Top 5 Things To Do in Puerto Madryn

There are plenty of places to see and things to do in Puerto Madryn, and it is definitely a must-see for travellers interested in exploring the exuberance of Patagonia's nature and wildlife. Located in the Province of Chubut, Puerto Madryn is a cozy small coastal town on the Golfo Nuevo (New Gulf) that every year receives hundreds of tourists who come to sightsee the spectacular wildlife, abundant nature reserves and breathtaking landscapes of the area.

Activities in Puerto Madryn are centred on its natural abundance. The marine fauna is everywhere and there are plenty of activities to enjoy to get the best of the Puerto Madryn and its wonderful eco-friendly environment. We have compiled our list of top 5 things to do in Puerto Madryn to help you plan your travels:

1. Whale Watching at El Doradillo Beach

To the North, just on the outskirts of Puerto Madryn - heading towards the Peninsula Valdes - lies El Doradillo Beach, a peaceful  place where you can seat and watch the whales right from the cost line. Whale watching is one of the most popular things to do in Puerto Madryn and the main reason why hundred of tourists arrive every year to this destination. These giant marine mammals come every year between June until November to raise their calves in this beautiful, tranquil stretch of the Patagonian coast, before heading out into the open sea. A day tour to El Doradillo beach will give you the unique opportunity to watch these peaceful marine giants from the shoreline.

[caption id="attachment_763" align="aligncenter" width="540"] Tourists watching a Southern Right Whale in El Doradiillo Beach / Source[/caption]

2. Day Tour to Peninsula Valdes

The Valdes Peninsula is the area’s most expansive and famous natural reserve. It stretches out from mainland Patagonia and forms the New Gulf (Golfo Nuevo) on which opposite shores lies Puerto Madryn. The Valdes Peninsula has been declared a UNESCO Natural Heritage of Humanity and is a paradise for wildlife lovers - in particular marine wildlife enthusiasts. Take a Day Tour to Peninsula Valdes which includes a whale watching boat trip, giving you a one-of-a-kind experience of getting close to these sea giants. A whale-watching trip to Peninsula Valdes is unmissable and undoubtably one of the top things to do in Puerto Madryn.

[caption id="attachment_761" align="aligncenter" width="540"] Whale watchers in Puerto Madryn observing a Southern Right Whale getting close to their boat / Source[/caption]

3. Scuba dive and snorkeling in Puerto Piramides

Puerto Piramides is the only town on the Península Valdés, a picturesque place of 400 inhabitants and the only formal town in the Peninsula. Besides the whale watching tours, one of the top things to do in Puerto Madryn, is scuba diving with sea lions in Puerto Piramides. The diving sessions are suitable for all type of people, from experimented divers, to curious travelers who want to experiment their first time underwater in the Argentine Patagonia.

[caption id="attachment_774" align="aligncenter" width="524"] Scuba Diving with Sea Lions in Puerto Piramides became a top activity / Source[/caption]

4. Sea Lions Tour at Punta Loma

Punta Loma was the first natural reserve in Chubut, created to protect the only permanent South American sea lion colony that inhabit these shores all year round. A Tour to Punta Loma is a top thing to do for animal lovers. You probably be amazed by the size of these animals that can reach the 2.5 meters and discovering the exotic patagonian wildlife rock shags (cormorants) and South American terns, among many other sea birds, land animals, reptiles and mammals. The most eventful time to visit these incredible creatures is in November when mating season begins and the males fight each other to win over the females, the defeated ones moving across the Golfo Nuevo to Puerto Pirámides on the Peninsula Valdez.

[caption id="attachment_778" align="aligncenter" width="540"] Sea Lions sunbathing in Punta Loma[/caption]

5. Magellanic Penguins tour at Punta Tombo

About a two hour drive to the south of Trelew lies Punta Tombo and is one of the area’s most popular tourist attractions: half a million Magellanic penguins arrive to bread and hatch their eggs on Punta Tombo's beaches every year from September to March. A tour to Punta Tombo will take you to see up close the penguins and to experience many other types of patagonian wildlife.

[caption id="attachment_850" align="aligncenter" width="540"] Magellanic Penguin staring at a tourist during the Punta Tombo tour / Source[/caption]

The base for most excursions and tours is in Puerto Madryn. The number and order of spectacular tours you do is up to you! This Patagonian destination a perfect place to visit with the whole family and for eco-friendly travellers and wildlife lovers who are looking for a little adventure!

To discover more things to do in Puerto Madryn, visit our catalogue of tours and activities in Puerto Madryn!

For: Argentina4u