2. From Puerto Madryn: Wildlife Tour with Whale Watching Option
Meet the varied and fascinating wildlife of the Valdés Peninsula in Chubut Province on this full day guided trip. See whales, seals, penguins, various bird species, and more in their natural habitats.
After pickup from your hotel in Puerto Madryn, head to Peninsula Valdés, a protected natural area and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Take a one-hour drive to Puerto Piramides, where you’ll embark on a whale watching boat trip (if option selected). See Southern Right whales from June to early December and Southern sea lions and cormorants from January to March. If you have not chosen the whale watching option, you’ll have free time to enjoy Puerto Piramide.
Next, continue your journey to Estancia San Lorenzo, a traditional sheep farm, where you will taste a spectacular lamb barbecue for lunch. After free time for lunch, visit a stunning Magellanic penguin colony where about 500,000 penguins are located. These timid feather-shedders are named after the famed Portuguese explorer whose crew spotted them in 1520.
Your next stop will be the Wildlife Reserve Punta Norte, where depending on the time of year, you can see Southern elephant seals, Southern sea lions, and maybe even orcas. Finally, leave for Punta Cantor to observe Caleta Valdes, a large inlet that stretches along the peninsula’s Atlantic coastline. On the way back, stop at the Visitor Center situated on the Isthmus Carlos Ameghino.
On the way back to Puerto Madryn, you may run into wild rheas, tinamous, guanacos, foxes, cavies, and armadillos.