From Editor to the Reader After 15 years working on incoming tourism, we decided to make a guide for our clients. But it´s not just a guide. It´s a tool to help you in the process of your booking decision, to choose this hotel better than the other one, or choosing this activity instead the other one. You will find here, a list of activities to do in Puerto Madryn and Peninsula Valdes area, with total lenght, available days of operation, meals included, seasons, and guide language. You will fiind also location and a brief description of the hotels we suggest for the area. Any advice is welcome of course, you can contact me to ramiro@ ripioturismo.com.ar Would be a pleasure for us to receive your comments. Thank you,
Lic. Ramiro Rodriguez Sales & Marketing Manager
VENEZUELA
COLMBIA
ECUADOR
PERU
BRAZIL BOLIVIA
PARAGUAY
Salta
Mendoza
Iguazu Falls
Cordoba
BUENOS AIRES URUGUAY
CHILE ARGENTINA Mar del Plata
PUERTO MADRYN Bariloche
PENINSULA VALDES
Puerto Madryn
El Calafate
Is Malvinas
PENINSULA VALDES Buenos Aires
The Valdes Peninsula (Spanish: Península Valdés) is a peninsula on the Atlantic coast in the Viedma Department in the north east of Chubut Province, Argentina. Around 3,625 km2 (896,000 acres; 1,400 sq mi) in size (not taking into account the isthmus of Carlos Ameghino which connects the peninsula to the mainland), it is an important nature reserve which was listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999. The nearest large town is Puerto Madryn. The only town on the peninsula is the small settlement of Puerto Pirámides. There are also a number of estancias, where sheep are raised. Most of the peninsula is barren land with some salt lakes. The largest of these lakes is at an elevation of about 40 m below sea level (see extremes on Earth), until recently thought to be the lowest elevation in Argentina and South America (the lowest point actually being Laguna del Carbón, Argentina). The coastline is inhabited by marine mammals, like sea lions, elephant seals and fur seals. Southern right whales can be found in Golfo Nuevo and Golfo San José, protected bodies of water located between the peninsula and the Patagonian mainland. These baleen whales come here between May and December, for mating and giving birth, because the water in the gulf is quieter and warmer than in the open sea. Orcas can be found off the coast, in the open sea off the peninsula. In this area, they are known to beach themselves on shore to capture sea lions and elephant seals. The inner part of the peninsula is inhabited by rheas, guanacos and maras. A high diversity and range of birds live in the peninsula as well; at least 181 bird species, 66 of which migratory, live in the area, including the Antarctic pigeon.
PMY 001 – EXCURSION TO PENINSULA VALDES A must-see, one of the most traditional excursions in the area In the morning, we will depart from the hotel and go on an excursion to Peninsula Valdés. We will enter the peninsula through the Ameghino Isthmus and stop at the Interpretation Centre. We will move on to Puerto Pirámides, where it is possible to go sailing in small boats to watch Whales from June to December, or Sea Lions, and sometimes Dolphins, the rest of the year (both sailing trips are optional). Then we will depart towards Caleta Valdés, where we will have lunch (optional) and take a look at the colony of elephant seals. After lunch, we will head for the southern part of the Peninsula, known as Punta Delgada, to watch Sea Lions. On our way back, we will pass by the Salt Flats and take a close look at the ground fauna and, if we have not been able to go sailing in the morning, we will have the chance to do that in Puerto Pirámides. Full Day Activity English Speaking Guide Season: all the year Combine this visit with a boat navigation to enjoy whales from the boat, in an unforgettable whale watching activity. Check seasons to see the whales
