Península Valdés, Argentina

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The Península Valdés, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999 for the conservation of marine mammals, affords visitors young and old with one of the best opportunities to observe sea life both on and offshore. Watch sea lions, Magellanic penguins, and southern elephant seals. Spot southern right and Orca killer whales as well as a variety of dolphins, dusky, long-finned pilot, Commerson and Peale.

Rent a car or join a bus tour and visit the peninsula's many seal life colonies. Take a whale watching trip or scuba diving excursion. And should you need a break from marine life viewing, windsurfing, sailing, kayaking, hiking, mountain biking and sandboarding can also be enjoyed here.

Begin your journey at the Interpretation Center, located at the entrance to the park, and learn more about the region’s fauna, obtain updates on the weather and sea life colonies, or organize a tour. Engage the kids in bird watching at Isla de los Pájaros and sea life viewing in Punta Norte, Caleta Valdés, and Punta Delgada and partake in on one of the many whale watching trips or scuba diving excursions that depart daily from Puerto Pirámides.

Getting there

The entrance to the reserve is 80 km (50 miles) from Puerto Madryn. From Puerto Madryn, take the provincial road N1 north. Turn right on the provincial road N2. During the peak season, a detour along the N4, an unpaved gravel road, to El Doradillo beach affords great shore-based whale watching. Bus tours depart from Puerto Madryn. Rental car agencies are also located in Puerto Madryn. Commercial flights arrive/depart Trelew. The regional airport in Puerto Madryn is limited to private aircraft.

Puerto Madryn Tourism Office
car rental companies
travel agencies and tour operators

Getting around

The roads throughout the peninsula are gravel. Travel is slow and services are limited. The only gas station is located in Puerto Pirámides, just off the N2, 32 km (20 miles) from the entrance to the reserve. Punta Norte is a 72 km (45 mile) drive on gravel track from Puerto Pirámides. Caleta Valdés is 43 km (27 miles) south of Punta Norte. Punta Delgada is 71 km (44 mile) from Puerto Pirámides.

Puerto Madryn Tourism Office
InterHabit

When to travel

The peak season for sea life viewing is from spring to early summer, September to December. Southern elephant seals and southern right whales frequent these waters in spring with top viewing in September and October. Dolphins - dusky, long-finned pilot, Commerson and Peale - are most frequently sighted in summer from December to March. Orca whales can be seen in October and November and from February to April. While sea lions frequent the coast year-round, viewing is best from December to April. Magellanic penguins nest in October and November and the young are active from December to March. Bird watching is best from September to February. In spring, the weather is usually mild and sunny but windy.

Weather Underground
InfoClima

Opening hours

The reserve and interpretation center are open daily from 8:00 to 20:00.

enPeninsulaValdes.com

Fees

Admission is charged.

Puerto Madryn Tourism Office

Things to keep in mind

Allow two full days to visit the peninsula; the complete tour is nearly 300 kilometers! If you rent a car, make sure to bring food and water as distances are great and roadside services are limited.