Estancia Rincon Chico

Expert wildlife guides will take you in search of birds, sea lions, elephant seals (who breed and have calves here), orcas, southern right whales, penguins and dolphin (all sighted from the 15km of coastline on site), and many land mammals as well.

Most of the above wildlife, as well as diverse flora and stunning views can be enjoyed on foot, by walking along beaches, across the steppe, and along cliffs and off the beaten path trails.

If you fancy something a little more active, you can also explore some of the trails by mountain bike!

Centuries of erosion have left important geological traces rich in marine fossils, such as shells, oysters, bivalves, sea urchins and many more species. This sediment is proof of the different stages of how our Valdés Península was formed. You can look out for them on your hikes!

Expert guides can take you to perfect spots for interpretation of the stars and planets above, that can often be seen very clearly in this remote location.

The estancia is located in the south east corner of the Valdes Peninsula, 70km from Puerto Piramides, 170km from Puerto Madryn and 230km from Trelew.

In addition to the 8 bedrooms, the hotel has a living room full of books, photos and publications of scientists who work at the ranch, as well as a DVD player on which you can watch documentaries made on the property by National Geographic and the BBC for example.

The restaurant offers a combination of family recipes and typical Patagonian dishes, created with organic ingredients. It is furnished with antiques from the families who lived there.

Electricity is powered by wind mills and solar panels, offering 12 volts during the day. In the evenings a diesel generator is used, providing 220 volts, as well as satellite wifi. There are built in outlets for N.America and Europe.

The property itself belongs to a fifth generation of settler families, who have lived on the peninsula for over 120 years. In 2001 they opened their gates to guests to allow them to experience living in this remote and stunning location.

The first ancestor to arrive was Don Félix Olazábal, French Basque, who traveled on horseback from the Province of Buenos Aires to the Valdés Península in 1897 herding 800 Australian Merino sheep. Natural caves in the cliffs of what is now the town of Puerto Pirámides were their first home. Eventually large lots of land for sheep farming were purchased, and now more than a century after their arrival his heirs continue their legacy.

In 1899 the current owners' great grandmother, Doña Francisca Endara, also French Basque, began raising Australian Merino sheep in the northern area of the Península Valdés as well, acquiring thousands of acres and founded several ranches. Her farms have become an oasis in the middle of the Patagonian desert.