subject: Wildlife Tours near Puerto Madryn [print this page] Wildlife Tours near Puerto Madryn
South of Buenos Aires lies Puerto Madryn, a coastal city known for its diverse wildlife, terrific scuba diving, and beautiful coastline. The city is located on the Valdez Peninsula, an outcropping that harbors two gulfs, Gulfo San Jose and Gulfo Nuevo. These gulfs are the habitats of many Magellan penguins, cormorants, southern right whales, and sea lions. There are many ways to explore these incredible habitats, including kayaking tours and short treks.
On a full day tour, you can be transferred from Puerto Madryn, the main city, to Puerto Piramides, a small village in the Valdez Peninsula reserve. There you can while away the day on guided nature walks throughout the extensive park. There's an informative interpretation center, Istmo Ameghino, as well as a sea lion colony. You will also see the salt lakes, and the sea elephant colonies in Punta Delgada, Caleta Valdes, and Punta Cantor. Around lunchtime, you will visit the impressive Puerto Madryn lighthouse. Between June and December, a whale watching cruise in the afternoon is highly recommended.
A half day whale watching cruise can be taken as a compliment to the full day tour described above, or alone, but it is only offered June to December. The cruise leaves from Puerto Piramides, and passes sea lion, elephant seal, and penguin colonies along the coast before heading out to sea. You're almost certain to see southern right whales, as Peninsula Valdez has the largest population in South America. The whales come into the gulfs to mate and give birth.
Another wildlife tour option is the full day Punta Tombo tour. Punta Tombo is well known as the largest colony of Magellan penguins. On this guided tour, you will leave early in the morning from Puerto Madryn and drive 75 miles to reach the Punta Tombo Provincial Reserve. During a two hour guided tour, your guide will tell you all about the penguins. Thousands of the flightless birds nest here, and you can see them up close from the nearby cliffs.
A half day wildlife tour to Punta Loma is another excellent option, as it is closer to Puerto Madryn and you can see large colonies of sea lions and cormorants in the Marine Fauna Reserve.
There are many other wildlife tour options for the adventurous and for those who aren't so adventurous, all throughout the Valdez Peninsula around Puerto Madryn. Just keep in mind that the best times to visit are June to December, when the majestic southern right whales are close by.
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