Bahia Bustamante Lodge
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Bahia Bustamante is a destination on its own, where you have your own cabin by the sea and enjoy the feeling of being in pristine nature. This is a private wildlife sanctuary, but it is also much more than that. It has a unique history related to the seaweed, a petrified forest inside the property, the possibility of learning about wool production, enjoying the beach, the amazing skies and much more. It is a sustainable project. The true love and respect for the land and nature itself, is appreciated by and shared with guests from the very first moment they arrive.
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It takes at least 2 days / 1 night to travel long distances on dusty roads along Valdes Peninsula to see the marine wildlife. And you need a full day of driving to visit Punta Tombo, the most massive penguin rookery in the area. But you only need to travel for 2.5-3.5 hours to reach Bahia Bustamante Lodge and once there, you do not need to travel any more. You open the door of your cabin to pure nature and a variety of activities to explore the area. No full days or long distances to approach wildlife. Wildlife is all around and easy to spot in great numbers. Activities last about 3-4 hours and the longest 4x4 wheel drive without a stop for a walk is to the Petrified Forest, a 40 minutes’ drive.
Bahia Bustamante offers a genuine wildlife approach. You feel penguins, sea lions, steamer ducks, lesser rheas, etc. are inviting you into their homes. This is a truly off the beaten path experience in the "Blue Patagonia" UNESCO Biosphere Reserve that has nothing to do with the visit to Valdes Peninsula or Punta Tombo. Only during whale season (August – first 2 weeks of December) if you want to see whales, would you need to combine Bahia Bustamante with 1 night in Puerto Madryn, in order to do the whale watching navigation. Whales and elephant seals are the only marine animals which we cannot guarantee you will see in Bahia Bustamante. The Valdes Peninsula is a massive tourist destination. During the day, in high season, Valdes Peninsula is filled with “regular tour” buses and cars, while Bahia Bustamante offers the unique feeling of discovering an unexplored region, just for yourself and with great concentration of wildlife at close reach. They only welcome up to 18 guests in Sea Cabins + 15 in Steppe Cabins, but not all of these participate in activities. Navigation is done in a small boat, which can carry up to 18 guests. Land activities are done in 4 Defenders, which carry up to 7 guests each if the Lodge is full. Otherwise, during high season they have 4 guides; activities are done in much smaller groups, almost offering a private service, aiming to adapt to their guest's preferences and needs. If possible, it is the same guide who welcomes them & says goodbye, guiding all their activities, resulting in a much more personalized experience. Bahia Bustamante offers the chance of seeing penguins in 2 very different spots. The penguin rookery reaches up to 100,000 Magellanic Penguins. During a navigation you get to see penguins in their “water behavior” - something you do not see anywhere else. You get to see them on the island and swimming around the boat. Water is crystal clear and penguins are used to the boat, swimming around it. The visit to Penguin Island when the tide is low offers the possibility of enjoying a close and respectful encounter between penguins and guests. In their wild environment, you visit them in very small groups, walking around them, their nests, the chicks and understand how they live and breed. Before heading back, a picnic awaits, while penguins walk in and out the water. Punta Tombo can be visited by more than 1000 travelers at the same time! Nowhere else will you be so close to the sea and the beach, with a view of the ocean from the window. This is because Bahia Bustamante’s origins where based on the sea and the seaweed, while other similar properties in the area were founded dedicated to wool production and were more inland, protected from the wind and cold during winter months and closer to the roads. Valdes Peninsula beaches have cliffs and rocks. Bahia Bustamante coast has a unique geography and the beach is only accessible to our guests. Long distances and full day tours make visiting the Valdes Peninsula uncomfortable for families. Bahia Bustamante offers the opportunity to slow down, not use technology and enjoy some quality time with your loved ones. The freedom children enjoy in Bahia Bustamante is unique. The entire family can participate in all activities, only the Petrified Forest can be long or tiring for children. All other treks are easy and vehicles are always close. But because of its remoteness, it is important to consider what kind of family you are - it is not for all parents or kids! Staying in Bahia Bustamante Lodge also means taking a journey to the past, to discover the amazing life of the pioneers of this truly remote place in Patagonia. Silence here is only interrupted by gusts of wind, the singing of hundreds of species of birds and the breaking of the waves on the shore. The ocean on one side and the never- ending steppe on the other.
From its magnificent white sandy beaches and crystal clear water, framed by red rocks reaching inland, to its moonscapes of great deserts, it is a marine and earthly paradise inhabited by a great number of birds and mammals. Exploration activities in the area are proposed on a day-to-day basis, considering tides and weather conditions.
