Puerto Madryn and the Valdés Peninsula

The city of Puerto Madryn is located on the coast of Golfo Nuevo, in one of the most protected areas along the Patagonian coast. The city, which was founded by Welsh settlers in 1886, is one of Argentina's most popular cruise destinations due to its deep-water port and abundance of natural reserves. Water sports aficionados, notably windsurfers who like facing the fierce Patagonian winds, flock to this rough shoreline. On the Valdez Peninsula, a significant nature reserve designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its rich fauna, nature lovers will find lots to do.

Visitors usually depart having seen everything from right whales (here to mate and calve) to elephant seals, sea lions, and orcas on guided excursions of the reserve. Migratory shorebirds, particularly Magellanic penguins, use the area as a breeding habitat. The Natural Science and Oceanographic Museum, housed in a stunning heritage building overlooking the port, is a great place to learn about the ecology of this beautiful coast. A whale skeleton and a fascinating exhibit about enormous squids are among the museum's displays of Patagonian flora and fauna.

Address: Chubut, Argentina/Valdés Peninsula, Argentina
Entrance fee: N/A
Best time to visit: March or April/ February and May
Hours: N/A