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 to explore the amazing wildlife reserve of Península Valdés for 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 boat tour starts. This is the only whale watching tour in Argentina! 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

In the morning, we will pick you up at your hotel and travel about 43 miles through the Patagonian steppe, until we reach the southern end of the mouth of the Golfo Nuevo, where the Punta Ninfas lighthouse is located, a valuable reference point for sailors entering the gulf.

On the beaches surrounding Punta Ninfas we can see the breeding grounds of elephants and sea lions. We continue towards El Pedral, an authentic Patagonian estancia built at the beginning of the 20th century. The materials and furniture were brought from Europe by boat and disembarked on the shores of the estancia itself. The house was inaugurated in 1923 and still preserves the aesthetics and style of those times.

We’ll then headed for the Magellanic penguin colony established on the shores of El Pedral, a short distance from the house. A guided tour among their nests allows us to learn more about these curious animals.

At noon you’ll be served a lamb barbecue with a variety of salads, dessert, house wine and coffee. In the afternoon you can enjoy the swimming pool and the bocce court, as well as take walks around the property or have a tea/coffee with Welsh cake, before heading back to your hotel.