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Argentina

Best of Patagonia / Hiking the Patagonia Classics / More Patagonia Treks / Hidden Argentina
Buenos Aires / More Patagonia / Iguazu Falls / Lake District / Salta / Mendoza / Ibera / Valdes Peninsula
Antarctic Cruises / Expedition Cruises / Best of Northwest / Mountain Bike Tours / Winter Trips

VALDES PENINSULA

The Argentine shoreline on the South Atlantic is over 2800 miles long. Its numerous gulfs, bays, inlets and peninsulas host a great variety of wildlife. The warm Brasilian Current and the cold Malvinas Currents mix along the Patagonian coast allowing a wide diversity of ocean life, including subtropical species. The Patagonian land mass ends abruptly in the sea, forming high cliffs. Centuries of water and wind erosion have formed, at their feet, rocky shelves and wide sandy or stony beaches on which the colonies of marine mammals find perfect shelter. When the tide is out, the "restingas" are visible; these are rock formations holding a rich variety of subaquatic life forms, which are exposed at low tide.

Areas such as Valdes Peninsula and Puerto Deseado congregate such unique species as Southern Right whales (from late June to mid December), various species of dolphins, orcas, southern elephant seals, South American sealions, Magellanic penguins (from late September to March), and various species of cormorants among others. All of these areas are ideal for birdlife viewing and sailing together with some mountain bike and hike in the lower Chubut River valley. Together with the wildlife, Welsh settlements are to be visited and the famous Welsh Tea will be ready for visitors! A true wildlife paradise! You can visit Peninsula Valdes all year round. Summer season lasts from December 15 up to March 15. Whales season is from June 15 up to December 15.

There will be a feature for BBC Wildlife Magazine on the world's top 10 wildlife spectacles, as voted for by more than 500 of their top experts (photographers, writers, film-makers, conservationists), and orcas hunting sealions by beaching themselves was voted number 3.

Most of the people go to Trelew and Puerto Madryn, so most of the hotels are the there.. But the Patagonian coast does not finish there. From Comodoro Rivadavia to the South, there are lots of small towns where you can see lots of fauna, the same as in the Peninsula. In fact there are some places where you can find animals you cannot see at peninsula Valdes, and the other point is that you will never find lots of people there, for everybody goes to Peninsula! So that is another reason why you can see more animals.

This trip south is just ideal for real naturalists, and people who just want to go and see lots of fauna. Some popular places on the coast where you can see lots of wildlife are Puerto Deaseado, Bahia Bustamante, San Julian, and the new National park, Monte Leon.This is the first Coastal national park in Argentina, and it has been a great effort to be able to create it. The coast in South Santa Cruz is different than the Peninsula, as it has lots of cliffs.

So for people who just want to see some animals and is not so fond, I would recommend the classic Trelew and Peninsula tours that we can arrange, but for someone who really loves nature and animals, and wants to see Patagonia as it really is and was a long time ago, south Santa Cruz is the best option ever!

See "The Living Edens" on PBS

FAUNA CALENDAR:

Sample Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrive Trelew and transfer to a hotel in Puerto Madryn. Populated from 1886 as a railway junction, immigrant workers flooded in from Europe as the railway network expanded. Both Welsh and Italian language and traditions are still very strong here.

Day 2 - A complete day enjoying the beautiful landscapes and wildlife of Peninsula Valdés, one of the few places in the world which offers the possibility of watching so many animals in their natural habitat. After crossing the Ameghino Isthmus, from where you can see Golfo San José and Golfo Nuevo, you enter the Peninsula. On the way you will see the wildlife of the area: guanacos, rheas (choiques), Patagonian foxes, hairy armadillos, maras and the most important rookeries protecting large colonies of South American sea lions, dolphin gulls, kelp gulls, among others. The road will finally lead you to Puerto Piramides, a beach that, with its gentle slopes, is protected by cliffs resembling pyramids, where there are fossilized invertebrates of more than 9 million years old. From here, you will travel across the Peninsula, enjoying the landscapes and the fauna. You will visit two of the three elephant seals reserves (Punta Delgada/Caleta Valdés/Punta Norte). In Caleta Valdes (a thin leg of land parallel to the coast) you will be able to observe the elephant seals colony and a small developing Magellan penguin colony.
OPTIONAL: Whale watching navigation - 1 hour - (additional cost of US$29)

