Península Valdés

Designated a UNESCO World Heritage site for its important marine mammal populations, and with its unique landscape—the lowest point (132 feet below sea level) on the South American continent—Península Valdés is one of the most spectacular places in Patagonia. Although full-day tours are available from Puerto Madryn, to properly experience Península Valdés you should plan a minimum of two full days of exploring, spending at least a night, but preferably two, at Puerto Pirámides and/or La Elvira near Caleta Valdés. Bring binoculars.

The biggest attraction is the Ballena Franca (southern right whale) population, which feeds, mates, and gives birth here. The protected mammals attract some 120,000 visitors every year from June, when they first arrive, through December. Especially during the peak season of September and October, people crowd into boats at Puerto Pirámides to observe at close range as the 30- to 35-ton whales breach and blast giant V-shaped spouts of water from their blowholes.

From the visitor center at the entrance to the Peninsula—which is worth an hour just for orientation—a series of interconnected 32- to 64-km (20- to 40-mi) dirt roads take you to several major wildlife-viewing areas. These extend from the cliff-guarded beaches and elephant-seal colonies at Punta Delgada in the south to Punta Norte at the northern tip, where depending on the season, you can see orcas. There are also three salt lakes of varying sizes, and large inland populations of guanacos, foxes, rheas, and partridges in addition to the ubiquitous Patagonian sheep that are ranched here.

Península Valdés was discovered by Hernando de Magallanes in 1520 and later named after Don Antonio Valdés, minister of the Spanish navy in the late 18th century. It is now a protected natural area.