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never that intense… |
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Nautical Activities |
Another way of discovering Puerto Madryn is from the water. The smallness of Golf Nuevo seems huge to the eyes of the tourists that enjoy it in a unique nautical ride, traveling its abrupt coasts.
There are many options to do the ride: by catamaran, sailboat, small boats or kayaks. You will see birds, dolphins and sea lions. The Patagonian winds are ideal for the lovers of windsurf. |
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Diving |
| It is impossible to resist the practice of an exciting activity, the blue and crystal-clear sea, waiting to be explored, rich in fauna; it is impossible to resist diving, always with the company of top-level instructors. This new world may be discovered in Chubut coasts, more precisely in Puerto Pirámides and especially in Puerto Madryn, the true Capital City of Diving in Argentina. You can enjoy a submarine baptism if you hire the services of the numerous diving companies that offer all the necessary equipment and the security to live a unique experience, in group or personalized descents. For the most experienced ones, there are special packages that may include the possibility of being at sea for more than one day. |
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Snorkeling |
| Snorkeling is an adventure activity that attracts persons of all ages all over the world. With a basic diving equipment (jacket, mask and fins), it is possible to discover an interesting and varied underwater life, in Punta Este, Kaiser and Cerro Avanzado beaches. Punta Cuevas, at a few minutes from the city, is also an interesting option to practice this fascinating sport, ideal to get in contact with the sea world. |
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Land Activities |
For the lovers of the open air, there are varied activities: trekking, circuits in mountain bike and 4x4 rides, having the opportunity to get in contact with the land flora and fauna and the great variety of fossils present in the area. |
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Trekking |
The faunal reserve of Punta Loma, at 9 miles from the built-up area, is the ideal circuit for the ones who love trekking. Along the circuit, you will see a base of sea lions and, once you are out of the reserve, you will find oyster and simple sea invertebrate fossil remains. |
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Sandbord |
| For the lovers of adventure, Madryn and Pirámides have virgin sand dunes with the necessary slopes to practice sandboard (surfing in the sand). This sport, which derives from snowboard, has its fans in the Patagonian region, and every summer, they gather to take part in slalom and freestyle tournaments. In some houses of the area you will find rental and sale of boards to surf in the Patagonian sands. |
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Rural Tourism |
| Rural tourism is a new option developed in the nearness of Puerto Madryn, and its aim is to understand and value the work done in the fields, getting to know the job of the people that inhabited the Valdés Peninsula from the beginnings of the 19th century. The techniques, usage and costumes, apart from the animals and breeds, are the exponents shown to the ones who want to find out how life is in this area and what is produced in a Patagonian farm. Walking through paths, admiring the native flora and fauna, tasting delicious creole dishes, such as fried tarts, maté, a barbecue or roast Patagonian lamb are among the numerous activities offered in these farms. Other activities are visiting nurseries and breeding grounds, finding out how a shearing machine works or visiting work storehouses. It is an ideal trip to spend a different day in this area. |
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Whale Watching |
| This activity takes place in the Valdés Peninsula and the season of whale-watching goes from June to mid-December. In this beautiful resort village, there are six companies that will take you to the most thrilling meeting you will ever have: a meeting with Southern Right Whales. They visit this place because the whales choose the gulfs’ quiet waters to mate and have their baby whales. Seeing the whales with their calves is one of the most stunning shows of nature. The watching lasts approximately one hour, according to the proximity of the whales. Little boats get closer, at a reasonable distance, and humans and whales observe each other, they even swim under the boat, where you can take pictures thanks to the water’s transparency. Argentina, Chubut, Port Pirámides is the only place in the world where whale-watching is done professionally, and the access of private boats is completely forbidden, because the true owners of this bit of the sea are the whales. |
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Commerson's Dolphin Watching |
| Embarking in the seaside village Playa Unión, you can get in touch with the Commerson’s Dolphin, the smallest dolphin of the world. Fast and active swimmers, they can be seen from April to December, jumping at a short distance from the boat and even surfing the waves. In Chubut, the dolphins are studied and protected; this is why in many trips the tourist goes with biologists who provide interesting information. Two companies offer this activity with a license granted by Chubut’s Secretariat of Tourism and the organization Protected Areas of Chubut, both located in the port. |
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Dolphin Watching |
From Puerto Madryn, there are trips that offer the possibility of meeting the Dusty Dolphins, one of the most acrobat species of the world, moving in small groups of 8 to 12 in company with other groups.
The dolphins get very closer to the boat and they go jumping, together with different birds and sometimes with the company of penguins and sea lions. This behavior is aimed for feeding, as the dolphins trace the birds, because birds are the sign of the presence of big shoals of fishes, especially anchovies.
So, with circular moves, the dolphins build a carrousel, spinning round the shoal; if the shoal is too big, they start jumping, sometimes with somersaults to call other dolphins.
You can go on trips of half a day, from January to March, enjoying a show of nature, surpassing any aquarium of the world. |
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Southern sea lions and elephant seals |
The southern elephant seals are one of the main natural attractions of the Valdés Peninsula. It is a unique opportunity to watch them without having to travel to faraway islands, as it is the only continental base hat presents this species.
Seasons
The best season of the year to see the elephant seals active is during Argentina’s spring, especially in October; from August to November they are in the reproduction season. In the Argentine summer, you may see young examples or female adults changing skin; the big males are rarely seen in this season. The elephant seals are pretty inactive out of the reproduction season, and they spend almost all day near the breakers, not moving. |
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