Peninsula Valdés

You can spot whales right from the shoreline, but to get up close it's best to take a trip out by boat or kayak, both of which are easy to do around the peninsula. You can even step the adventure up a notch and go whale-watching by plane or submarine!

Depending on which whale you want to see, you can base yourself from Puerto Madryn, Puerto Piramides, or one of the estancias on the peninsula. They each offer incredible sightings, but you'll need to make sure you travel at the right time of year for the whales you want to see, and allow enough time to travel between different areas.

Sea Lions

Throughout the year you can expect to get up close and personal with groups of inquisitive sea lions whilst kayaking in the calm waters of the Golfo Nuevo from either Puerto Madryn or Puerto Piramides.

Southern Right Whales

Between June and December you'll also have the chance to kayak within 50 metres of a southern right whale: often a mother with a calf in tow. Both are incredibly special experiences not to be missed by marine wildlife fans!

From the 1860s, this part of Patagonia was a destination for emigrants from Wales looking for a better life, and there are plenty of towns where the ties to their Welsh heritage are still proudly maintained. 

While the seafront in Puerto Madryn has a large statue celebrating the Welsh colonists (who kept good relations with the local Tehuelche people), head to towns like Gaiman and Trevelin for a real taste of Welsh culture. Expect tea shops selling bara brith, plenty of dragons and perhaps even the chance to visit a regional Eisteddfod, or Welsh cultural festival. 

Escape the crowds, switch off and allow yourself to relax into the wilderness of the Valdés region. Rustic, restored estancias are dotted along the peninsula, and a few nights stay is one of the best ways to immerse yourself in the scenery. 

With vast swathes of private land to themselves, most of the estancias have private colonies of sea lions, elephant seals, and/or magellanic penguins that you can visit at your leisure.

Some of the ranches are also very unique spots for whale sightings, offering you the best chances of wildlife spotting in the region.

Explore the Valdes peninsula under your own steam, with the freedom to drive yourself whenever and wherever you please.

You’ll need to be comfortable with some long drives on remote and poorly maintained dirt roads, but the freedom, flexibility and privacy of self driving around this stunning region make the adventure worthwhile!

A variety of accommodations are on offer, from friendly eco-lodges and contemporary hotels, to remote ranches and authentic farm houses. Puerto Madryn lies just outside of Península Valdés and is the largest town in the area, with the main hotel options.

The village of Puerto Piramides is the only place to stay on the peninsula itself. Smaller hotels and hostels are dotted along one main road and restaurants and some shops on the other. You'll be a few moments walk from the beach, from where you can watch the whales and sea lions playing.

For even more secluded options, you can head further out along the southern coast to Bahia Bustamante. 

The Valdes peninsula and surrounding areas can be complicated to get to and navigate around. You need to be organised and allow enough time for travel in order to make the most of your time in the area. 

Peninsula Valdes has direct flight connections from Buenos Aires. There are daily flights to Puerto Madryn (airport code PMY, 1 hr 45 minutes) and Trelew (REL, 1 hr 55 minutes). 

Trelew also has direct flights to El Calafate (FTE, 1 hr 35 minutes) to connect with Los Glaciares National Park. 

There are no direct flight connections to Tierra del Fuego, the Argentinian Lake District or destinations in Chile.