Peninsula Valdes, Puerto Madryn

Mostly barren land speckled with several salt lakes and a coastline inhabited by marine mammals, Peninsula Valdes represents an important wildlife reserve and a World Heritage Site. Look out for the endangered southern right whales that mate in the gulf between the peninsula and the mainland from May to December. The island also supports sea lions, elephant seals, Magellanic penguins, Antarctic pigeons, and indigenous species like the rhea and the guanaco. Sheep ranches occupy most of the peninsula's inland. The only town within the peninsula--nestled in a bay surrounded by cliffs--offers lodgings, restaurants, some shops, and an information center featuring a full right whale skeleton and an observation tower. An old lighthouse at the tip of the peninsula has been turned into a hotel. Plan your Peninsula Valdes visit and explore what else you can see and do in Puerto Madryn using our Puerto Madryn journey planner.