Peninsula Valdes

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!

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.

Escape the crowds, switch off and allow yourself to relax into the wilderness of the Valdes 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!

See the Valdes Peninsula from a totally different perspective, and take some incredible photos of the whales and wildlife along the coastline. The flight takes one hour and the main goal is to see the geography, topography and the whales from the air.

The Cessna 182 (or similar) can take three passengers plus the pilot. Big windows next to the back seats provide incredible views during the flight. The journey takes you to the southern shores of Golfo Nuevo (New Gulf) and continues towards the north, for up close sightings of the southern right whales in the San Jose Gulf.

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.

• Southern right whales are present from June to December only.
• Orcas are present all year round, but tend only to be seen beaching in March and April.
• Magellanic penguins are present from September to April.
• Sea lions & elephant seals are present all year round, but in varying numbers depending on where and when you go.
• Dolphins are present from December to March.
• Numerous birds and land mammals can be found throughout the year.