Península Valdés: World Heritage Site

Here, where ocean waters embrace a large peninsula, a natural landscape declared a World Heritage Site is waiting for you: the Península Valdés. In its waters, you'll see the magic of orcas and dolphins. And between the months of June and October, a giant will leap up before your eyes: the Southern right whale. Amaze yourself at its leaps. Watch its behavior. Discover the tenderness flowing between mothers and their young.

At the coast, while cormorants hover over the rocks, find sea lions and elephant seals. Discover continental colonies of Magellanic penguins nesting in this place. And in the aridity of the steppe, under the blue Patagonian sky, follow the tracks of the guanacos, of the choiques [Darwin’s rheas], and other members of the local land wildlife. Enjoy the Península Valdés in the province of Chubut.

Geographic location: Province of Chubut, in the Argentine Patagonia. Península Valdés gets deep into the Atlantic Ocean waters to form two gulfs, Golfo Nuevo and Golfo San José.

How to get there: From Puerto Madryn (56 km) via Ruta Provincial 2. By plane, you can fly from Buenos Aires to Puerto Madryn or to Trelew International Airport (66 km away from Puerto Madryn).

Area: 4,000 sq km

Climate: Warm from September through April (temperatures can reach up to 40ºC). Cold and rainy the rest of the year, with average temperatures lower than 5ºC.

Recommended length of stay: 2 to 3 days.

Recommended clothing: The area can be very windy, so it is advisable to take the right clothes, including a windbreaker.

What to do: Visit Puerto Pirámides, take a boat ride (if weather conditions are good), watch the whales from a semi-submersible submarine, take a 4x4 ride.

Tips: Keep in mind the time of the year for wildlife watching. The Southern right whale can usually be seen from June to October, and the major elephant seal colonies, from September to November. Orcas are more likely to be seen from February to May.