Puerto Madryn is a city on the coast of Chubut, in Argentine Patagonia, on the Golfo Nuevo, 1,350 km south of Buenos Aires. It began with the landing of 153 Welsh settlers who arrived on the ship Mimosa on July 28, 1865, and it is the base for visiting Península Valdés, 100 km away.
Península Valdés is a Chubut provincial protected area of about 4,000 km², a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999. It is one of the best places in the world to see southern right whales, which come into its gulfs from June to December, and it has colonies of elephant seals, sea lions and Magellanic penguins. At Punta Norte, orcas hunt by deliberately stranding themselves on the beach.
The best time to go is September to November, when whales, penguins, elephant seals and orcas overlap. From June to August you can even see whales from the shore at El Doradillo, a few kilometers from town.
Puerto Pirámides, the only town inside Península Valdés and 100 km from Puerto Madryn, is the only place in Chubut where boats leave to see southern right whales. Trips run daily from June to December and last an hour and a half to two hours. September and October are the most active months, with breaching, tail slaps and calves playing near the boat.
See toursThe El Doradillo protected area starts about 15 km from downtown Puerto Madryn, and Las Canteras beach is 19 km away. Mother whales swim with their calves just meters from the shore. Access is free and unrestricted; go at high tide.
The full-day tour starts at the Istmo Carlos Ameghino Visitor Center, 22 km from the protected area entrance, and continues to Puerto Pirámides, Punta Pirámide (sea lion colony), Caleta Valdés (penguins and, at Punta Cantor, elephant seals) and Punta Norte (sea lions, elephant seals and orcas). Caleta Valdés is 75 km from Puerto Pirámides on gravel, and Punta Norte is 79 km. Viewing points open 8 am to 8 pm.
See toursAt Punta Norte, orcas strand themselves on purpose to catch sea lion pups at the water's edge, a hunting technique seen in very few places on Earth. It happens mostly in March and April, and seeing it depends on the tide and on luck.
Punta Tombo Provincial Wildlife Reserve, 175 km south of Puerto Madryn, has the world's most important mainland colony of Magellanic penguins. It is open from mid-September to mid-April. If you drive, fill up before you leave.
See toursThe Punta Loma protected area, south of the city on the Golfo Nuevo, has a South American sea lion colony you can watch from a viewpoint. Snorkeling trips leave from Puerto Madryn to swim with the sea lions in the water.
See toursThe Ecocentro, on the city's waterfront, is an interpretation center about the marine life of the Golfo Nuevo: whales, sea lions and penguins. Nearby is Punta Cuevas, where the first Welsh settlers took shelter after landing in 1865.
The Welsh settlers moved on to the lower Chubut River valley, where Rawson, Trelew and Gaiman were born. The area keeps Welsh home baking and Welsh tea alive, and the province holds the Eisteddfod, a literary and music festival of Welsh origin.
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| Month | High | Low | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 28°C 83°F | 16°C 61°F | 14.9 h |
| Feb | 27°C 81°F | 16°C 60°F | 13.8 h |
| Mar | 25°C 76°F | 14°C 56°F | 12.3 h |
| Apr | 20°C 68°F | 10°C 51°F | 10.9 h |
| May | 15°C 60°F | 7°C 44°F | 9.7 h |
| Jun | 12°C 54°F | 4°C 39°F | 9.1 h |
| Jul | 12°C 53°F | 3°C 38°F | 9.4 h |
| Aug | 14°C 58°F | 5°C 41°F | 10.5 h |
| Sep | 17°C 62°F | 6°C 44°F | 11.8 h |
| Oct | 20°C 68°F | 9°C 48°F | 13.3 h |
| Nov | 24°C 76°F | 12°C 54°F | 14.6 h |
| Dec | 27°C 80°F | 14°C 57°F | 15.3 h |
2015–2024 averages calculated from Open-Meteo historical data (ERA5 reanalysis). They may differ by one or two degrees from the local weather station.
Puerto Madryn welcomes visitors year-round, but wildlife sets the calendar. From September to November you can see whales, penguins, elephant seals and orcas at once. Whales are around from June to December and penguins from September to April.
June to August
Southern right whales arrive and boat trips start from Puerto Pirámides. In July and August mothers with calves come very close to the shore at El Doradillo. No penguins or elephant seals yet.
September to November
The best time: September and October are the whales' most active months, penguins arrive at Punta Tombo and Caleta Valdés, elephant seals line the peninsula's coast and orcas show up. It's high season, so book tours ahead.
December to February
The last whales leave in December. It's beach season: Puerto Madryn has about 4 km of calm, lifeguarded shoreline, plus kayaking, diving and dolphin-watching trips. Penguins and sea lions are still around.
March to May
March and April are orca months at Punta Norte, when they hunt sea lion pups. Penguins leave Punta Tombo in mid-April. The whales are gone.
There are two airports: El Tehuelche (PMY) in Puerto Madryn, and Almirante Zar International Airport (REL) in Trelew, south of the city.
Puerto Madryn is 1,350 km from Buenos Aires on National Route 3. The city's bus terminal has long-distance services. Rawson, the provincial capital, is about 50 km south.
Take Provincial Route 2, which branches off National Route 3. The protected area entrance is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Mar y Valle runs buses from the Puerto Madryn and Trelew terminals to Puerto Pirámides, with seasonal schedules.
3 days cover the city, Península Valdés and one more outing. With 4 days you can add Punta Tombo (September to April) or sea lion snorkeling without rushing.
Ecocentro and Punta Cuevas in the morning; Punta Loma or El Doradillo in the afternoon (during whale season, at high tide).
Península Valdés day trip: Istmo Ameghino, whale watching from Puerto Pirámides, Caleta Valdés and Punta Norte.
Punta Tombo and its penguins, returning through Gaiman for Welsh tea.
Sea lion snorkeling, kayaking or the beach in Puerto Madryn.
June to December. Boat trips leave daily from Puerto Pirámides, on Península Valdés. September and October are the most active months, and in July and August you can see whales from the shore at El Doradillo.
September to November, when southern right whales, Magellanic penguins, elephant seals and orcas overlap. To see orcas stranding at Punta Norte, go in March or April.
At least 3 days: one for the city, Punta Loma and El Doradillo, one for Península Valdés and one for Punta Tombo or sea lion snorkeling. With 4 days you can do it all at an easy pace.
Yes. At the El Doradillo protected area, about 15 km from downtown, whales and their calves come within meters of the shore, especially in July and August. Access is free; go at high tide.
Yes. The fee is per person per day, with different rates for foreign visitors, Argentine citizens and Chubut residents. Children under 5 and people with disabilities enter free. Tickets are sold online on the protected area's official website.
Puerto Pirámides, the peninsula's only town, is 100 km from Puerto Madryn via National Route 3 and Provincial Route 2. The Istmo Carlos Ameghino Visitor Center is 22 km from the protected area entrance.
From mid-September to mid-April. Punta Tombo is 175 km from Puerto Madryn and has the world's most important mainland colony of Magellanic penguins.
Orcas appear in spring and late summer, but the deliberate strandings to catch sea lion pups at Punta Norte happen mostly in March and April.