PUERTO MADRYN & PENINSULA VALDES:
Magic Sealife World, Whales, Sea Lions and Penguins

PENINSULA VALDÉS

The most important as regards biodiversity and extension . Appointed in year 1999 World Heritage site by the UNESCO and known to the entire world for its yearly visitor the Southern Right whale, Península Valdés is surrounded by the Argentina Sea and the Gulfs San José and Nuevo. Puerto Pirámides, a small town by Gulf Nuevo, offers the essential services for tourists.

The system Valdés comprises four Protected Areas sheltering different sea species, as well as a great diversity of birds and also land species such as guanacos, foxes, lesser rheas and hares.

EXCURSIONS IN PUERTO MADRYN AREA

PENÍNSULA VALDÉS
Heading towards the north, take provincial road 1 and 17 km ahead take road 2. During the whales season (from June to December), it is worthwhile riding the first part of your journey along provincial unpaved road 4 , it will give you the chance of your first coastal whale watching from El Doradillo beach, considered a natural area of reproduction. After travelling for 77 km you will arrive at Itsmo Carlos Ameghino, from where you can see San Jose Gulf and Nuevo Gulf . There you'll have to pay the ticket to enter the reserve. The Interpretation Centre is located here, an ideal place to receive information about flora, fauna, and places to visit.

PENÍNSULA VALDÉS: Caleta Valdés
A continental elephant seals meeting place . Form different view points you can see the fauna.

PENÍNSULA VALDÉS: Punta Norte
Sea lions and sea elephants meeting place, there is a large number of sea lions in summer. From there you might see the orcas.

PENÍNSULA VALDÉS: Punta Delgada
It is only for hotel guests or tourism agencies. 5 km from Itsmo Ameghino, you will find Isla de los Pajaros with an important sea birds reserve. Get information in its Interpretation Centre,where you will be able to admire the island in detail

PENÍNSULA VALDÉS: Puerto Piramides
A tourist village, lies 25 km ahead. From Puerto Piramides you will be able to board a ship and start your whalewatching adventure. The sea lions meeting place is located 5km from Puerto Piramides and hairy sea lions breed and live here (December through March).

From Puerto Piramides you can also reach Calete Valdes, a continental elephant seals meeting place and Punta norte (sea lions) driving along a grubble road of 75 km. Visitors should get supplies (fuel and water ) in Puerto Piramides.

THE EMPIRE OF MAGUELLAN PENGUINS: PUNTA TOMBO
After nearly 107 kilometers along a gravel road, the penguin reserve in Punta Tombo surprises its visitors for its wonderful landscape full of these animals which come and go looking for their nests or squabs. From September to April, this reserve is visited by lots of tourists coming from Puerto Madryn. To get there, you have to go along National Road 3 in the direction to Rawson, after travelling for 45 minutes aprox. And having passed Treley city, you get a crossroad with Provincial Route 1. This road, with no asphalt, will take you to the biggest continental reserve of Magallanic Penguins. Within the reserve, please, walk on the special paths. You should not forget to take photographs of the squabs swimming with their mothers in the ponds that remain when the tide is low (during February). If you go back by the same road, you will find Provincial Route 25, where you can choose to go to the coast and visit Rawson city and Playa Union, or to go to the Chubut River Valley, going through Trelew. Provincial Route 25 will take you to Gaiman, an old Welsh settlement which still conserves its traditions. Do not miss the Welsh tea.

PUERTO MADRYN: PUNTA LOMA RESERVE
Going southest along Boulevard Brown you'll get to the unpaved path up to the sea lions´ sanctuary This sanctuary was founded on 29th September 1967 through a provincial law (697) and it was one of the first natural reserves in Chubut. In order to reach it you'll have to travel 14km. Once you are there, you will be able to see the beauty of Golfo Nuevo and the place where the sea lions live.There's also a path where typical flora can be seen.. This reserve can be visited all the year round , according to the sea´s low tides. Further south , 3 km away you can get to Cerro Avanzado beach.whose name derives from its geography . Going back to the city , following the coast; you will go by wonderful beaches such as El Pozo, Paraná, Punta Este and Kaiser. This circuit is ideal for mountain bike lovers.

DIQUE FLORENTINO AMEGHINO
60km south away from Puerto Madryn city, along the provincial road N*3, we arrive at Trelew city. When you get to the round about , turn right and drive along provincial road N*25 to Esquel. Las Chapas is 117km away, there , turn left . and after driving 12 km you will arrive at Florentino Ameghino Dam. The reddish rocks build a canyon along which the Chubut river flows There's a camping site. During the summer you can go rafting , trekking and go on safari tours.

