Whale-Watch in Patagonia

By Wayne Bernhardson

Grab Argentina by the tail

On the coast of Patagonia's Chubut province, northeast of the city of Puerto Madryn, pan-shaped Peninsula Valdis is South America's prime whale-watching site—growing populations of the southern right whale, once on the brink of extinction, now mate and bear their young here between June and mid-December. From early spring, in September or October, massive elephant seals come ashore to breed on the beaches along with the occasional Magellanic penguin, but penguin colonies are larger at Punta Tombo, a couple hours south of Puerto Madryn. There are many other seabird breeding colonies, and southern sea lions are present beneath the sheer cliffs on the peninsula all year.

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