The Argentine shoreline on the South Atlantic is over 2800 miles long. Its numerous gulfs, bays, inlets and peninsulas host a great variety of wildlife.

Areas such as Valdes Peninsula and Puerto Deseado congregate such unique species as Southern Right whales (from late June to mid December), various species of dolphins, orcas, southern elephant seals, South American sealions, Magellanic penguins (from late September to March), and various species of cormorants among others. All of these areas are ideal for birdlife viewing and sailing together with some mountain bike and hike in the lower Chubut River valley. Together with the wildlife, Welsh settlements are to be visited and the famous Welsh Tea will be ready for visitors! A true wildlife paradise!

You can visit Peninsula Valdes all year round. Summer season lasts from December 15 up to March 15. Whales season is from June 15 up to December 15.

Most of the people go to Trelew and Puerto Madryn, so most of the hotels are the there.. But the Patagonian coast does not finish there. From Comodoro Rivadavia to the South, there are lots of small towns where you can see lots of fauna, the same as in the Peninsula. In fact there are some places where you can find animals you cannot see at peninsula Valdes, and the other point is that you will never find lots of people there, for everybody goes to Peninsula! So that is another reason why you can see more animals.

This trip south is just ideal for real naturalists, and people who just want to go and see lots of fauna. Some popular places on the coast where you can see lots of wildlife are Puerto Deaseado and Bahia Bustamante.

So for people who just want to see some animals and is not so particular, I would recommend the classic Trelew and Peninsula tours that we can arrange, but for someone who really loves nature and animals, and wants to see Patagonia as it really is and was a long time ago, south Santa Cruz is the best option ever!

FAUNA CALENDAR:

Fauna

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

whales

penguins

sea lions

sea elephants

orcas

Sample Peninsula Valdes Escapade

Day 1 Trelew airport – Puerto Madryn
After our arrival to Trelew, we drive to Puerto Madryn. We visit the town, which was established by 1886 while the railway construction, attracting Welsh, Italian and Spanish immigrants. Still today the Welsh and Italian traditions and language keep their influence in this town.
Lodging: Hosteria Double or Single room with private bathroom.
Meals we provide: None

Day 2 Puerto Madryn, Península Valdés
After breakfast we drive to Peninsula Valdes, World Heritage and paradise for wildlife enthusiasts. We start our visit in the Visitor Centre, which is located in the Isthmus Florentino Ameghino, from where we get panoramic views of both New and San José Gulfs. We continue to Puerto Pirámide, small village in the south shores of the Peninsula Valdes. That is our key point to see Southern Right Whales, which visit the area from May thru December. An optional boat trip to have close up views of the whales is available. We continue our visit to Caleta Valdés, which offers a wide range of both marine and land life, including sea lions. We then visit the Light House of Punta Delgada. We also visit today the Great Salt Depression, possibly the deepest depression of land in South America, and then the Isle of Birds with its incredible variety of birds. We get back to Puerto Madryn by 6 pm.
Lodging: Hosteria Double or Single room with private bathroom.
Meals we provide: Breakfast and lunch

Day 3 Penguin colony of Punta Tombo, Gaiman.
This day we’ll go to Punta Tombo, the biggest continental Magellan penguins’ reservation, if the tour is taken between the months of September and March (since this is the season when they arrive to the area). If it is taken in any other time out of the range of months we’ll go to Punta loma, where we’ll watch the colony of sea wolves. In the afternoon we will visit Gaiman, a beautiful town founded by the welsh community in 1870. It still maintains its traditions and original architecture. Gaiman has to offer us (as optional) a delicious tee with typical welsh cakes. Later we go back to Puerto Madryn.
Lodging: Hosteria Double or Single room with private bathroom.
Meals we provide: Breakfast

Day 4 Transfer to Trelew airport
After breakfast we transfer you to Trelew airport. End of our services.
Meals we provide: Breakfast

2013-2014 price per person in US$: $755 in single, $610 in double. High season supplement of $30 for departures Nov 11-Jan 31

Included:
Incoming services
Bilingual guides (Spanish English) during all the excursions
3 nights lodging in Hosterias double or single room with private bathroom (can quote with different levels of hotels)
All transportation as shown in the itinerary combining private and regular buses.
Transfer Trelew Airport – Puerto Madryn – Trelew.

Not included: National Park fees , Medical and life insurance , Tips , Drinks , Optional excursions , Air tickets and airport taxes Services not detailed in the program

Sample Self-Drive Itinerary

Day 1 Trelew / Puerto Madryn
Arrival in Trelew / Puerto Madryn. Meet & greet at the airport and pick up rented car. Clear documents and then self drive to the Valdes Peninsula area.
Accommodation at Eco Hosteria del Nomade.