Day 3 - Departure towards Punta Tombo crossing the rugged landscape of the Patagonian steppe and its contrast with the deep blue sea and the marine fauna. Visit to Punta Tombo, the most important breeding colony of Magellan penguins in the world. You will walk through a trail which cuts deep into the colony to observe closely these fascinating birds. Other species such as kelp gulls, skuas, guanay cormorants, giant petrels, dolphin gulls, the Chubut steamer duck, hairy armadillos and Patagonian foxes also inhabit the area and may be seen here. On the way back you will visit Gaiman, a typical Welsh settlement. The first settlers were looking for a virgin territory to be able to found the "New Wales" and follow their own rules and customs without being molested. At present, you can still discover the attitude that characterized these first inhabitants of the town by walking around the streets of Gaiman, which still keeps its village essence, sprinkled with farms, typical chapels and Welsh-style houses. And the main attraction are the Welsh Tea Houses, where the descendants of the settlers prepare and serve the greatest classic Welsh tea.

If you have a flight leaving after 5pm, you can transfer to the airport today, without visiting Gaiman.

Day 4 - transfer to the airport today.

2008 price per person in US$ with group tours: $225 for 1 person for 4 day itinerary or $180 with transfer out on day 3,
$171 for 2people for 4 day itinerary or $153 with transfer out on day 3.

Can also quote for private tours. Price does not include hotel. We can quote for hotels from 3-5*

Bahia Bustamante

Bahía Bustamante is a seaside village entirely surrounded by nature. It is located on the northern arch of San Jorge Gulf, an area characterized by its important biodiversity. There are few places in the world that house such a number and diversity of seabirds and marine mammals. Since 1952, the village has been exclusively devoted to the harvesting of seaweed. At the beginning, 500 people lived there, using wagons pulled by horses to collect the crops. Today only 40 inhabitants live in Bahía Bustamante, devoted to seaweed production, which makes this place a world's unique "seaweed village".
On the other hand, the village is surrounded by 70.000 hectares dedicated to wool production. This place invites you to enjoy a deep blue sea contrasting with red rocks, a petrified forest, sea and steppe birds, sea lions, killer whales and dolphins, guanacos, Patagonian hares, lighthouses, starry skies, aboriginal working areas and cemeteries. And, above all, this remote and exclusive village on the Patagonian seaside offers you somewhere completely different - a place full of peace and safety.

Four comfortable houses by the sea have been remodeled for guest's accommodation. Each house has two twin bedrooms, living room, kitchen, one fully equipped bathroom (that will be shared with other guests), heating and hot water. At the grocery store, exclusive regional meals based on own products such as sea-weed, lamb, fish and sea food are offered. Vegetarian or any other special diets must be advised in advance. After checking in and having lunch, you will have time to begin to explore this natural paradise where the Patagonia expresses itself in its 360 degrees!

Depending on the time and weather conditions, you will have time to enjoy the activities offered such as: Sailing along Malaspina Cove, visiting Sea Lion, penguin and several Seabird colonies, bird watching, visit a Typical Patagonian Ranch or the Seaweed Factory, visit Archaeological Sites such as aboriginal working areas and cemeteries, panoramic trekking, fishing, mountain bike, visit to the Petrified Forest. It is also possible to enjoy its exclusive beaches with white sand and crystalline water, surrounded by strong red coloured rocks, which offer an incredible landscape of textures and colours.

