The Coast

Puerto Madryn, this land seemingly at the end of the world, is the capital of Argentine subaquatic life and diving, either at Punta Cuevas, Punta Este, Playa Parana or Rio de Oro and an open gate to the joy of watching fauna in its natural habitat and relax and join in other adventures : mountain biking, cycling along the coast, sailing, windsurfing, boatfishing or sandboarding.

Summer months are very hot during the day, temperatures rising up to 40 ºC, but it always gets cooler at night. In the winter temperatures are lower: averages May 15ºC, June 12ºC, July 10ºC, August 12ªC and September 15ºC.

Whale watching season in Argentine Patagonia extends typically form May through December best chances of success are during September through early November. First introduction is generally at La Loberia (sea lion colony) Sailing along the coast you will watch cormorant colonies, that build their nests against the cliff and there they breed and raise their babies. El Doradillo with high tide encourages the whales to come closer to shore. It is recommended to be there early in the morning, climb to a cliff and wait. They sometimes come as close as 30 meters from shore. Whales with calves.

Punta Loma is the place to watch sea lions all the year round at a walking distance from the city. Best time early in the morning. And if you are really a keen walker you can make your own tour to Puerto Piramide in about an hour.

The Patagonian Atlantic is the place where penguins, whales, sea elephants and seals have found a home. This is the Argentina of the Atlantic Ocean, where one of the greatest collection of marine fauna in the world is to be found. Along the length of the Atlantic coast, but especially in the Valdes peninsula, there is one of the most important marine mammal reserves in the world. Each year, between May and November (September and October are ideal months) hundreds of whales come to the calm waters of the peninsula to fulfull their life cycle. It is an unforgettable feast of leaping and blowing, whilst on the shore thousands of penguins, along with the colonies of sea lions and elephant seals are privileged spectators to this explosion of marine wildlife.

Interpreting nature, trekking the "bardas" walking tours combining scientific and ecological tourism, are led by university students specialized in Natural Sciences. Tours are illustrated with drawings and sketches of the places walkers will be visiting. After climbing the "bardas" there is the scenery, fossil remains milion years old, arid steppes and the richness of the maritime coast, bushy plateau and bare dunes, sceneries where tourists will be able to interpret and understand the geological history of the north east of Chubut province.

If you fancy to feel like a miner you can try mine tourism: An hour and a half drive form Puerto Madryn is Sierra Grande, an iron mine, not in use at present. Accompanied by specialized guides you can take a 3km walk along the mine. Those more daring can sail in a rubber dinghy along the flooded tunnels and feel like a real miner. Only possible in Patagonia.

And if you venture further south there is Bahia San Blas "the paradise of fishing" and the reserves of San Antonio Oeste and its caves, and sea ideal temperatures for water sports.