PMY 002 – EXCURSION TO PUNTA TOMBO PENGUIN RESERVE + TRELEW + GAIMAN WELSH COLONY Another great excursion to enjoy the most important continental colony of Penguins in South America In the morning, we will depart from the hotel and go on an excursion to Punta Tombo, an area that is full of penguins. After travelling 200 km, we will enter this natural reserve to go near the nests of these nice animals. From a cliff, we will watch the large group of penguins on the beach. In the afternoon, we will arrive at the City of Trelew, where we will go on a short sightseeing tour to the historic attractions and important areas of this city, which is strictly commercial. We will stop at the Paleontological Museum and go inside (optional). By midafternoon, we will go to the Colony of Gaiman, where it is possible to have the tasty Welsh Tea (optional). Late afternoon arrival at Puerto Madryn. Full Day Activity English Speaking Guide Season: from September to April (during low season it´s not possible to see penguins in the area)
PMY 003 – EXCURSION TO EL DORADILLO BEACH A great option to enjoy whales from the coast Year after year, this remote beach, which is just 20 km away from Puerto Madryn, is home to mother whales and their babies that go there in search of calm water. As they are usually 20-30 metres away from the coastal slope, it is possible to watch them from there and there is no need to go sailing. Available from June to September. Half Day Trip English Speaking Guide Season: From June to September
PMY 004 – EXCURSION TO PUNTA LOMA An opportunity to enjoy a colony of sea lions, only 20 km from Puerto Madryn Departing from Puerto Madryn to the south along the coast, we will pass by various beaches. The first is Kaiser Beach, which leads to a large sand dune where people do sandboarding. After passing by other beaches, we will pass by Paraná Beach, where the top of Polias Ship, a sunken ship,
can be appreciated, and it is ideal for snorkelling or scuba diving. Afterwards, we will arrive at Punta Loma, which is 20 km away, where we will watch a colony of sea lions from a lookout point. Half Day Trip English Speaking Guide Available all the year
lling with Sea Lions is Punta Loma, a natural reserve located approximately 15 km away from the city of Puerto Madryn, and getting there will take us 25 minutes by ship. All passengers will receive a Snorkelling training course that includes previous practice of snorkelling. It will be carried out at the FOLIAS shipwreck. Once it has been completed and the skills have been learnt, we will approach the protected area of Punta Loma to enjoy this exciting activity. Existing regulations allow us to spend an hour in the area with a maximum of 18 people, apart from the Instructor. Half Day Activity English Speaking Guide Available all the year PMY 007 – SCUBA DIVING WITH SEA LIONS A great activity to dive with the incredible sea lions…
PMY 005 – EXCURSION TO GAIMAN A great visit to the welsh colony of Gaiman It is a half day excursion, usually starting after 2.30 pm. We will visit the lower valley of Chubut River, starting at Rawson, (capital of the Province of Chubut), 17km away from Trelew. Then we will visit Rawson Port, where we will see the fishing boats arriving at the dock. In this area, the Chubut River meets the sea. Next, we will visit Unión Beach, a bathing place with a boulder beach that is 2 km long. Unlike Puerto Madryn and Puerto Pirámide, these beaches are located in the open sea and are part of Engaño Bay. Later on, we will pass by Trelew up to Gaiman, which is 15 km away to the east. It is a typical Welsh colony where, apart from appreciating the special characteristics of the culture and landscape, it is possible to taste the Welsh tea (loose-leaf tea and a wide variety of cakes and tarts, as well as scones and homemade bread). Return to Puerto Madryn at about 7.00 pm. Half Day Trip English Speaking Guides Available all the year
did you know?
Punta Tombo is the largest continental colony of Magellan Penguins in the world with around 1.000.000 penguins each year. Incredible right?
