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Sea Life Season in Peninsula Valdes

One of the must-see in Patagonia, for nature lovers, is the incredible Peninsula Valdes area. The gate is Puerto Madryn, the main city to arrive at the attractions in the area. You can arrive to Puerto Madryn, by flying to Trelew Airport, after a 2-hour flight from Buenos Aires.

And from Puerto Madryn, the main attraction is Peninsula Valdes, a peninsula into the Atlantic Ocean in Chubut Province, Argentina. Around 3,625 km2 (896,000 acres; 1,400 sq mi) in size, it is an important nature reserve that was listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999. But, what can we see in this place?

Fauna in Peninsula Valdes

The coastline is inhabited by marine mammals, like sea lions, elephant seals and fur seals. Southern right whales 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 come here 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 be found off the coast, in the open sea off the peninsula. In this area, 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. High diversity and range of birds live in the peninsula as well; at least 181 bird species, 66 of which migratory, live in the area, including the Antarctic pigeon.

In order to organize your trip, and choose the best time to visit the area, take a look to sea life season:

Animals you can see in Peninsula Valdes

Sea Elephants: All year long. The breeding season is between December and March.

Sea Lions: All year long. Breeding season is the same as the sea elephants’ one.

Commerson’s Dolphins: All year long. The best place to see them is at Rawson’s port area.

Dark Dolphins: December to March.

Orcas: January to April and October to December. Note that orcas’ watching is very difficult because their behavior is unpredictable.

Birds in general: All year long.

Martinetas, Choiques, Guanacos, Hares and Gray Wolves: All year long.

Fauna Season in Peninsula Valdes

And what about penguins and whales? Well, penguins and whales are the kings and the queen here, so let me give them a separate space in my article

Penguins in Peninsula Valdes: When to go?

Well, penguins are in the area from September to March/April. And can be watched in two places: Punta Tombo, located to the south of Puerto Madryn, and also in Estancia San Lorenzo in the Peninsula. Now, September and October is mating season. Then, male penguins begin to arrive at reconditioning their nests, and one month after that, female penguins arrive which lays only two eggs around October. After around 35-40 days of incubation (activity shared between the male and the female), new penguins are born. Both males and females preserve the nest and feed the chicks with anchovies and squid. These chicks are covered with a dark gray down that they move in February by a plumage that will allow them to go into the sea to find their own food. Just a year later they acquire adult plumage. Take a look below, at the penguin season to enjoy these incredible animals in Patagonia:

Whales in Peninsula Valdes: When to go?

Well, first you need to know is that all the time during whale season, it`s possible to see these incredible animals along the coastline or just minutes in short navigation. You can see mothers with their calves! Amazing isn`t it? Well, but when you need to go there to enjoy this incredible show of nature? Well, in the general season to enjoy whales in Puerto Madryn and Peninsula Valdes goes from the beginning of June until the middle of December. It`s a large photo, but there are different periods during this season that are important. Why? Because sometimes the whales can be seen better from Puerto Madryn and beaches located close to the city, and sometimes it`s better to go to the Penisula Valdes. First period in the season, it`s June, July, August, and September… the Right South Whale prefer to stay in the southern bay, called Golfo Nuevo, and it`s the best season to watch the whales from Puerto Madryn and beaches like Doradillo, where mother whale and her calf will delight you just a few meters from the coastline. Yes… and it`s amazing. Finally, from the last days of September to the middle of December, the whale prefers to stay in the northern gulf and can be seen better from the Peninsula Valdes.

Book a wonderful whale watching activity in Peninsula Valdes

We have some great options. The Yellow Submarine is one of my favorites whale watching in the area of Peninsula Valdes.

Tours to visit Peninsula Valdes and see the amazing whales!

We have many tours to visit Puerto Madryn and Peninsula Valdes area, combined with other amazing destinations in Argentina. One of my favorites is the 101 – Visiting Argentina Tour, an amazing 12 night tour. Check more information by clicking in the image below