Explore Valdes Peninsula from Puerto Madryn in Patagonia, Argentina
Planning A Trip To Valdes Peninsula From Puerto Madryn
Peninsula Valdes lies on the south east coast of Argentina in the Patagonian Desert. It is a mecca of bird and marine wildlife, with special breeding grounds for several endangered species. In this blog we are going to tell you what you will find when you explore Peninsula Valdés from Puerto Madryn in Patagonia, Argentina.
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Highlights of Valdes Peninsula
✅ Boasts several important international distinctions such as “World Natural Heritage” and “Biosphere Reserve” by UNESCO, and “RAMSAR Site” by the Convention on Wetlands.
✅ The world’s most important breeding ground for the endangered Southern Right Whale
✅ Important breeding colonies for shorebirds including nesting grounds for Magellanic Penguins
✅ Part of the Patagonian Desert Steppe with diverse wetlands, dunes and spectacular cliffs along the coastline
Map of Peninsula Valdez
About Puerto Madryn
Puerto Madryn is a small modern city of 100,000 people situated on Golfo Nuevo (New Gulf) just east of the peninsula which was founded in 1865 by a group of Welsh immigrants.
Being the closest city to Peninsula Valdes it has become the gateway to the peninsula for visitors wishing to explore the amazing flora and fauna in the nature park.
The city has developed infrastructure and activities to support its growing tourist industry. There are several sandy beaches along its coast, a modern shopping centre and a growing number of hotels and restaurants.
What To Do In Puerto Madryn?
✦ Take a city tour
✦ Lounge on the beaches
✦ Explore underwater by diving
✦ Take a walk along the water
✦ Learn about the area at the museums and interpretation centres
✦ Observe Welsh traditions
✦ Taste the local area gastronomy
What is Special About Exploring Peninsula Valdés
The Valdés Peninsula is a protected Natural Reserve that has a land mass of over 4000 square kilometres and a marine surface of nearly 3500 square kilometres.
It is mostly surrounded by water with Golfo Nuevo to the south, the San José and San Matías gulfs to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. The extensive coastal area is made up of beaches, cliffs and sandbanks.
The diversity of the environment in such a concentrated area is the key reason that there is such a great variety of fauna, flora and landscapes. As a result, and with the efforts of the Peninsula Valdes Protected Natural Area, the Peninsula has become one of the most important sites for observing wildlife and nature in the world.
What is especially interesting about the Peninsula is that it is mostly privately owned. Since the end of the 1800s, the area has been mostly occupied by livestock ranchers who raise Merino sheep and produce very fine wool for export. These ranchers continue to co-exist today with artisanal fishermen and scientific researchers.
The only town on the Peninsula, Puerto Piramides, has a population of 400 people and contains a tourist office and visitor centre.
✅ Check out our YouTube video of our visit here.
Our Experience from Puerto Madryn to Peninsula Valdes
Like many others visiting the area, we arrived in Puerto Madryn by cruise ship. Our ship docked at the Almirante Storni Pier, which is 6.5 kilometres from downtown.
We had opted to take a tour of Valdes so after a quick breakfast, we disembarked from the ship and boarded the air-conditioned tour van that would take us out to the Valdes Peninsula where we would be spending most of the day.
When we left at 9:00am the weather was calm and cloudless with bright blue skies and a temperature of 25 degrees celsius. This was going to be a beautiful day!
The Valdes Peninsula was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999 because of its significance for the conservation of marine mammals and waterfowl.
It is home to endangered species such as the Southern Right Whale and is also an important breeding sanctuary for the Magellan Penguin, Southern Elephant Seal and Southern Sea Lions. We were excited to be viewing a new species of penguins different from those we observed in Antarctica.
Lunch At The Ranch
Our first stop on the 170-kilometre drive (2.5 hours) from Puerto Madryn to our endpoint in Punta Norte was at an Argentinian estancia (ranch) for lunch. The ranch was a couple of miles off of the main gravel road that runs through the Peninsula.
On our way to the ranch, we spotted herds of wild guanacos, which are related to the llama, grazing on the dry pampas grass and brush that is prevalent in the area.
Insider Tip
It is important to note that the road leading to the ranch is extremely bumpy with massive potholes in the asphalt. This may be a concern for anyone with back problems.
We finally arrived at the ranch which was surrounded by a fenced enclosure and consisted of several outbuildings for the sheep and one main low-slung ranch house.
We entered through the main door into a large open room with high ceilings and tiled floors.
To the left of the entrance were 2 massive wood-burning fireplaces, each stoked with burning embers, cooking whole lambs stretched across upright steel racks. A pungent smokey barbeque aroma permeated the air throughout the main room.
Several large, wooden tables were set up for lunch in the middle of the room.
We ordered wine and waited as the various lunch dishes were brought to the table in large platters.
As we had become accustomed to in South America, lunch usually starts with empanadas, and today was no exception. We were also served mixed salads and the succulent, carved lamb that had been grilling in the fireplace. To finish off, we were offered a dessert of dulce de leche and flan.