" Discover the remaining fossils of forests that existed in Patagonia 60 million years ago. You can see huge petrified tree trunks that have become rock with its characteristic glow of opal, which has replaced the tree's original organic material. You can also appreciate tree rings, traces of bark and many other features.
" Participate in daily ranch activities such as marking, weaning, sheep shearing.
" Birdwatching. The coast of Bahia Bustamante and Malaspina Cove has the greatest diversity of seabirds in all Patagonia.
" Visiting Sea Lion and Magellan Penguin colonies on the islands and beaches.
" Mountain bike, horseback riding and trekking.
" Navigation around Malaspina Cove visiting sea birds and sea lions colonies. 1500 metres away from the village you will find the embarkation zone in a well protected little ria. Going out from the ria, once in the cove, you will sail over the seaweed walls. It is possible to see the ships dedicated to the seaweed harvest. After this, you will cross the mussel cultivation zone with a system of harvest called online. Further from the coast you will reach an archipelago to approach the Malaspina Rock, where sea lions and cormorants have settled their colonies. Continue through an archipelago composed by the Vernacci Islands. During the navigation you will have the opportunity to watch Sea Lion (3500 species in reproduction season), Penguins (60000 species) and colorful Sea Birds colonies. It is common to appreciate a group of dolphins or see an orca dorsal fin. When the ship gets close to the islands you will watch a big quantity of species of Pato Vapor (Tachyeres pteners), another important attraction of Bahia Bustamante. This duck is one of the hundreds of bird species that live in the area.

SAMPLE PROGRAM:

DAY 01: Arrival at Comodoro Rivadavia Airport. Meeting and transfer to Bahia Bustamante (180 km from Comodoro Rivadavia).
Accommodation and visit of the small village to get acquainted with the area.
Meals: Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner

DAY 02: Visit to the Petrified Forests.
Meals: Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner

DAY 03: Navigation to Caleta Malaspina to see the sea lions rookeries and interesting colonies of birds. Balance of the day to enjoy the views over the coast or any other activities in the area.
Meals: Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner

DAY 04: Transfer to Comodoro Rivadavia.

Price per person double occupancy = US$659 for 2 people, US$595 for 4 people

Orcas in the Southern Seas

ORCA means 'demon' and it was the first scientific name given to this species (Delphinus orca Linnaeus) before the genus Orcinus appeared. KILLER WHALE may be a derivation of "whale killer", the name given by the whalers who first saw the Orcas feeding on Whales. The largest of all dolphins, male orcas are 8 meters long and can weight over 8 tons, while females can reach 7m and a maximum weight of 4 tons. The dorsal fin is one of its most distinguishing features. Male fins are tall and straight. Females' and young orcas are smaller. Orcas feed on marine mammals (Dusky Dolphin, Bottlenose Dolphin, Commerson Dolphin and Southern Elephant Seal, Southern Right Whale and specially Sea Lion pups), fish, birds (Giant Petrel, Magellan Penguin, Great and Silvery Grebes, Cormorants, Sand Perch) and marine turtles. So it is easy to understand how important orcas are in the ecological chain. They live in all the oceans and seas of the world, both in cold and warm waters. Orcas have gregarious habits: female and male adults and young orcas, thus, live altogether in groups. Mating usually takes place when groups converge so that they don't mate between relatives and females give birth every 10 years. Pups are born during fall and winter. However, there are two different populations of orcas: transient orcas tend to develop a hunting technique on marine mammals and form groups of up to 7 individuals; resident orcas, on the other hand, feed on fish, live in groups of 5 to 50 individuals and tend to stay in one area for long periods. Males are believed to live 40 years and females 60.

ECHOLOCATION or SONAR is the system Orcas use to find their preys. Orcas unleash a rapid series of high-pitched clicks, by listening to the echoes reflected off by the body of the prey the Orca is able to locate them no matter how dark the water is.

"INTENTIONAL BEACH STRANDING" or BEACH-STRANDING ATTACK technique consists in positioning preys. Punta Norte Orcas fish on sharks, sea salmons and elephant seals. When females come to Caleta they are often seen stranding intentionally, even though there is no prey in the area. This is to teach their pups, which generally follow and mimic their mothers until adulthood. Since this practice is very dangerous for the orcas because of the risk of remaining stranded permanently, it is done gradually and can occasionally be seen as group of training: several females will strand simultaneously, parallel to each other with the calves in between.

