Valdes Peninsula

General Description

The Valdes Peninsula, with its curious axe shape cutting into the Atlantic Ocean, has a vast range of ocean shores and is a very good example of the Patagonian coast, with its contrasts, wildlife and geological history. Centuries of erosion formed rocky shelves, gulfs, bays and sandy and rocky beaches, each of them natural shelters for marine mammals. Where the warm Brazilian Current mixes with the cold Maldives Current it plankton, algae, shellfish abounds and forms the basis of the food chain for larger animals. These special conditions give birth to one of the world's biggest concentration of marine wildlife. Sea lions, elephant seals, whales, dolphins, Magellanic penguins and species of birds are present in huge colonies all around the Peninsula. Other animals such as guanacos, lesser rheas (South American ostrich), Patagonian foxes, hairy armadillos also inhabits the area.

Itinerary

DAY 1:
Arrival at Trelew airport. Regular transfer to the hotel with Spanish/English speaking guide. Overnight at Fantilli hotel.

DAY 2:
Half day regular excursion to Peninsula Valdes penguin rookery to observe thousands of penguins and their nests with Spanish/English speaking guide. Entrance Fee is included. Overnight at Punta Delgada Hotel Full Board.

DAY 3:
Half day regular excursion to the Valdes Peninsula. From June to mid-November optional boat excursion for close up whale-watching (Eubalena Australis). Overnight at Fantilli hotel.

DAY 4:
Regular transfer from the hotel to the airport with Spanish/English speaking guide.

Private departure itinerary

DAY 1:
Arrival at Trelew airport. Private excursion to the Punta Tombo penguin rookery to observe thousands of penguins and their nests. Lunch. Overnight at Peninsula hotel.

DAY 2:
Full day private excursion to the Valdes Peninsula; the special points of interest are the Southern Right Whales, the sea-elephants and the sea-lion colonies. Overnight Punta Delgada Hotel Full Board.

DAY 3:
Half day private excursion to Peninsula Valdes with Spanish/English speaking guide. Overnight at Peninsula hotel.

DAY 4:
Private transfer from the hotel to the airport (no guide).

General Information and Price

Rated: Easy


Wildlife Calendar:
Whales: From July to mid-December, exceptionally to the first days of January.
Orcas: All year long but only 16 animals hunt around the peninsula. Be lucky!
Elephant Seals: All year long but males, by far the most impressive, only come ashore in August/October to breed (and fight) and mid-January/February for skin renewal.
Sea lions: All year long but as they were slaughtered till the 60', colonies are small.
Penguins: From september to March. Offsprings arrive in December.

Tour Tariff
	Fixed Departure	Private Departure
N° of participants	1	2
USD	$ 443	$ 1144
EUR	368	950
GBP	248	641

(*) Price last updated on 21 October 2006. Current price may vary due to elements out of our control, so please always check by sending us a
quotation request .
(**) 2 participants minimum (if only 1 person, please inquire)
(***)Please enquire for 3 days departures as well as departures without Hotel Punta Delgado


Included: Hotels as in itinerary or similar, meals, excursions and transfers as detailed in the program, taxes.

Not included: Other meals, tips, beverages, flights

Another way to explore the peninsula in depth and quietly is driving. You can more easily access out of the beaten tracks places, stop wherever and whenever you want, and above all, spend the night in a "country inn" or an Estancia. You then feel the unique and magical atmosphere of this unlimited land staying nearby places of interests. Those lodgings also organise their own excursions, some of them guided by naturalist guides studying wildlife. Roads are not paved but wide and smooth making driving easy. Please enquire for price of a self drive journey