience snorkeling with sea lions! Get into the water and play around with these curious creatures; they are never reluctant to get friendly with new visitors. 

• Walk among the Magellanic penguins of Punta Tombo

We will pick you up from your hotel in the morning and drive 75 miles south Puerto Madryn to Punta Tombo, home to the largest colony of Magellan penguins in South America.

The colony’s population reaches over half-a-million birds during peak season, and you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy some waddling with these adorable creatures. You’ll have 2 hours to walk around the reserve, learning about how they feed their babies, build their nests and swim beneath the waves!

After the penguin encounter, you’ll have time to eat a quick lunch at a bar near the reserve, and then head to the Punta Tombo Interpretation Center, where you’ll learn some interesting facts about the lives of Magellanic Penguins. How many types of penguins are there in the world? Why can’t they fly? All of your questions will be answered today!

To end the day, you can choose to visit the Paleontologist Museum in the city of Trelew or return directly to Puerto Madryn.