Punta Norte, Peninsula Valdes
Punta Norte, perched high above the ocean on Argentina’s Peninsula Valdes, is a great place to spot Orcas from shore. And it is an ideal spot to observe sea lions and Southern Elephant Seals. Yet a trip to the northeast tip of this World Heritage Site is about more than marine mammals. The journey across the peninsula affords a glimpse at steppe fauna; animals (tinamous, armadillos, cuis, tucu-tucus, gatos del pajonal, southern gray fox, maras, and guanacos), lizards and birds. A ranger station, information center and souvenir shop, selling snacks and drinks, are also found at Punta Norte.
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History & Culture
There is more to Peninsula Valdes than animals and birds. The Tehuelche, a South American Indian tribe, camped here each winter for roughly 12,500 years.
Maps
Online maps are a great family travel planning resource and great way to get the kids involved in a family vacation. Teach kids to use online maps to pinpoint your family travel destination, identify points of interest and plan your itinerary. Ask them to map geographical features and nature reserves.
Books
Jorge Luis Borges may be Argentina's best known author but he's not the only Argentine writer of note. Get recommended reading lists for travel to Argentina and, in addition to introducing younger children to your travel destination, get teens and tweens ready for a family trip.
Music & Sound
Music is a great way to introduce children to a local culture and embark on a journey through sound. Learn about Argentine folk music. Listen to Mapuche song. Neither have dance steps to rival the tango yet both celebrate life in Patagonia.
News
Local newspapers provide insight to local culture in a way books can't. Read Argentine newspapers online and brush up on current events from around the country. Get provincial news and, in addition to discovering what's happening in Chubut, find out what the locals are reading.
Kids' Stuff
Online resources make learning lots of fun. Learn about southern sea lions, southern elephant seals, southern right whales and Magellanic penguins. All four of these marine mammals frequent the cold waters off the coast of Patagonia. Get fun facts about dinosaurs big and small and, in addition to finding out why these reptiles once roamed here, reconstruct the landscape. Who knows what you might learn?
Animal Facts
PBS SIEC Dinosaurs Big & Small American Museum of Natural History Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County Organizations
Associations and non-profit organizations can be a valuable resource as well as means to get involved. Find out more about a few of the organizations working to protect wildlife and fauna in Patagonia.
Conservation & Environment
UNESCO World Heritage Centre Instituto de Conservación de Ballenas Fundación Patagonia Natural |
Recommended Reads for Family Travel to Argentina