Peninsula Valdes

Peninsula Valdes ranks 1st on the list of the best dive sites in Argentina. This peninsula is located around 1,400 kilometers away from Buenos Aires and is a paradise for those that love wild animals. The continent is connected to the peninsula by a land strip with a width of 5 kilometers. You basically see it looking like an island that is hanging on to the continent.

The coastline is inhabited by marine mammals, like sea lions, elephant seals, and fur seals. The Peninsula Valdes also contains the most important breeding ground for Southern right whales in the world. They can be found in Golfo Nuevo and Golfo San José, protected bodies of water located between the peninsula and the Patagonian mainland. These baleen whales arrive between May and December, for mating and giving birth, because the water in the gulf is quieter and warmer than in the open sea. Orcas can also be found off the coast, in the open sea off the peninsula. They are known to beach themselves on shore to capture sea lions and elephant seals. The inner part of the peninsula is inhabited by rheas, guanacos, and maras.

Location: Biedma Department, Chubut Province, Argentina

Area: 360,000 ha