CITY TOUR IN PUERTO MADRYN
It starts at Punta Cuevas, where you can find ruins of the first Welsh settlement in the area. These caves are the first houses of Puerto Madryn and some of the oldest in Patagonia. From the Indian monument we can enjoy the beautiful view of the city, beaches and the perisphery. Going down Boulevard Brown we go past the residential area to Roca Avenue. Further,you will be able to see the "Hermandad del Escrófalo",the "Club Social y Deportivo Madryn"and the monument to the Welsh community, built by Estanislao Boris and Luis Perlotti. In the centre of the city you can see the Town Hall Buildings, the Church as well as the oldest buildings in the city . Another option is to visit the provincial Oceanography and Natural Science Museum Finally, at the end of the tour, we arrive at Storni Pier and Aluar Aluminium Plant.

ADVENTURE EXCURSIONS IN PUERTO MADRYN AREA

You can enjoy the walks organized by university groups which are interested in Biology and so on. You will be able to see fósiles and apreciate the wealth of Puerto madryn's coast and its landscapes. Another option is rinding a horse along the meseta. At least 30km of incredible beaches, far away from civilization, are the right place to see the most wonderful sunset. Sea and desert become the perfect landscapes for the tourism.

TREKKING IN PUERTO MADRYN AND PENINSULA VALDÉS AREA
Punta Loma is the right place for people who like trekking. This natural reserve was created in 1967 by the provincial law N*697. After visiting this place, and if you are strong enough, you have to walk 3km more and you will find Cerro Avanzado beach. The landscapes from its dunas are some of the best of the gulf. And in you want to have a perfect day, you can return to Madryn walking by the natural roads that approach the coast, discovering the beachs of "El Pozo" "Paraná","Punta Este"and "Kaiser". And don't, forget that you can visit Punta Loma all the year.

MOUNTAIN BIKE IN PUERTO MADRYN AND PENINSULA VALDÉS AREA
The interest for regular kinds of sports has now given way to the practice of less traditional ones like mountainbike, and Chubut is also part of this phenomenon. Certain landscapes are best appreciated from a bike, with respect for nature and the overwhelming feeling of mastering the vehicle. You can do mountainbike in Puerto Madryn, Playa Unión, Rada Tilly and all mountain towns

SANDBOARD IN PUERTO MADRYN AND PENINSULA VALDÉS AREA
This new discipline grows with every passing day in our coasts, more precisely in Puerto Pirámides, where impressive dunes of white sand offer the ideal scenario. You can rent a sand-board and slip down challenging dunes.

WINDSURF AND SURF IN PUERTO MADRYN AND PENINSULA VALDÉS AREA
These disciplines demand skill, strength and deep respect for nature, and they need no less than the famous Patagonian wind and its alliance to the sea and lakes. These are the most popular water sports all over the world, and Chubut offers the best settings.

PENÍNSULA VALDÉS AREA
The incredible spectacle of sea animals in Península Valdés

Strong winds. Desolated roads. Hot and cold weather. Stunning blue skies. Patagonian desolation. Pure Nature can be experienced in the Peninsula Valdés reserve. This geographical takes a 400 km ride. Heading towards the north, take provincial road 1 and 17 km ahead take road 2. During the whales season (from June to December), it is worthwhile riding the first part of your journey along provincial rubble road 4, it will give you the chance of your first coastal whale watching from El Doradillo beach, considered a natural area of reproduction. After traveling for 77 km you will arrive at Istmo Carlos Ameghino, the gate to the peninsula Valdés reserve. The Interpretation Centre, which depends on the Tourism Secretariat is located here, an ideal place to receive information about flora, fauna, geography and history of the area. Puerto Pirámides, a tourist village, lies 25 km ahead. From Puerto Pirámides you will be able to board a ship and start your whalewatching adventure. The sea lions sanctuary is located 5 km from Puerto Pirámides and hairy sea lions breed and live here (December through March). From Puerto Pirámides you can also reach Caleta Valdés, a continental elephant seals sanctuary and Punta Norte (sea lions) driving along a rubble road of 75 km. Visitors should bear in mind that they are travelling around one of the only places in the world whose resources have been kept untouched for 160 years and which astonished Charles Darwin.

