Located on the Atlantic shore some 1,400 km (870 miles) south of Buenos Aires, Puerto Madryn is the starting point for most of the area’s sea life watching expeditions and paleontology excursions. Yet Puerto Madryn is more than a departure point, it is a modern and growing city that offers visitors a variety of options from cafes to restaurants and from rural hotels to contemporary accommodation. It is also one of the best places in the region to shop.

Most of the area attractions are located quite a distance from the city center, so you will need to hire a guide, partake in an organized tour or rent a car. Driving may require more leg work but it results in greater independence: stop at a remote beach and watch sea animals frolic, stroll along the shore or simply stand still and experience the never-ending Patagonian wind.

Puerto Madryn is a snorkeling and scuba diving paradise, cold water mind you, and it is considered the top scuba diving destination in Argentina. Whether you are interested in shipwrecks or sea life there are numerous sites along the Gulfo Nuevo to be explored by boat and from shore. With numerous paths meandering along the coast, hiking is easily practiced here. Check the tides before you head out!

Yet the Península Valdés, located approximately 80 km (50 miles) to the north, is likely to be the real reason for a family trip to this end of the world. The Península Valdés, bordered on three sides by the Atlantic Ocean, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for the conservation of marine mammals. Sea animals frequent these waters annually from August to March for the extended mating, birthing and nesting seasons. Beaches offer spectacular views of Magellanic penguins, southern elephant seals and sea lions. Larger sea mammals such as the southern right whale, dolphins and Orcas or killer whales are best viewed by boat but are often spotted from shore.

Punta Loma and Punta Tombo, also natural protected areas, lie to the south and are home sea lions and one of the largest colonies of Magellanic penguins. The villages of Gaiman and Trelew are traditional Welsh settlements and top paleontology destinations. Playa Union with its sandy beaches offers visitors the opportunity to relax.

Add the natural wonders to the convenient exchange rate of the Argentine peso, and Puerto Madryn and the Península Valdés become a family destination well worth the journey. </pP>