Peninsula Valdes extends outwards in the Southern Atlantic 100km. In only two places Orcas have been seen catching sea lions by "intentional beach stranding", one of them is Peninsula Valdes (Caleta Valdes & Punta Norte). A group of orcas visit Punta Norte (the northernmost point of the Peninsula) every year. It is also a sanctuary for sea lions, elephant seals, dolphins and many species of birds. In Peninsula Valdes they are seen throughout the year, specially near Southern Sea Lion and Elephant Seals colonies probably because of the abundance of prey. Orcas can be seen here twice a year : Oct / Nov and Mar / May. For Roberto Bubas, the Argentine expert, the group of Valdés orcas offers magnificent opportunities, because though they come and go all year round, the coastline geography allows close-up observation, even when the orcas are not hunting. Peninsula Valdes has a natural sea channel, Caleta Valdés, which resembles a river and is protected from the strong currents and fierce winds. The orcas have adopted this place as a resting area where they can practice their stranding. Now and again, they hunt for large fish such as sharks or sea salmon, as well as elephant seals. Usually orcas come to Caleta Valdés in a relaxed and playful mood. Roberto spends most of his time here, following them on foot while making identification drawings of their fins and observing the newcomers and the pups growth.

Great photos from Estancia La Ernestina

DAY 01: Arrival in Puerto Madryn or Trelew Airport and transfer to Estancia La Ernestina. Accommodation. Dinner (beverages not included). La Ernestina is located in Peninsula Valdes, 180 kms from Puerto Madryn and 240 kms from Trelew Airport.

DAY 02 TO 04: Estancia La Ernestina: full board & accommodation. Visit to Punta Norte and nearby beaches to watch orcas.

DAY 05: Transfer from La Ernestina to Puerto Madryn or Trelew Airport. Breakfast.

IMPORTANT: Please note that you may spend many hours per day looking for "orcas", but it is not guaranteed that you will effectively see killer whales nor killer whales catching sea lions even in the suggested periods (Oct/Nov & Mar/May).

Price per person double occupancy for Feb.-March 2009: US$575

Includes: 4 nights with full board (beverages not included) at La Ernestina, transfers during all the program, entrance fees to reserves, activities such as: Horse riding, mountain bike, sulky ride, sheep shearing, self guided paths, farm, 4WD dunes, 4WD Punta Norte Lighthouse, Sea lion and Penguin Rookery.

Fauna and Flora

Day 01: Arrival in Comodoro Rivadavia, meeting at the airport and transfer to Puerto Deseado. Accommodation at hotel LOS ACANTILADOS.
Puerto Deseado is the best natural pier in Patagonia and icon of the stories and history of great seamen together with pirates and buccaneers that navigated the Southern seas since 1520 . Puerto Deseado is located at the mouth of the Ria Deseado (Estuary Deseado), 40 km long with a rich wildlife. Afternoon on board a safe zodiac boat we will navigate the Ria Deseado (Deseado Estuary). The seawaters, the currents and depth turn the waters of the estuary in a blend of greens and blues and also the site of a very interesting marine fauna. This is a natural reserve where SouthAmerican sea lions and dolphins wander close to the coast; The marine birds - rock cormorants, Magellanic penguins, skuas and gulls - are part of the landscape. It is also possible to navigate to Isla Pinguino (Penguin island) -weather permitting - to observe the Rockhopper penguin.

Day 02: Full day visit the amazing MONUMENTO NATURAL BOSQUES PETRIFICADOS (Petrified Forests) in Jaramillo. This is an amazing Geological reserve where we will walk between huge petrified forest dating from the Jurassic era (130 millions of years), immersed in a lunar landscape and with the contrasting colours of the steppe as a backdrop. Drive back to Comodoro Rivadavia and accommodation at AUSTRAL HOTEL.

Day 03: Transfer to the airport in Comodoro Rivadavia.

Price per person for 2 people double occupancy in US$ = $ with Spanish-speaking guide or $ with English-speaking guide. Single supplement = $