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Sea Life Season in Peninsula Valdes

Sea Life Season in Peninsula Valdés: When to Go

One of the top destinations in Patagonia for nature lovers is the breathtaking Peninsula Valdés. The gateway to this incredible area is Puerto Madryn, a coastal city in Chubut Province, Argentina. To get there, most visitors fly into Trelew Airport, just a 2-hour flight from Buenos Aires.

From Puerto Madryn, you can reach the Peninsula Valdés, a stunning landmass that juts into the Atlantic Ocean. Covering over 3,600 km², it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999 due to its exceptional biodiversity.

So, what can you see here? A lot—especially if you visit at the right time.

Wildlife in Peninsula Valdés

The peninsula’s coastline is home to sea lions, elephant seals, and fur seals. In the Golfo Nuevo and Golfo San José, you’ll also spot southern right whales, which come here from May to December to mate and give birth in the calm, protected waters.

Orcas can be seen too, especially when they perform their dramatic beach-hunting behavior—a rare and thrilling sight.

Inland, you’ll find guanacos, maras, rheas, and a wide variety of birds—more than 180 species in total, including 66 migratory ones.

What Animals Can You See, and When?

Here’s a quick guide to the best times to spot wildlife in Peninsula Valdés:

Elephant Seals: All year. Best time is during breeding season (December to March).
Sea Lions: All year, also breeding between December and March.
Commerson’s Dolphins: All year. Best seen near Rawson Port.
Dusky Dolphins: December to March.
Orcas: January to April and October to December. Hard to predict but unforgettable if you catch them.
Birds: All year round.
Guanacos, Choiques, Maras, Gray Wolves: All year.

When to See Penguins in Peninsula Valdés

Penguins arrive from September through March/April. You can see them in two main locations:

Punta Tombo (south of Puerto Madryn)
Estancia San Lorenzo (inside Peninsula Valdés)

Key moments in the penguin season:

September–October: Mating season. Males arrive first to fix their nests.
October: Females arrive and lay two eggs.
November–December: Chicks are born and begin to grow.
February: Chicks shed their down and grow new feathers to prepare for life at sea.

This process gives visitors a fascinating view of penguin life—from courtship to parenting.

When to See Whales in Peninsula Valdés

The southern right whale season runs from June to mid-December. During this period, you can often spot mother whales and their calves close to shore or on a short boat tour.

The season is divided into two main viewing periods:

June to September: Whales stay in Golfo Nuevo, making Puerto Madryn and El Doradillo Beach perfect for land-based whale watching.
Late September to mid-December: Whales move to Golfo San José and are best seen from the Peninsula Valdés itself.

Tip: Visit El Doradillo during early season and head to the Peninsula in the later months for the best experience.

Book a wonderful whale watching activity in Peninsula Valdes

We have some great options. The Yellow Submarine is our favorite whale watching activity 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