PMY 006 – SNORKELLING WITH SEA LIONS A unique experience. Meet sea lions in the sea! This tour is the new attraction for our visitors, as it is something that can be experienced only in 3 places in the World! Puerto Madryn is one of them. The area chosen for snorke-
All those people who have not attended a diving course and wish to dive (with a tank) with sea lions, have this chance! They can take a short training course in open water, required to get to Punta Loma with all the necessary knowledge to do this activity. The Scuba Diver is a course that consists of a theoretical lesson + one dive, before the diving experience with Sea Lions in Punta Loma. The course lasts 3 hours + the excursion to Punta Loma and diving with sea lions Full Day Activity English Speaking Guide Available all the year
PMY 008 – UNDERWATER BAPTISM The underwater experience is developed in a natural reef no more than 10 meters deep. In the diving area, you will receive instructions on how the equipment works and basic knowledge that you need in order to dive, such as signs, compensation and swimming in the water. Once you have the equipment, you will start the adaptation in a personalized way, always hand in hand with the Instructor, who will accompany you throughout the experience. Once adapted, you will start going down and make a dive of approximately 20/25 min., exploring the sea bed (Maximum depth: 9 metres) and discovering the flora and fauna of the area. At the end of the dive, you will have your snorkelling gear included to continue enjoying the activity near the park until we return to the shore. Once back on the shore, you will receive a diploma that certifies your immersion.
SOUTHERN RIGHT WHALES The southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) is a baleen whale, one of three species classified as right whales belonging to the genus Eubalaena. Like other right whales, the southern right whale is readily distinguished from others by the callosities on its head, a broad back without a dorsal fin, and a long arching mouth that begins above the eye. Its skin is very dark grey or black, occasionally with some white patches on the belly. T
he right whale's callosities appear white due to large colonies of cyamids (whale lice). It is almost indistinguishable from the closely related North Atlantic and the North Pacific right whales, displaying only minor skull differences. It may have fewer callosities on its head and more on its lower lips than the two northern species. In Argentina, PenĂnsula ValdĂŠs in Patagonia hosts (in winter) the largest breeding population, with more than 2,000 catalogued by the Whale Conservation Institute and Ocean Alliance. As in the south of Argentina, the whales come within 200 m (660 ft) of the main beach in the city of Puerto Madryn and form a part of the large ecotourism industry.
2-hours Activity English Speaking Guide Available all the year PMY 009 – SEA KAYAKING ACTIVITY A great Kayaking activity in the coasts of Peninsula Valdes If you mean to do an activity purely related to Nature in a conservationist framework and you are looking for full and direct contact with nature, do not give it another thought! Costas de Patagonia will take you along the coast of Peninsula Valdés, for you to see and observe the area from a standpoint that only a few privileged people can have. From the sea and next to our guides, you will discover a fascinating world longing to be explored and interpreted. A great variety of marine and ground fauna will accompany us the whole time during our Sea Kayak expedition. It lasts the whole day Distance: approximately 20 km paddling Difficulty: low Area: Peninsula Valdés (or to be arranged, depending on the weather) Number of Pax: minimum of 2 pax / maximum of 8 pax Full day activity available all the year English speaking Guides
PMY 011 – BOAT NAVIGATION ABOARD REGINA AUSTRALE We will go sailing along a polygon in Nuevo Gulf, which will be crossed in three hours. The circuit will be: Piedra Buena Dock, Almirante Storni Dock, heart of Nuevo Gulf, Punta Loma Sea Lions Colony, Cuello Negro Cormorant Rookery, Folias, Ecocentro, Museo del Desembarco (Disembarkation Museum), and Piedra Buena Pier. The return direction shall be as specified but it can be changed, depending on hydrometeorological conditions and at the discretion of the Captain. At all times, before setting sail and during the voyage, the cafeteria and bar services will be available to passengers, but they are not included in the fare. A speech in Spanish and English will provide basic and helpful information, to which the on-board crew will add any other piece of information requested by the passengers. 3-hours boat navigation Available all the year English Speaking Guides
PMY 010 – KAYAKING & HORSEBACK RIDING This expedition arises from the combination of two activities totally related to Eco Adventures. Sailing across Nuevo Gulf, on a sea Kayak and with specialized guides, you will get to know the natural beauty that the Patagonian coast has; colonies of cormorants and terns, will be just the beginning, before we visit one of the biggest Sea Lions rookeries in the Gulf. But this is not the end, after a delicious and nutritious lunch on the beach, the horseback riding begins. Our guide will lead us through cliffs and gullies in order to know the local flora and fauna. After visiting different panoramic spots we will arrive at San Guillermo Country Estate, where we will be welcomed with Fried Cakes and Mate. It lasts approximately 7 hours Distance: approximately 45 km Difficulty: low (suitable for all ages, no previous experience is required) Area: South of Puerto Madryn (Nuevo Gulf ) Number of Pax: minimum of 2 pax / maximum of 12 pax Suggested equipment: sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, comfortable shoes and protection for cameras. Full Day Activity English Speaking Guide Available all the year
did you know?