ISLA DE LOS PÁJAROS (BIRDS ISLAND): Península Valdés
A part of San José gulf, viewfinders and telescopes to watch better. 5 km from Istmo Ameghino, you will find Isla de los Pajaros with an important sea birds reserve. Get information in its Interpretation Centre, where you will be able to admire the island in detail through a viewfinder. Do not miss the replica of the "Fuerte la Candelaria" chapel, the first Spanish settlement in Peninsula Valdés.

The East of Península Valdés: CALETA VALDÉS
Elephant seals - Some of them sleep all day long. Caleta Valdés geography will surprise you from the very start. When you get there and see a piece of land surrounded by water opposite the Atlantic Ocean you will be shocked at being faced with such immensity. Further on, after having taking a long walk and, after climbing down along an authorized path, you will arrive at the land of the elephant seals. The three-ton and five-metre-long males count with harems of as many 10 females. The reproduction takes place between August and November and they change their skin in summer, especially the young ones and females. They are excellent drivers and swimmers. They do not abandon the sea to rest for a period of 8 months. While on the beach, they neither feed themselves nor move too much, due to the loss of energy which these activities could bring about, making it impossible for them to recover immediately. So, while on your visit, do not disturb them, by shouting or harassing them. Respect their natural habitat.

PUERTO PIRÁMIDE: An incrédible place in Península Valdés
This sea lion rookery is only 5 km from Puerto Pirámides, This reserve is open throughout the year but the recommended time for visit is from September through April due to the high concentration of animals.

PENÍNSULA VALDÉS: PUNTA NORTE
It lies 90 km from Puerto Pirámides and is a sea lion and elephant seal rookery during the breeding time. It remains open the whole year.
Isla de los Pájaros: this island is a breeding area for ten different sea and coastal bird species. It lies scarcely 5 km from the Istmo Ameghino. The birds can be watched from the shore, approximately 800 meters' distance, by means of high power binoculars. It is open throughout the year.

MARINE ANIMALS-WATCHING: SOUTHERN RIGHT WHALES, PENGUINS, ORCAS, SEA LIONS, SEA ELEPHANTS...

Only in Chubut you will have the chance to approach huge whales and playful dusky and Commerson´s dolphins .

WHALE WATCHING
Boats trips leave from Puerto Pirámides on Peninsula Valdés every year from June through December. In this beautiful seaside resort you can choose from six whale watching companies to take you out to sea to encounter the Southern Right Whale. This whale visits the quiet waters of our Gulfs to mate and breed. To watch a female with its calf is doubtlessly one of the most wonderful shows ever. Having the certainty that they are under protection, and that their population increases steadily is just superb. The trip will last approximately one hour, according to the location of the animals. The small boats approach them carefully. Then the whale does the watching. She even ends up swimming underneath the boat: the best chance to contemplate them and take photos due to the transparency of the water.

DOLPHIN WATCHING
From Puerto Madryn there are organized boat tours to the Dusky dolphins, one of the most acrobatic on the planet. They move about in small groups from 8 to 12 animals together with other groups. Once found, they swim along with the boat with quick jumps in company of different birds, and occasionally penguins and sea lions. Enjoy these half-day trips from December through March, enjoy life freedom.

COMMERSON´S DOLPHINS WATCHING
The Commerson dolphin is the smallest dolphin in the world. Boat tours leave from Playa Unión, a seaside resort by Rawson. This mammal is black and white, approximately one and half meter long and moves in groups from 2 to 10 animals. Quick and active swimmers, they can be sighted from April through December jumping close by the boat and even surfing the waves towards the shore and in the trail left by the boat. Commerson´s dolphins are protected by environmental policies in Chubut and object of research studies. For this reason you will occasionally find biology researchers among the passengers.

DIVING IN PUERTO MADRYN AND PENINSULA VALDÉS AREA

LEISURE AND SPORTS DIVING
How to resist this thrilling activity, the unexplored clear blue sea inhabited by unique fauna, the skill of top instructors. This new world is available to people of all ages in Chubut's Puerto Pirámides and especially in Puerto Madryn, Argentina's Diving Capital. Enjoy "bautismos submarinos", diving excursions to underwater parks for beginners, an exciting experience that the various diving agencies offer groups and individuals, together with the necessary equipment.
For experienced divers there are special "diving packages", including sailing tours of more than one day.

