Peninsula Valdés by car
Bite-sized trip
Day 1 – Arrival in Peninsula Valdés
On arrival at Trelew airport, you will collect your rental car and drive onto the Patagonian plains towards Peninsula Valdés, stopping off at the charming coastal town of Puerto Madryn after around 1.5 hours. After stretching your legs and having a short break, you’ll head back on the road towards the peninsula. After another 1.5 hours, you’ll arrive at the entrance to the reserve. On arrival at the gate, you will need to pay an entrance fee of around $13 USD per person, as this is a UNESCO-protected nature reserve. Here, you can stop off at the visitor centre to load yourself with handy information, including maps and tide times, giving you the best chances of spotting wildlife in the coming days.
Continue along the mushroom-shaped peninsula to the village of Puerto Piramides, a small village of just a few houses with corrugated iron roofs and a few hotels housing travellers looking to spot the incredible wildlife this area is famous for. Here, you’ll stay in a local lodge where you can look out over the sea and, if you’re lucky, you might even spot a whale in the distance. The staff at your accommodation will be happy to share their insider tips on the best whale-watching spots based on the next day’s weather and sea conditions. If things are looking good, then you can book a zodiac boat tour for an unforgettable experience getting up close to these majestic beasts.
Day 2 – Whale watching tour and exploring the coast
If the conditions are right for a whale-watching tour, you will board the boat early this morning in Puerto Piramides, before the crowds arrive from Puerto Madryn. The humpback whales will be tracked using special sensors to improve your chances of seeing these beautiful creatures. If successful, you’ll be treated to scenes of whales breaching out of the water, gliding beneath the boat and showing off their tails as they dive below the surface.
Back ashore, you can spend the rest of the day driving along the peninsula and exploring the rugged coastal landscapes, passing many sheep, guanacos (a type of llama), grey foxes and various birds of prey. For even more wildlife, head along the coast to Punta Delgada, a remote town home to huge numbers of elephant seals usually found sunbathing on the beach, however don’t expect to be the only travellers here, as this certainly isn’t a secret spot, but it’s still worth visiting to see these playful animals sliding around the sand. Your next stop should be Punta Norte, where you can spot a penguin colony and sea lions hanging out on the sands. Orcas are also regular visitors to this area and have been known to come ashore for a feed, so keep your eyes peeled.
Day 3 – Departure from Peninsula Valdés
After a delicious breakfast this morning, it’s time to say goodbye to this wildlife-rich peninsula and return to Trelew airport, which is around three hours away. Depending on your flight time, you may be able to squeeze in one final walk along the coast in search of whales. From Trelew, you could fly to Tierra del Fuego to visit the most southern town on earth, Ushuaia, or take a bus to Bariloche and kayak across glacier-fed lakes.
Accommodation
For this bite-sized trip we offer the following options
Peninsula Valdes self-drive - In Style accommodation
If you’re after a touch more luxury during your stay on the peninsula, then we can arrange upgraded accommodation for you. Set right on the beach in the heart of Puerto Piramides, this peaceful retreat is the ideal spot to unwind and soak up the incredible views over the Atlantic Ocean. With either a private balcony or direct beach access, you will be fully immersed in the captivating natural beauty of this beautiful peninsula. There is an on-site restaurant that serves delicious, authentic Argentine cuisine, and you’ll find whale-watching tours and local cafes just steps away, making it a more convenient and comfortable alternative.
