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The Great Traverse of San Jose Gulf

Peninsula Valdes is located on the Patagonian coast. The Valdes landscape unfolds itself towards the Southern Atlantic Ocean forming almost an island of some 4000 square kilometers which is surrounded by the Golfo San Jose on the North and Golfo Nuevo on the South. Declared as a Natural Humanity Heritage by de UNESCO. Home to an extensive variety of wildlife, this includes colonies of Marine birds, resting places for South American Elephant’s Seals and Sea Lions colonies, Dolphins, Orcas. Its biggest attraction is the Southern Right Whale that migrates here yearly for breeding and calving. Among the other protected wildlife: Guanacos, Rheas, Magellan Penguins and migratory shore seabirds. The shoreline consists of imposing cliffs which rise up from extensive sand and pebble beaches. Platforms of marine erosion are very common, where rich marine fossil are to be seen and the geological formations from tertiary period.

The San Jose gulf possesses a great variety of habitats allowing many species of marine fauna to live: from sea birds that nest in the area to shore birds which use the beaches to rest and feed up on their long migratory routes. We will observe Southern sea lion colonies and elephant seals. We will have the unique possibility of observing and learning all about the Southern Right Whale, that comes to these waters to mate, give birth and raise the young calves. It is hard to describe the emotion when you get to see them, due to their greatness, size, gentleness and curiosity. As if this were not enough, we will be surrounded by a very particular landscape, represented by small beaches and high cliffs with characteristic tertiary formations that make the days even more interesting and we can imagine how the sea was millions of years ago.

Each day we will enjoy different aspects of Patagonia, from its magic sunsets, its famous strong winds, and the contrasting calm days, the silence, the transparent waters, etc. From the kayak you may live and enjoy each one of these attractions in a more active way in pure contact with nature. The next eight days will be spent enjoying and exploring the magnificent coast and wildlife of this Gulf. The paddling distances are 15/20 kms each day, that allows us a good margin to observe the different marine mammals, birds and other highlights, taking several hikes to enjoy these interesting sceneries. Relaxing and also enjoying excellent food accompanied by pure and wild nature…Trough assimilating with our senses and accompanied by our guide’s interpretation of the surroundings paddling this Gulf we will be able to enjoy.

Highlights!!
History and archeology
Geological formations of the imposing cliffs
Millions years old marine fossils
Clear and pristine waters
Southern hemisphere star filled nights
Whale’s sounds
Main continental population of Southern Elephants Seals.
Marine and land birds
Main population of Southern Right Whales

Day 1: Upon arrival to Trelew or Puerto Madryn airport, you will be met by a guide to drive you to Puerto Piramides, which is a small village located in Peninsula Valdes natural reserve. There we will be greeted with a welcome dinner in a comfortable hotel, followed by a description and orientation chat about the expedition.

Day 2: In the morning we’ll drive to San Jose Gulf and departure site of our kayak expedition. Punta Gales is where our adventure begins!
At this place there is a fisherman’s settlement, they live on what the area has to offer, using different techniques to fish and collect sea food With our guides instructions we will fit in our kayaks for the coming trip. He will give us a precise briefing of security, technique guide lines as well as environmental regulations. We take our time for practise and filling comfortable with our kayaks, before we start. We begin paddling towards the Isla de los Pajaros, where sea birds such as Kelp Gulls, Magellanic Penguin, Imperial Cormorant, South American Tern and Neotropic Cormorant nest. Later we pass the attractive Punta Logaritmo. There’ll a stop for a rest and lunch. After two more hours of paddling we’ll stop to set up our first camp, where we will be able to enjoy a wonderful sunset and a delicious dinner.
The total paddling distance for this day is 15 kilometers aprox.

Day 3: After a good breakfast and undoing camp, we get on our kayaks to visit a Southern Sea Lion colony, where the sea lions have no problem in diving into the water to come and greet us. We will stop for lunch on a beach close to the colony. Afterwards we’ll continue on paddling to Punta Tehuelche to later reach Villarino beach campsite, this place is well known as an important site in Peninsula Valdes history. The first Spanish expeditions landed here.
The paddling distance for this day is 15 kilometres aprox.

Day 4: After breakfast and breaking up camp, we reload our kayaks with water and provisions. We continue towards Fracasso Bay, We will have lunch in a spectacular beach, after to stretch our legs we hike up a cliff to have a panoramic view of San Jose Gulf. It is very likely that from here, we will begin to observe Southern Right Whales. At midday after having passed by a section of cliffs that form small bays, we will reach Fracasso Bay, where at low tide, a huge section of the beach remains exposed(a slough), that we might be able to enter and paddle if the tide is high. This is an area where many shore birds feed in sand flats which are exposed during low tide, such as Two-banded plover, Lesser Yellowlegs, Bird’s sandpiper. In the afternoon continue to Whale Camp, a small beach where we will camp. This place is where research on these whales has been carried out for over 30 years.
Distance covered: 22 kms.

Day 5: This day we paddle approximately one hour to Punta Conos, where we shall walk different sections observing marine fossils which are characteristic of the Valdes Peninsula. This particular site being a section where a substrate containing varied fossiled marine life forms that inhabited this sea million of years ago. You also have sand dune areas where we will look at different archaeological remains of the ancient Tehuelche Indian. We enter the waters once again in the afternoon, passing Punta Conos until we reach a broad beach where we set up camp for the night at one of the most specials sites in Peninsula Valdes. Under a star filled sky accompanied by whale’s sounds we will enjoy fresh seafood for dinner.
Distance covered: 14 kms.

