Peninsula Valdes is set in Southern Atlantic Sea. It is a unique natural reservoir. Only few places in the world offer the possibility of seeing such a quantity of animals in their habitat: the enormous Southern Right Whale, sea lions, elephant seals, Maguellan penguins, choique (Patagonian rhea), guanacos, armadillos, mara (Patagonian hare), many different birds and other species. In 1999 UNESCO declared this astonishing area a “Word Natural Heritage”.
Besides, we can make activities such: trekking, horse riding, biking, bird watching, out road journeys and diving. Peninsula Valdes is considered the Capital of Diving, due to no sea currents and good visibility.

1. Whale Watching



Southern Right Whales choose every year the quiet waters of Golf Nuevo to mate and bear their calves. Watching mothers with their calves is a marvellous experience. From June to December we can take a boat from Puerto Piramides and during a trip of an hour and a half we can see these enormous mammals so close that sometimes they swim under the boat. As they are curious animals, they come near the craft to watch us and we could say that they make Human Watching.
Transparent water gives us the possibility of taking beautiful pictures.

2. Península Valdés



First we make a stop at Ameghino Isthmus, the narrow strip of land that links the continent to Peninsula Valdès. From here we can also see the Birds Island, an island that can be reached by walk with low tide. In the island we can find: seagulls, herons, cormorants, biguà, ducks, Magellan penguins, elegant crested tinamous and many other birds.

Next stop is at Puerto Piramides, the only human settlement in the Peninsula. This is the only authorized place to make whale watching, an activity that take place from June to December.

After that we drive to the heart of the Peninsula, passing by the most important depressions of South America: Big Salt mine and Small Salt mine.

It is here where we are likely to see guanacos, choiques, and maras.
Caleta Valdes is a strip of land of 35 km length. Here we are in front of the Argentinian Sea. Walking along a path we reach a big colony of Elephant seals. Next we can visit a small Magellan Penguins colony nesting on the cliff.

Season: all the year round (Whale watching only from June to December)
Estimated duration: a full day excursion

Difficulty: easy

3. Punta Tombo - Magellan Penguins colony



It is the biggest continental Magellan Penguins colony. During September the males arrive to prepare the nests; a month later the females arrive and they lay two eggs. At the end of November, after the chicks are born, while one parent takes care of the chicks the other one goes to the sea to fish. When bachelors arrive for moulting, the colony is complete with up to a million penguins.

Here we can walk in the middle of the nests and reach the shore following a path.

Then we go to Trelew, to visit the Paleontological Museum or we can also continue to Gaiman a Welsh Colony, where we can drink the traditional welsh tea with exquisite pastry. We can visit the first house, the chapel and other monuments.

Season: from September to March

Estimated duration: a full day excursion

Difficulty: easy