The perfect weekend for spotting whales and penguins in the wild

3 to 5 days

Long we

Adventure

Nature

Couple &

friends trip

< 800€

p.p per we

Less than 1% of people will see a whale in their lifetime...

Puerto Madryn is one of the best places in Argentina to experience wildlife in its natural habitat. From whales and sea lions to penguins, guanacos, and even orcas and dolphins, depending on the season, this region offers a truly unique experience.

If you’re looking to connect with nature in a raw and authentic way, Puerto Madryn is the destination! And the good news is that 3 days are enough to cover the essentials.

When to visit Puerto Madryn

Wildlife in this region changes throughout the year, so timing your visit can completely shape your experience.

June to December → Whale season (Southern Right Whales)
September to April → Penguins (Punta Tombo)
Year-round → Sea lions, elephant seals, guanacos

Arthur and Catu with a magellanic penguin in punta tombo

💡 Our recommendation:
Late September to early October. You’ll still catch a great number of whales and start seeing penguins, the perfect combo.

Map with all our favourite spots

Itinerary Day by Day

Day 1 – Walking with penguins at Punta Tombo

Day 2 – Peninsula Valdés & whale watching

Today is all about one of the most unique wildlife experiences in the world: whale sightings. Head early to Peninsula Valdés, specifically to Puerto Piramides. From Puerto Madryn it’s 100km, which will take you around 1h30.

There are 2 different ways to approach your visit to Peninsula Valdes:

Independent tour – you can also book a car, head there on your own and explore at your own pace. This is what we did, as we were 3 it made sense to book a car and be independent.

Guided tour – you can book an organized tour that will take you the peninsula, guide you around and even hook you up with a whales sighting tour. Easy and recommended if you are on your own, or not a fan of driving.

Arthur & Catu in punta tombo with the Argentinian flag

If you go on your own, your first stop will be at Puerto Piramides, for a whale-watching boat tour. We recommend going with Jorge Schmid Punta Ballenas. This experience is pricey, but it’s worth every penny.

The Southern Right Whales are incredibly curious animals. Boats keep a respectful distance and the whales come to you. Expect close encounters: whales showing their heads, tails coming out of the water and sometimes even small jumps! If you’re lucky (and depending on the season), you might even see mothers with their calves.

a southern right whale jumping out the water

After the boat tour, drive toward Punta Cator Caleta Valdes, where you will have a beautiful view of the ocean and maybe spot some penguins. Then, head to Caleta Valdes, where depending on the season you can spot elephant seals resting on the shore. On the way, keep your eyes open as you might see penguins and guanacos. At Parador La Elvira you can enjoy a quick and classic lunch. Don’t forget to bring cash, as the mobile connection for card payments is not great there.

On your way back to Puerto Madryn, don’t miss Playa El Doradillo. This beach offers one of the most unique experiences… at low tide (especially sunrise or sunset), whales come incredibly close to the shore. No boat. No noise. Just you, the whales and the ocean. It was our favourite moment of the weekend.

Catu spotting whales in Playa el doradillo

Different dishes from Nautico Bistro de Mar in Puerto Madryn

Head back to Puerto Madryn for dinner. We recommend Náutico Bistro de mar for great seafood dishes to share! We loved it to the point that we went twice in 3 days!

Day 3 – Sea lions, ocean views & slow travel

Where to stay?

Puerto Madryn is the best base for your stay.

You’ll find plenty of hotels and apartments close to the beach, restaurants, and main departure points for excursions. We opted for an Airbnb as we were 3. It was located in the centre so we could easily walk to restaurants and supermarkets. If you rent a car, don’t forget to look for accomodations with parking spot included.

Getting around Puerto Madryn

Renting a car is, in our opinion, the best way to explore the region. Distances are long, and having your own vehicle gives you total freedom to:

reach remote wildlife spots
stop whenever you want
explore at your own pace

But if you are travelling solo or don’t feel like driving a lot there are alternatives. Tours are available for everything we mentioned in this article. Just keep in mind it will be less flexible.

The cost breakdown

For 3 days and 2 nights for 2 people, this trips costs around 1.400 euros. See below the detail (October 2024)

	Details	Cost
Flights	Buenos Aires – Puerto Madryn	€ 600
Car rental	3 days	€ 305
Airbnb	2 nights in the center	€ 110
Gas	We drove ±700 km	€ 50
National Park	Entrance to Peninsula Valdes	€ 40
Whales boat ride	1h30 of pure magic	€ 165
Penguins in Punta Tombo	Entrance to the reserve	€ 30
Kayak	1h	€ 60
Food	Breakfast, lunch, dinner and extras	€200
	TOTAL	€ 1560

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