THE FIRST DIVE
The feeling of the first dive cannot be put into words. Still, it is important that you observe all previous instructions and go through an adaptation period on the underwater park platforms, so that you achieve a regular, paused breathing and learn to compensate for the arising pressure difference. Then, just give in to the magic of the underwater world. You will obtain a first-time-divers's certificate, and will certainly want to repeat the challenge.

WHEN TO DIVE
Diving agencies offer their service throughout the year, though excursion are subject to climate and sea conditions.

WELSH SETTLEMENT: Gaiman and Dolavon

In May 1865 the "Mimosa" set sails from Liverpool. Aboard were hundred and fifty settlers, mostly of humble origin. July 28th 1865 after a two-month voyage, they reached Gulf Nuevo in Chubut. From there they moved on to the Chubut river valley, where they started to set up a village that was later called Rawson, the present capital city of the province.

The relationship between the Welsh and the natives was one of peace and mutual benefit. The Tehuelches, helped the settlers get acquainted with the new environment, and at the same time took part in their tradition, and carried out trade with their hunting produce.

Twenty years later an expedition of 29 riflemen reached a beautiful valley in the west which they named "16 de Octubre" abiding the National Territories Act.

One of the historical cultural expressions of Welsh tradition is Eisteddfod, a festival with poetry and music competitions in Welsh and Spanish very much like the Flower Games in the Middle Ages. This celebration originated in the 6th century. In Chubut this annual competition started in 1875 as a result of the preoccupation for culture and literature.

Trevelin, Welsh for "mill town" is situated in west Chubut. THE Welsh settlement history has left deep traces here, such as the Public School Nr. 18 and old mill, today a museum with an exhibition related to the town's settlement and history. In the Chubut lower valley, several protestant chapels became actual communal houses for religious services, meetings and children's education too, since they sometimes functioned as schools. Gaiman, well-known for the preservation of Welsh traditions, for instance through the Regional History Museum and several tea-houses. The welsh tea, the home-made bread and cakes, and the secrets about the famous "black pudding" are all well kept in each of the homes of Welsh descent.

FAUNA IN PENÍNSULA VALDÉS AREA
THE SOUTHERN RIGHT WHALE, ORCAS, PENGUINS, SEA LIONS, ELEPHANT SEALS...

THE SOUTHERN RIGHT WHALE: PUERTO MADRYN AND PENÍNSULA VALDÉS AREA
The southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) is a cetacea, belonging to the Mysticeti or ballen whale suborder. The mysticeti have baleen instead of teeth. The whale fossils found are 55 million years old. Most of the whales show ventral grooves and a dorsal fin, but the southern right whale lacks both. The top jaw is long and thin, measuring a quarter of its total body. Some parts of the head are covered by callosities and a large number of crustaceans (parasites). On the top of their heads, they possess two external blowholes. One of the outstanding characteristics of the southern right whales is the way in which they exhale, two columns of air and water particles emerge forming a "V" which can be observed from some km away. The southern right whale has been considered a "Natural Monument" by the law number 23.094 and the population, distributed in the seas of the southern hemisphere, in mild and Antarctic water does not amount to more than 4.000 individuals. Every year 600 individuals reach the Nuevo and San José gulfs (March through December) though the population of the Peninsula Valdés area is calculated in 1,200 animals. This whale bears a calf every three years, being sexually mature when they are between 7 and 17 years old. Females reach a length of 13 meters when they are sexually mature. Males are shorter. Calves are about 4.5 and 5.5 long and approximately three tons when they are just born. They grow at a rate of 3.5 centimeters a day and will reach a length of 12-16 meters and a weight of 50-55 tons.

THE ELEPHANT SEAL: PUERTO MADRYN AND PENÍNSULA VALDÉS AREA
One of the biggest sanctuaries in the world: Peninsula Valdés offers the chance to watch elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) without having to travel to remote islands, since this in the only continental territory where this species is found. The southern elephant seal has a sub Antarctic distribution and it is estimated that the elephant seal population is of 700 thousand individuals, among which 20 thousand arrive between August and March to breed and change their skin. The elephant seal belongs to the family of the focidos, they differ from other pennipedians since they have no external ear and their hind flippers are turned backwards and on land they can only creep. The male differs from the female as its nose looks like a trunk. They attain a length of 5 metres and some of them weigh between 3 and 4 tons. The females, however, are only 3 metres long and they weight less than 1 ton. The pups weigh 45 kilos when they are born and they are black, but after 23 to 30 days of suckling they become grey and they weigh 250 to 300 kilos. The elephant seals are polygamous. At the end of August the first males arrive to form harems, while the females reach the coast at the beginning of September, and after 5 days they give they give birth to their pups. During the suckling period the female fast and consumes her fatty reserve. After this period and the reproduction period, the elephants go to the sea searching for their food. It is known that they usually dive till 400 metres and some of them have reached 1500 searching for food. The elephant seals spend 90 % of their sea life under the water. After December they come back to the shore to change their skin.

