Two days are enough to see Península Valdés properly if you treat it as two separate halves: Puerto Pirámides and the sea on one day, the gravel circuit along the outer coast on the other. Which animals you find depends on the month, so settle the date first and the route second.
The lie of the land
The peninsula is in Chubut province, on the Atlantic coast of Patagonia. It is a protected area and a World Heritage site. Puerto Madryn is the base city, and there are airports at Trelew and Puerto Madryn with flights from Buenos Aires. You enter across an isthmus, where the entrance fee is paid and there is a visitor centre. Inside, Puerto Pirámides is the only village and the place whale-watching boats leave from. The road is paved that far. Beyond it, towards Punta Norte and Caleta Valdés, it is gravel, with long stretches and almost no services.
What you can see, and when
- Southern right whales. From winter to late spring, by boat from Puerto Pirámides or from the shore at El Doradillo beach near Puerto Madryn.
- Elephant seals and sea lions. At Punta Norte, at Caleta Valdés and at the colony close to Puerto Pirámides.
- Penguins. In the warmer months, near Caleta Valdés.
- Orcas. At Punta Norte in certain periods, never guaranteed.
Check the wildlife calendar of the provincial tourism body before you fix your dates.
Splitting the two days
- Day 1. Puerto Madryn to the isthmus and on to Puerto Pirámides. A whale-watching boat if it is the season, the sea lion viewpoint and a late afternoon on the beach. Night in the village.
- Day 2. The gravel circuit by Punta Norte and Caleta Valdés, stopping for guanacos, rheas and maras along the road. Back to Puerto Madryn or to the airport.
Sleeping in Puerto Pirámides saves repeating the access road. If you would rather stay in Puerto Madryn, the second day can be swapped for Punta Tombo, the penguin colony south of Trelew, which is not on the peninsula.
Getting around
- Tour from Puerto Madryn. Covers the peninsula in a day with fixed stops. The most common choice.
- Hire car. Freedom, at the cost of gravel driving: go slowly and watch for wind and animals. Ask the hire company what conditions it sets for these roads.
- Bus. A regular service with few departures runs to Puerto Pirámides. It does not reach the wildlife points.
- Private driver. We arrange a vehicle and driver for one or two days, at your pace and with the stops you choose. It suits families, photographers who need time at each point, and groups in a minivan. Availability is confirmed when you book. The reserve entrance and the boat trip are bought by each visitor.