Whale Watching in Valdes Peninsula

Enjoy the incredible experience of seeing majestic southern right whales in the waters of the beautiful Valdes Peninsula, one of the most biodiverse areas of Argentina.

Whale Watching Details

We'll pick you up from your hotel in Puerto Madryn and make our way to the El Doradillo Protected Natural Area, found just 30 minutes away. From the coast, we'll have the opportunity to see whales swimming up close, only 25 metres away!

Next, we'll visit the Istmo Carlos Ameghino Centre, where we'll learn about the characteristics of the local flora and fauna. Following that, we'll head to the Puerto Pirámides villa where, if the weather conditions are favorable, we'll be able to spot whales, cormorants, and sea lions!

From Puerto Pirámides, you can take a boat trip, a submersible boat trip lasting 90 minutes, where you can view the whales even closer to their natural habitat. The boat trip concludes back at the Puerto Pirámides dock, where you'll have free time to eat lunch. Then we'll return you to your hotel in Puerto Madryn.

Day Trip Options

When making your reservation, you can choose one of the following three kinds of day trips. Note that, due to the whale reproductive cycle, each option takes place during different seasons.

Coast

This option includes the whale-watching bus trip and touring the beaches of El Doradillo and Las Canteras.

Season: until mid-October

Traditional

This option includes a boat ride around Golfo Nuevo, where we’ll see the southern right whales up close in their natural habitat. During our tour, we'll search a radius of 10 miles for the best views of these breathtaking animals. From springtime onwards, you will also appreciate the variety of wildlife in the region, including sea lions and Patagonian birds.

Season: until mid-December

Yellow Submarine

This unique option sails the Valdés Peninsula coast on board a semi-submersible vessel that allows you to see the true size and power of these whales from beneath the water. The main advantage of the Yellow Submarine is that it features 40 windows in the submerged cabin, letting you observe underwater as well as above the surface. You can choose whether to see the whales from deck or from below.

Season: until the end of October

Hotel Pick Up

Pickup times from various hotels in Puerto Madryn depend on the tide. After making your reservation, the local provider will contact you to confirm the exact pickup time from your accommodation.

Important Info

The whale watching season in the Valdes Peninsula runs from June to December. However, animal sightings are unpredictable, and there is no guarantee that all species will be seen throughout the season.

From November 1 to December 15, instead of visiting El Doradillo, we will visit the Isla de Pajaros Operations Centre.

Penguin Spotting

If you're interested in seeing more of Argentina's incredible wildlife, we also offer a penguin spotting excursion to Punta Tombo. Between September and December, this peninsula is home to the largest colony of Magellanic penguins in South America.