Compared to the Galapagos Islands by The New York Times, this is a privileged area to enjoy bird watching. A wide variety of species inhabit different ecosystems: marine, intertidal, marshes, wetlands, steppe, etc. That is why it has been declared an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area. The islands and islets of the region, noted for their diversity of flora and substratum, and the richness of the marine wildlife, create ideal conditions for the seabirds to reproduce. Moreover, they are sheltered from the wind, the swell, and land predators such as armadillos, foxes or skunks. As a result, this destination is an important scientific research center, not only for Argentinean biologists, but also for international experts who have been studying birdlife in the area for more than 20 years. |
Rates per night per cabin in US$ from Oct. 1, 2023 till March 31, 2024 (lofts will be available starting in November):
Minimum stay 3 nights (4 nights from Dec. 22-Jan. 2) .
21% VAT is not included in accommodation + breakfast. 21% VAT included in the rest of services as per Argentina’s regulations .(**) (**)To apply for the VAT refund you must comply with these conditions: Be a non-resident tourist in Argentina who stays in the country for less than 90 days. Payment of your stay must be made with credit card issued outside Argentina, or via wire transfer from abroad. It is necessary to send scanned copies of the guests’ passports beforehand, and to present original passports during the check-in process. We can arrange transfers to Bahia Bustamante with additional cost: • From Trelew USD 520 for the vehicle up to 3 people, with driver. • From Comodoro Rivadavia USD 369 for the vehicle up to 3 people, with driver. Services included:
The Main lodge is the old General Store, which now holds the common areas of the Lodge, preserving a typical Patagonia atmosphere. The Restaurant: They serve local food in a menu based on seaweed, lamb meat, fish & other sea products, and fruits & vegetables from their organic garden. Bar & Living Room: Perfect to relax with a view to the sea through the immense windows. In the library you will find books, bird guides and magazines. They have a well provided bar. The Memorial Room: An introduction to the beginning of the town in the 60s & the life of more than 400 workers. The Club: A game room with Pool, ping-pong, table-football & board games.
There are 4 SUPERIOR SEA CABINS - By the sea, each Cabin has 2 double bedrooms, a living room and 1 fully equipped bathroom, an ocean front view terrace and a Minibar. The stay includes full board (except beverages) & activities inside the property – Mountain bikes available. Superior Sea Cabins are spacious & cozy. The living room features a large window with a beautiful view of the sea. Coffee machine, exclusive small winery & Bluetooth speaker. Maximum capacity: 4 adults. There are 2 STANDARD SEA CABINS - By the sea, each Cabin has 2 double bedrooms, a living room and 1 fully equipped bathroom, an ocean front view terrace and a Minibar. The stay includes full board (except beverages) & activities inside the property – coordinated the night before. Mountain bikes available. Simpler than the Superior Sea Cabins. The living room features a small window overlooking the sea. Maximum capacity: 4 adults. The 4 MARINE LOFTS will be available starting in November. They will be spacious and comfortable with huge windows overlooking the ocean and steppe. They will have a working desk, small kitchen and bathroom. There is a wood-burning stove between the living room and bedroom and a large terrace outside, overlooking the sea. Maximum capacity: 2 adults or 1 adult and 1 child 10 or older. 5 STEPPE CABINS are stand alone cabins for independent stay (self catering, rate doesn’t include meals or activities). Double bedroom, bathroom (shower only), living room with daybed/3rd bed, basic kitchenette, dining area, terrace with seating. The lodge has one of the most southerly vineyards in the world (45.1 degrees south), and the closest to any beach. Famous bar tender Tato Giovannoni Mendoza, Argentine winemaker Matias Michelini and land owner Matias Soriano wanted the wine to taste of the Atlantic Ocean and have planted 70% Semillon grapes for 30% Pinot Noir for this exciting experiment on marine soil. Some sustainable things they practice:
Payment and conditions
Cancelation policy: 60 days before check-in - no penalty BETWEEN 59 & 30 DAYS before check-in - 30% penalty BETWEEN 29 & 10 DAYS before check-in - 60% penalty WITHIN 9 DAYS before check-in - 100% penalty Children Policy - Sea Cabins and Marine Lofts: children from 10 years old are welcome. Steppe Cabins: all children are welcomed from 10 years old, and must be under adult supervision. In common areas, children of 10+ years old are welcomed, supervised by an adult. Check in- Check out - Check In: 03:00 pm. Check Out: 10.00 am In case of arriving earlier, guests may use the common areas. |