Peninsula Valdes receives the largest breeding population of southern right whales, with more than 2000 cataloged by the Whale Conservation Institute and Ocean Alliance
PMY 012 – DOLPHIN WATCHING IN PUERTO MADRYN This boat tour takes us to an encounter with Dusky dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obscurus). Each trip is unique, since dolphins live in the wild. In December, they swim into Golfo Nuevo and linger around for about 5 months. We leave from Puerto Madryn to search for these dolphins, and our main goal is to find the largest schools. Duskies are extremely friendly and outstanding acrobats. This excursion is mainly oriented towards dolphing watching, however, we also visit Punta Loma, a Southern sea lion rookery (Otaria flavescens), the ship wreck “Folias”, Punta Este, and the two peers in town, provided we have good weather and enough time. Daily trips leave from Puerto Madryn subject to the weather situation. Duration: 2:30 hrs approx. Departure: 8:30 am11:30 am – 2:00 pm. Requested: ID and voucher / brochure. Booking in advance required. Type of boat used: zodiac. On board there will be two captains, a specialized guide and a photographer who offers his service throughout the trip. Passengers will be given life vests and will be assisted by a specialized guide on board.
The activities offered by Estancia San Lorenzo will not just bring you closer to nature; fossilized giant oysters, the rests of an ancient Sea lion factory and the taste of a Patagonian lamb barbecue will also give you an insight of our local history and customs. Full day Trip English Speaking Guide Available from middle September to middle April
English Speaking Guides Half Day Activity Available from December to April PMY 014 – JUST WHALES Enjoy whales in a wonderful ride in a yellow submarine!
PMY 013 – PENGUINS IN ESTANCIA SAN LORENZO Enjoy penguins in Estancia San Lorenzo San Lorenzo is a sheep farm located 160 km/100 miles from Puerto Madryn and 17 km/ 10 miles from the Punta Norte Wildlife Reserve. It stretches over 5, 134 hectares, and has a 4, 600 m/3 mile – long coastline on the San Matias Bay. On the property, there is an awesome breeding colony of Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus Magellanicus) with approximately 500,000 penguins including adults and juveniles. You will also have the chance to see elephant seals (Mirounga leonina), the world’s largest seals. Please remember to check season calendar for sea animal watching. Some species can only be enjoyed during some special seasons.