Estancia San Lorenzo Nature Reserve
After lunch, we got back into the van and drove another 20 minutes to the Estancia San Lorenzo Nature Reserve where we would be spending most of the afternoon. We were quite excited about this particular destination, and it was one of the highlights that we had earmarked when we were planning the trip.
This is home to nearly 1 million Magellan penguins and we were fortunate enough to be here just after the breeding season, which meant that there would be plenty of chicks and young penguins in the mix.
We parked near the entrance of the sanctuary and followed the delineated rocky path that meanders through the breeding grounds all the way to the ocean. The area is rather dry and consists of hard-packed earth covered in small rocks.
The main vegetation is scraggly, dense brush that serves to cover the burrowed nests that have been prepared by the male penguins in the dry ground. Each female lays 2 eggs, but usually, only one bird survives to maturity.
Both the male and female share feeding responsibilities, walking up to several kilometres across the reserve to the ocean shore to fetch squid and anchovies for their young.
It was hard to leave this area, even after walking around for more than an hour and a half watching the penguins march around, seemingly aimlessly. The penguins were everywhere and it didn’t seem to bother them that we were walking in their midst.
They would often stop and stare at us, only a couple of feet away, and then eventually lose interest, turn away and lumber off in another direction. It was an amazing experience!
Elephant Seals And Sea Lions At Punta Norte Reserve
After leaving the penguin reserve we drove another 6 kilometres up the coast to another reserve to visit the sea lions and elephant seals.
Unlike in the penguin reserve which was at sea level and where we were literally walking among the flightless birds on the beach, we observed the sea lions and elephant seals from a distance standing on top of a bluff while they lay stretched in small groups on the beach below.
While penguins are monogamous, male sea lions are polygamous often having multiple female partners. The females lay close to their young and tended to them, while the males lazed a short distance away. It was quite loud as the elephant seals and sea lions would occasionally burst into bouts of barking as if shouting at one another.
As the midafternoon sun began its journey westward, it was time for us to head back to the ship. We still had another 2-hour ride back to Puerto Madryn. While the bus ride was long, we both enjoyed the day so much.
From the wonderful traditional asado lunch to incredible close-up interactions with the penguins and the exceptional view of the coast, we thoroughly enjoyed our day.
✅ If you are looking to take the same tour as we did here is the direct link. We can highly recommend this company and the overall experience.
Is Peninsula Valdes Worth Visiting?
While we only had time to spend one day in Peninsula Valdes, our short stay was well worth the journey. There is so much to do there, and we only touched the surface. Many visitors go to the Peninsula for the incredible nature, and an opportunity to see rare and endangered species of animals.
One of the most popular activities in the area, albeit one that we were not able to do in our timeframe is whale watching. The Southern Right Whale uses the protected shores of the peninsula for its annual breeding and this is one of the few places to spot these cetaceans.
Anyone who is fascinated by or interested in nature will find the Valdes Peninsula a treasure trove of wonderful wildlife spotting.
How Do I Get From Puerto Madryn To Peninsula Valdes?
There are various options for getting from Puerto Madryn to Peninsula Valdes, including renting a car, taking a taxi or a local bus. But the one that we recommend is taking a tour.
The areas that you can visit on the Peninsula are regulated and restricted, so if you want to get the most out of your time there, a guided private or group tour is the best way. You will get taken to the most important places and you will gain a lot of local knowledge from the licensed tour guide. A link to our recommended tour is above.
How Far Is Valdés Peninsula From Puerto Madryn?
Distances from Puerto Madryn to Peninsula Valdes:
| Centro de Visitantes Istmo Carlos Ameghino (on the Carlos Ameghino Isthmus just before the Peninsula) | 67 kilometres or 50 mins |
| Puerto Piramides | 94 kilometres or 1 hour 15 mins |
| Punta Norte ( this is where we spent most of our time) | 163 kilometres or 2 1/2 hours |
Things To Do In Valdes Peninsula From Puerto Madryn
As mentioned throughout this blog, there are lots of things to do in the Valdes Peninsula from Puerto Madryn.
You can take advantage of the sandy beaches, restaurants and shopping in the town of Madryn before or after you venture out to explore the incredible Peninsula itself. Here is a list of things to consider:
✦ Top on the list is animal watching and this includes Southern Right Whales, Orcas, Elephant Seals, Sea Lions and the Magellanic Penguins.
✦ This is also a bird watchers paradise with more than 181 species that frequent here.
✦ Or you can just walk along the incredible and rugged shoreline, walk through the Patagonian Desert Steppe and enjoy spectacular sunsets.
Peninsula Valdes Best Time To Visit
The weather in this part of Patagonia is dry but cool so you can pretty much visit any time of the year. But the best time to come for animal viewing is in the September to December timeframe. We were here in January and the weather and animal sitings were incredible.
Most cruise ships come from November to March, so if you are planning to come by cruise ship, this is an ideal time.
The Final Word…Exploring Valdes Peninsula From Puerto Madryn
Peninsula Valdes on the Atlantic Coast of Argentina is an exceptional natural paradise that is easily accessible from Puerto Madryn. This World Heritage Site and protected wetland area is the perfect destination for whale-watching, bird-watching, and spending time with the colony of sea lions and the penguin colony.
Put this natural wonder on your bucket list when you visit Argentina.