DAY 6: After breakfast we paddle the entire length of an extensive open coastline, until we reach Bengoa Beach, another fishermen camp, here we reload water and food once again. We will stop for lunch at a small bay after Bengoa Beach. In the afternoon we reach another bay where we set up camp, the main characteristic of these beaches being the concentration of molluscs, such as scallops, mussels, and other sea shell remains brought by the tides. At dinner we will enjoy of a delicious Patagonian lamb cooked over the coals, accompanied with good and fine Argentinean wine.
Distance covered: 20 kms

DAY 7: In the morning we paddle towards a point where you visualize the Sarmiento beacon, once we pass this point we cross the San Roman beach where several points with cliffs and caves may be accessed with the kayaks, as well as another sea lion colony, some cormorant colonies and other sea bird colonies. From here on, we have chances of seeing elephant seals on several beaches en route to Punta Buenos Aires which is our final destination, as well as Orcas. Once we pass still another small point we reach our last campsite.
Distance covered: 20 kms.

DAY 8: Today, early in the morning we paddle a coast of small beaches and extensive cliffs where we will observe elephant seals and sea lions. At noon we will be reaching Punta Buenos Aires and the East extreme of the San Jose Gulf. There is a lighthouse here and we will look at the mouth of the gulf, only 7 kms wide. The other point forming the mouth of the gulf is Punta Quiroga. From here we paddle back a short distance to a place where our transportation awaits us to return to Puerto Madryn or Puerto Piramides.
Distance covered: 20 kms.
End of the trip! After we have settled in our hotel we will meet for a goodby dinner.

Characteristics Golfo San Jose, Natural Reserve:
The San Jose Gulf is protected as part of the Peninsula Valdes Nature Reserve. We intend to observe all the characteristics of this environment, from its marine and land flora, the geology and the marine fossils, marine mammals, sea birds, invertebrates, molluscs and other inhabitants of the tidal flats, historical sites, etc. Special laws and norms exist to observe the marine mammals, but the concept basically is: we adapt to their behaviour and not them to us; and we must respect a certain distance that this involves. Regarding the Southern Right Whale we have great chances of watching them along the journey and especially in certain areas, but it always will be in situations when the whale is close to the shore. We will observe them, take pictures and understand their behaviour and observe their majesty. To later continue with our daily destination. The same thing occurs with different elements we may find; these could be archeological or paleontological remains. The idea is to observe and learn from this particular habitat without modifying it, taking only memories and photographs of the experience. This way we will know, learnt and enjoyed a protected Area in a responsible way. Through knowledge we gain understanding and learn to protect the environment!

Important facts to keep in mind:
Tides: there is a big difference between high and low tide, an average of 4 meters difference. It is important as it means transporting the kayaks for between 100-200 meters, although most of the campsites are in areas where the depth is greater, so the kayaks must not be transported far.
Water: is another very important aspect, this is why we take water but we also establish 2 points to reload water, so we do not have to carry that much weight and volume in the kayak.
The climate and particularly the winds is the factor that may influence navigation. This is the reason the distances covered each day have been calculated keeping this in mind and one day might be modified: one being shorter and another longer. It is to be understood that changes in itinerary will be made due to weathers conditions. For these reasons we may have to camp in the same spot longer than planned.

Environmental Ethics:
As accredited expedition guides we follow conservation guide-lines as lay down by Leave No Trace Organization. One of our main goals is to promote the conservation of the eco-systems involved in each one of the activities we engage in. Keeping small group sizes enables us to offer our clients’ personal attention and truly unique experience whit a minimum impact on the environment.

Professional Safety Standards:
We provide the best quality equipment and fully adequate for the planned activity. The familiarity we have with our trips is the result of personal experiences and years of living in the area.

About our Equipment: All of our gear is of the best quality and fully adequate for the planned activity
Kayaks: Sit on Top from Ocean Kayak Scupper Pro/ Prowlers13. Sit inside SDK doubles Kaiken, singles Neko II
Paddles: Long distance ultra light paddles.
Kayak Gear: Life jackets, dry bags, neoprene boots, mittens, waterproof jackets and neoprene skirt.
Camping gear: The North Face Tents-double occupancy.
Thermal pads
MSR stove and a gas stove.
Full completed Medical kit.
Guides are equipped with state of the art radios.
Over land back up 4x4 pickup truck.

Minimum group size: 2 persons
Client to guide ratio: 4:1
Maximum group size per guide in Single kayaks: 4:1 + Assistant Guide
Maximum group size per guide in double kayaks: 8: 1 + Assistant Guide
Experience required: Medium level (At least one outing on kayak)

Price per person in US$: $1500

Recommended time: October-December. Can start on any date with a minimum of 2 people.

Included in Cost:
All group camping and cooking gear.
Ground transportation as mentioned in itinerary
Scheduled hotel accommodations, based on double or triple occupancy.
All meals while on the kayak expedition.

Not included in cost:
Airfares
Any additional meals not mentioned in itinerary
Personal camping gear and clothing.
All personal nature items; phone calls, laundry, room service and so forth.
Medical/Evacuation and Trip Insurance.
Staff/Guides gratuities.