The city of Puerto Madryn lies on the cliffs shaped by a small plateau that features an impressive perspective of the Atlantic Ocean. Founded in 1865 with the arrival of 150 Welsh immigrants, Puerto Madryn was named after Sir Love Jones Parry, Baronet of Madryn and one of the best-known dwellers of this city in the Welsh country. After visiting the city we suggest you continue towards the Valdes Peninsula. After a 77 km (50 mile) drive you will arrive to the Peninsula Valdes visitor center where you will be required to pay for the entrance fee. We recommend a visit to this center, which offers an interesting overview of the fauna, flora and history of the Peninsula, as well as the main places worth visiting in the area. Resume the drive for about 5 km. (3 miles) to reach Isla de los Pájaros lookout point. Following the gravel road and after 25 km (approx.) you will reach Puerto Pirámides.
Accommodation: Eco Hosteria del Nomade
Meals: None

DAY 02 Puerto Piramides
We suggest a full day visit to the Valdes Peninsula and its most important rookeries protecting large colonies of South American sea lions and Southern elephant seals, Magellanic penguins also inhabit this area along with oystercatchers, dolphin gulls, kelp gulls, cormorants, etc.:

* Puerto Piramides there is a small sea lions colony worth of visit. Our next stop will be Punta Delgada, the Southernmost tip of the Valdes Peninsula. This area is particularly interesting for its elephant seal colony (Mirounga leonina).
***During mid June through December you may embark on the safe navigations to sight the impressive Southern Right Whale. Every year between mid June and December the Eubalaena Australis type of whales (comonly known as Southern Right Whale) come to the calm waters of the Golfo Nuevo at the Peninsula to mate and give birth to their calves. The females calve toward the end of the winter, after a gestation period of nearly 10 months. The nursing calves remain with their others for another 10 months, so the females are able to calve only every three years.
* Caleta Valdes with its elephant seals colony (during Octobre & November and if lucky) we may see orcas while practicing their intentional stranding on the beach.
* Punta Norte and -time permitting - the Penguin rookery at Estancia San Lorenzo (private property; entrance fee required)

Accommodation: Eco Hosteria del Nomade
Meals: Breakfast

DAY 03 Trelew / Gaiman
We suggest visiting Punta Tombo Rookery, the most important breeding colony of Magellanic penguins in the world. The aim of this reserve is to protect one of the most diverse sea bird colonies in Argentina and the largest Magellan penguin continental colony, housing almost two million individuals. A rocky 3-km-long and 600-meter-wide mass getting into the sea, covered by sand, clay, and gravel and surrounded by large sandy beaches, it offers the largest concentration of sea birds in the entire Patagonian coast.

We will walk through a trail, which cuts, deep into the colony to observe closely these fascinating birds. The area is full of caves, where the penguins lay their eggs and raise their young. You will be able to watch the hectic activity dominating the colony, while some penguins would dig their caves, others would fight over their territories, at the same time that the continuous murmur of their voices would invade the atmosphere.

Punta Tombo is also a paradise for other sea birds that have chosen this site to nest. Other species such as kelp gulls, skuas, dolphin gulls, the Chubut steamer duck, two species of cormorants -the king cormorant and the rock shag-, snowy sheathbills, and several species of terns and giant petrels are some of the ones we can find nesting in the area. Hairy armadillos and Patagonian foxes also inhabit the area and may be seen here.

Later, return to Trelew and further on to Gaiman, a typical Welsh settlement. Gaiman is a place where one can walk leisurely around the small village and appreciate the strong influence that these first inhabitants have given to the place. Together with a visit, we will have leisure time to enjoy a tradition in the area: Go to a local tea house and enjoy a very healthy tea complemented with local delicacies (not included).

Normally these houses are the original houses built by the first inhabitants. They are well kept and we will be able to mingle with their friendly owners and hosts and learn more about their traditions and their everyday life. Over the years, the British tea tradition - brought to the province of Chubut by Welsh immigrants in the 19th century-has been honored in each home using old family baking recipes that may or may not have been reinvented by successive ladies of the house.
Accommodation: Posada Los Mimbres
Meals: Breakfast

DAY 04 Gaiman / Trelew
Day at leisure until the time to return the car at the airport in Trelew.
Meals: Breakfast

** A note about hotels recommended:

PUERTO PIRAMIDES - ECO HOSTERIA NOMADE - A very nice and simple hosteria, with a commitment to conservation. Services, water treatment, eco friendly practices are part of their philosophy. It is very comfortable to be attending with good service.

GAIMAN - POSADA LOS MIMBRES -   A very cozy posada located in the Valley in Gaiman. It still keeps the original Welsh house and its charm. The service is customized, rooms are comfortable, and food is very good and has the added bonus of a nice setting by the river which allows for great walks and also for a break from the Patagonian dusty roads.

TERMS & CONDITIONS OF CAR RENTAL IN THE VALDES PENINSULA
CATEGORY: B (COMPACT FORD FIESTA OR SIMILAR)
2 DOORS
INCLUDES 200 KM PER DAY WITH LOCAL TAXES, INSURANCE
DEDUCTIBLE OF:
PARTIAL DAMAGE U$S 1800
OVERTURN U$S 3600

2011 Price per person in US$ (with minimum of 2 people traveling together): $524 double, US$256 single supplement