THE MAGELLAN PENGUIN: PUNTA TOMBO PENGUIN RESERVE
In 1979 the province of Chubut created a reserve in Punta Tombo (181 km away from Madryn) which is 21 hectares big, so as to protect magellan penguins (Spheniscus maellanicus). One of the biggest colonies of sea birds in the world and the biggest continental penguin colony, apart from Antarctica, with more than 500 thousand birds from September to mind-April. Penguins build their nests under the bushes, in caves and in open places. Most of the caves are found near the coast, where the soil is softer for digging. The usually return to the same nests. The male is sometimes bigger and has a thicker and longer beak than the female. Both of them defend their nest, incubate the eggs and feed the nestling with fish and squid. Penguins spend most of their lives in the sea and they even sleep in it. In winter they usually reach Rio de Janeiro, in a 3000 kilometer journey. They are able to swim at a speed of 8 km an hour and they use their fins as propellers and the feet as rudder. In February thounsands of young penguins can be seen molting on the beach. Marine predators, such as the giant petrel and the orcas, wait to feed on the young and sick penguins.

THE HAIRY SEA LION
The whole year in the region. The hairy sea lion. (Otaria flevescens) is a species that can be found in Atlantic and Pacific coast, from the South of Brazil to Peru, and it is usually seen in the Peninsula Valdés the whole year round. These pinnipeds belong to the family of otarids; they move on land using both their front and back limbs. The males are dark grey and they have a mane. They attain a length of 2.3 m. and the females 1.80 m. The males weigh 359 kilos and the females 100 kilos. The pups are born at the end of December, beginning of January; they are black and they bleat like sheep. They weigh 13 kilos, but after a year suckling they double their weight. The sea lions perform a short migration the sanctuaries in Golfo Nuevo and Peninsula Valdés. During the reproduction period the males move to Punta Piramides, next to Puerto Pirámides, and also to Punta Norte. From April through November sea lions can be seen in other meeting places, one of the most important being Punta Loma (a provincial reserve), which is 17 km. away from Puerto Madryn. Young sea lions, which are not sexually mature can be seen during the whole year, and from April onwards we can also find sea lions which migrate from Puerto Piramides.

PALEONTOLOGY & OCEANOGRAPHY
IN PUERTO MADRYN AND TRELEW AREA

MEF AND ECOCENTRE: MUSEUMS IN TRELEW AND PUERTO MADRYN
Chubut stands out through the preservation of its natural resources. Its environmental policies are backed by different scientific institutions that work together with the authorities, so that you can enjoy both, nature in freedom and an intact past. For that reason, you should not miss two model institutions: MEF and the Ecocentre.

PALEONTOLOGY MUSEUM EGIDIO FERUGLIO (MEF): TRELEW
This paleontology museum, the most important one in South America, is in Trelew. Its exhibition is a trip to the past, from the first human being back to life begin on the planet, the protagonists being the dinosaurs that once populated this region.
A guided visit is rounded off by documentary that combines both, knowledge and entertainment. This institution also offers educational trips and special activities for teachers and students, apart from an interesting dino-bar and dino-shop. The MEF assigns as much importance to the exhibition itself as to the accomplished reserch work and preservation of the fossils in Chubut's territory. In addition, it works together with similar national and foreign institutions.
Far from ending in its premises, the MEF experience extends to a discovery trip in the Paleontology Park Bryn Gwyn, by Gaiman, a virtual museum under the sky.

ECOCENTRE: PUERTO MADRYN
This is the first institution dedicated to the understanding of the ecosystems. Its aim to promote and transmit knowledge about life in the sea and its preservation, through programmes on environmental education, scientific research and artistic expressions.
The Ecocentre is in Puerto Madryn and exhibits nature's plenty in the Patagonian sea habitat. A pool containing different invertebrates, for instance, will show you the way a starfish moves or the feeding conduct of sea urchins and anemones.
The offers extends to educational activities for teachers and students from all over the country, including the possibility of discussing scientific projects supported by the institution with the scientists themselves. during your visit you can also enjoy the library with a wonderful sea view, and a coffee and souvenir.