Each September and October, large groups of tourists travel to Peninsula Valdes in the Chubut Province of Argentina; it's the high season for whale watching. The Southern Right Whales stay around Peninsula Valdes during several months for mating and giving birth, because of the warm water in the enclosed Golfo Nuevo and Golfo San José.
Whale Watching in Argentina From Ashore
From ashore there are always views of the breaching of whales, but at high tide it's party time for whale watching; when the water is high enough the twenty-metres long mammals come so close to the shore that they can almost be touched. The best place to admire this whale-watching spectacle is at Punto Pardelas, southwest of Puerto Piramides, which borders Golfo Nuevo.
Whale Watching Tours From Puerto Madryn and Puerto Piramides
For some it's not enough to watch the whales from the shore. There are a multitude of travel agencies in Puerto Madryn [about 95 kilometres west of Peninsula Valdes], as well as in Puerto Piramides [located in Peninsula Valdes] that offer whale watching tours. One-hour boat rides are offered under the guidance of experts on whale watching and the zoology of the Southern Right Whales. Laws to protect the animals, for example keeping a distance of one-hundred metres, are well-enforced.
To book an organized tour in Puerto Madryn or Puerto Piramides, check around and talk to several agencies before deciding which one suits your wishes best; for example, a boat ride in a small zodiac is a different experience from one in a large catamaran.
Orca Watching in Peninsula Valdes
The Atlantic Ocean of Argentina has many more marine mammals worth looking for. Orcas like to treat themselves to the young sea lions that are born in the waters around Peninsula Valdes. These young mammals start to discover the Atlantic Ocean in March and April, and orca watching is best at high tide when they throw their powerful bodies on the beach to grab a sea lion. Orca watching is best at Punta Norte, on the north side of the peninsula, although they are spotted at Punta Bajos as well.
Marine Mammals in Peninsula Valdes
- Southern Right Whale: June-December, whale watching from ashore is best at high tide.
- Orcas: all year round, best time: March-April, orca watching from ashore is best at high tide.
- Sea lions: all year round
- Penguins: September-March
- Elephant seals: all year round, best time: September-October
- Dolphins: July-March
Guanacos, Rheas and Pumas in Peninsula Valdes
UNESCO declared Peninsula Valdes Natural Reserve a World Heritage Site in 1999; there is much more wildlife to be seen than marine mammals. When driving from one view point to the next, watch for the wildlife that the barren landscape has to offer: guanacos, a wild cousin of the llama, and rheas, a type of ostrich, are quite common. And who knows, maybe a rare puma will be on a hunting mission.
Puerto Piramides – Accommodation and Information Centre
- Except for Puerto Piramides, there is no accommodation in Peninsula Valdes. Puerto Piramides has hotels and a basic campsite, as well as small stores, restaurants, a petrol station and travel agencies.
- Camping on the beach along Golfo Nuevo is done but can be treacherous: watch out for the large differences in tide before pitching a tent.
- To have a good overview of what Peninsula Valdes has to offer, pay a visit to the Information Centre right after the entrance.
- Entrance fee to Peninsula Valdes: 40 pesos per person for unlimited time [US$ 15].
- If driving a private vehicle, make sure to fill up at Puerto Piramides; the distances are enormous and there are no other petrol stations to be found in Peninsula Valdes.
How to Reach Puerto Madryn and Puerto Piramides – Flights, Car Rental and Organized Tours
Puerto Madryn has an airport and there are regular flights to several cities in Argentina such as Buenos Aires, Salta and Ushuaia. The town can also be reached by long distance buses, however, after Puerto Madryn things get a bit more complicated, since there is no public transport on the peninsula.
In Puerto Madryn there are the following options:
- Take the local bus that plies between Puerto Madryn and Puerto Piramides. Subsequently arrange a guided tour in Puerto Piramides to visit the peninsula.
- Rent a car; in downtown Puerto Madryn there are several car rental agencies.
- Check the travel agencies in Puerto Madryn to book an organised tour to Peninsula Valdes.
Karin-Marijke Vis - Karin-Marijke Vis is a bilingual writer (Dutch-English) who has been traveling in Asia and South America since 2003.
Join the Conversation