We leave for Puerto Piramides 90 minutes later than the regular tours to Peninsula Valdes in order to avoid crowding on the whale watching boat. After a one-hour-drive we arrive in Puerto Piramides, and around noon we take the boat tour to see Southern Right Whales (Eubalaena australis). You can opt for the traditional navigation, or for a ride in the Yellow Submarine, which allows us to see these amazing mammals underwater. Lunch is not included in the tour; you will find several restaurants and cafes in Puerto Piramides. After luch-time we drive back to Puerto Madryn, and along the way, we stop at the beaches El Doradillo and Las Canteras to observe the whales, this time from the coast. On occasions, the whales are no farther than 15 m/50 feet off the beach. Full day activity English Speaking Guides Available from June to December
SEA LIONS IN PUNTA NORTE The South American sea lion (Otaria flavescens, formerly Otaria byronia), also called the southern sea lion and the Patagonian sea lion, is a sea lion found on the Chilean, Ecuador, Peruvian, Uruguayan, Argentine and Southern Brazilian coasts. It is the only member of the genus Otaria. Locally, it is known by several names, most commonly lobo marino (sea wolf ) and león marino (sea lion). There are several sea lion rookeries in the peninsula. Punta Norte, a Natural Protected Area, created on September 29, 1967 in order to preserve the wildlife that live there, is a large colony of sea lions of a hair. There are also a colony of sea elephants there. Punta Norte is located about 77 km from Puerto Pirámides and is accessed through National Route 3. There you can watch the sea elephants and sea lions throughout the year and in great number between December and April which is their breeding season. For this reason, it is also possible to spot the great spectacle that give us the orcas when they reach these places in search of food. Orcas en Punta Norte, are one of the main attractions, but it´s not easy to watch this orcas. On the way to Punta Norte, the visitor can observe the native fauna characteristic of the steppe. Among them are martinetas, guanacos, rheas, sea and land birds that nest in the area as well as lizards, jararacas cream and mammals such as hairy armadillo, cavy, tuco-tuco, jack straw, bobcat, gray fox, mara.
Ushuaia
PMY 015 – ORCA WATCHING IN PUNTA NORTE
wide bird variety, swamp beavers, American mink and livestock.
Between late February and May, orca (Orcinus orca) – also known as killer whales- can be viewed from the coast. At the Punta Norte sea lion rookery (Otaria flavescens), situated 180 km/ 112 miles from Puerto Madryn and 80 km/ 50 miles from Puerto Piramides, high tides offer the best probabilities for the orca attacks. The Peninsula Valdes orca have developed a unique hunting strategy called “intentional stranding”, by which they beach themselves intentionally to catch their favourite prey: sea lion- and eventually elephant seal pups. The pebble beach is divided up in sectors separated from one another by rocky reef, creating channels that are used by the orca to take the prey by surprise, and be able to access the surf in a matter of seconds.
Available all the year Full day activity English Speaking Guides
did you know?
Most of the peninsula is barren land with some salt lakes. The largest of these lakes is at an elevation of about 40 m below sea level (see extremes on Earth), until recently thought to be the lowest elevation in Argentina and South America
If Punta Norte is a must for nature lovers, the so-called “Attack Channel” is the official platform for this breath-taking natural attraction. Access to this area is limited to professional photographers and filmmakers, who must apply for a special government permit to be able to shoot the attacks of the orca on the sea lions and elephant seals from a privileged location. Documentalists from all over the world meet at Punta Norte between March and May for that purpose. Available from February to May Full day activity English Speaking Guide
PMY 016 – NAVIGATION AND BIRDING IN CHUBUT VALLEY A great activity for birdwatcher lovers… This discipline combines a boat trip in the river and birdwatching. It is the perfect tour to get to know the very heart of the Lower Valley of the Rio Chubut -the river that lends its name to the province-, the Welsh settlers’ tracks, the pure natural environment, its seasonal landscapes, its wildlife (a
PMY 017 – WHALE WATCHING IN PENINSULA VALDES Another must see in the area. Watch the whales from a boat! The village Puerto Piramides has 450 permanent residents and is situated 100 Km/62 miles from Puerto Madryn. As well as guaranteeing outstanding gastronomy and accommodation, Puerto Piramides is the base for whale watching boat trips to see Southern Right whales (Eubalaena australis). From June through December the whales arrive in the Gulf Nuevo to mate, give birth and raise their calves. It is an unforgettable experience to watch them from the boat in their natural habitat. Our specially trained guides on board will give you an insight of the facts and behaviour of these giants of the sea. In the off-whale-season the best option for a closer look at the local marine wildlife are the boat tours that take you out to observe sea lions, cormorants, and occasionally dolphins. There are two different types of whale watch tours: traditional tours that last over one hour and take several passengers, and the private tours on smaller boats offering the possibility and the time to visit different locations. English Speaking Guides One-Hour boat navigation Available from middle June to middle December