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Patagonia, Argentina Safaris & wildlife activities

Our most recommended Patagonia, Argentina Safaris & wildlife activities

Ushuaia: Penguin Watching Tour by Catamaran

1. Ushuaia: Penguin Watching Tour by Catamaran

Start the tour in the local tourist dock and board a modern and comfortable boat. Set sail and cross the wide Ushuaia Bay until you reach the Beagle Channel through Paso Chico. Then, navigate around the Bird's Island where you can appreciate species of the Tierra del Fuego's seabirds such as skuas, black-browed albatross, steam ducks, cauquenes, cook seagulls, and gray seagulls. After that, reach Sea Lion Island which also belongs to the Bridges Archipelago and is inhabited by 2 different species of sea lion. Arrive at the Les Eclaireurs (The Illuminators) Lighthouse where you will find imperial and rocky cormorants colonies. Hear the story of the collapse of the SS Monte Cervantes in 1930. Next, continue sailing East into the wonderful landscapes of the Beagle Channel surrounded by stunning mountain ranges. Admire both Puerto Almanza on the Argentina coast and the Puerto Williams Naval Base on the Chilean coast. After that, head onwards to Martillo Island, also known as Penguin Island where you will have the opportunity to observe a colony of Magellanic and Papua penguins in their natural habitat. Make the return journey back to the dock, where your tour will end. 

Ushuaia: Beagle Channel & Sea Wolves Island Catamaran Cruise

2. Ushuaia: Beagle Channel & Sea Wolves Island Catamaran Cruise

Start the tour in the local tourist dock and board a modern and comfortable boat. Set sail and cross the wide Ushuaia Bay until you reach the Beagle Channel through Paso Chico. Then, navigate around the Bird's Island where you can appreciate species of the Tierra del Fuego's seabirds such as skuas, black-browed albatross, steam ducks, cauquenes, cook seagulls, and gray seagulls. After that, reach Sea Lion Island which also belongs to the Bridges Archipelago and is inhabited by 2 different species of sea lion. Arrive at the Les Eclaireurs (The Illuminators) Lighthouse where you will find imperial and rocky cormorants colonies. Hear the story of the collapse of the SS Monte Cervantes in 1930. Next, descend into Puerto Karelo to see the authentic shelly deposits (conchero's) of Yamana peoples. Enjoy a guided hike here which lasts takes approximately 20 minutes, finishing at a panoramic viewpoint where you can capture excellent photographs. On the return journey, marvel at the incredible views of the surrounding mountain ranges and sumptuous vegetation which surround the city of Ushuaia.

From Puerto Madryn: Chubut River Valley Welsh Colonies

3. From Puerto Madryn: Chubut River Valley Welsh Colonies

We will start leaving our selected hotels at approximately 11:00 AM to go to the Port of Rawson, where we will have time to walk around the place, and optionally we will be able to do a dolphin watching (not included). We will continue our visit heading to Trelew, where if we wish we can visit the Paleontological Museum (optional, entrance not included) considered the most important in Latin America. We will then make a historical-cultural circuit through the lower valley of the Chubut River, experiencing in person the Welsh culture in Gaiman. Here we will be able to meet the inhabitants of this particular town where Welsh customs are kept alive, such as the chapels and their language. We will have the opportunity to enjoy a delicious Welsh tea (not included) and there will be time to visit the local Welsh Museum (entrance not included). After this beautiful day, we will be returning to our selected hotels at approximately 7:00 pm.

Puerto Madryn: 3-Hour Snorkeling Trip with Sea Lions

4. Puerto Madryn: 3-Hour Snorkeling Trip with Sea Lions

Explore a Spanish shipwreck on Parana beach and spot penguins, whales, dolphins, and more in the Punta Loma Natural Reserve before jumping in the water to interact with the sea lions in their natural habitat. These curious animals are not trained nor fed, yet are friendly and used to humans. With the help of an experienced guide, you will learn more about these playful animals in this unique and unforgettable experience.  Choose between hotel pickup and drop-off in Puerto Madryn or come directly to the meeting point where you will be fitted with a neoprene suit before heading down to the water to hop on the boat. After snorkeling and touring, the group will return to the dive center for hot drinks.

Ushuaia: Walking with Penguins Experience and Marine Museum

5. Ushuaia: Walking with Penguins Experience and Marine Museum

Meet your guide in the port of Ushuaia, then admire scenic views as you travel by bus and boat to Martillo Island on the mystical Beagle Channel. Visit the famous Harberton Ranch, which was founded in 1886 by the Anglican missionary Thomas Bridges, and learn about the history of the location. Then it’s time to explore the island, home to a colony of Papúa (Gentoo) and Magellanic penguins. Wander along the island’s many nature trails as you get up close and personal to these friendly and charismatic penguins. Take photos and admire the penguins in their natural habitat, which they also share with other birds including cormorants, petrels, vultures, and skúas. After a 1-hour walk across the island, head back to the ranch and enjoy some free time to explore the historical buildings and the Marine Mammals and SeaBirds Museum. At the end of the experience, return to the city and relax whilst marveling at the beautiful landscape that unfolds along the way.

Puerto Madryn: Punta Tombo Penguin Reserve

6. Puerto Madryn: Punta Tombo Penguin Reserve

After pickup at your hotel in Puerto Madryn, drive along the Patagonian roads, until you arrive at Punta Tombo Provincial Reserve. See local animals like guanacos, choiques, liebres, and other wildlife that’ll make the experience much more enjoyable.  Punta Tombo is the place where Magellanic penguins choose to carry out another reproduction cycle every year. Once there, you will stay at the reserve for no less than three hours in order to walk along the paths and enjoy them up close and personal.  Observe them in their birth nest or while swimming in the sea. Visit the Punta Tombo Interpretative Centre or have lunch at the cafeteria restaurant (not included).

Whale Watching from Peninsula Valdes Full-Day Nature Tour

7. Whale Watching from Peninsula Valdes Full-Day Nature Tour

See whales and seals on this day trip from Puerto Madryn. See the small village of Puerto Pirámides, marvel at beautiful nature, and enjoy a view of Caleta Valdés. Begin your tour early in the morning and head towards the Valdés Peninsula Protected Natural Area, declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco in 1999. After an hour of travel, arrive at the picturesque ecological village of Puerto Pirámides. From June to November, embark on a whale-watching tour. Between December and March, enjoy a South American Sea Lions and Cormorants tour. Next, enjoy lunch (not included) in Puerto Pirámides or Caleta Valdés. Take some time to tour the southern part of the peninsula, crossing wide landscapes of grasslands and undulations, passing through the Salinas Grande and Chica, and going around Punta Delgada. Stop in Punta Cantor to admire the Atlantic coast and the fascinating geological formation Caleta Valdés. Depending on the time of year, marvel at the southern elephant seals, the largest seals on the planet, relaxing on the beaches. Depending on the time of year, you may visit Las Salinas, and Caleta Valdes, followed by Punta Norte. From there, begin heading back to Puerto Madryn, stopping at the Carlos Ameghino Interpretation Center, a compendium of the natural wealth of the peninsula.

From Puerto Madryn: Penguin Tour & Península Valdés Day Trip

8. From Puerto Madryn: Penguin Tour & Península Valdés Day Trip

In the early morning, you will be driven from your hotel towards Peninsula Valdes Provincial Reserve. After an hour's drive you will arrive at Puerto Pirámides. Here, you can choose to go whale watching (not included - available until December), or watch sea lions and cormorants from January onwards. The next stop is Estancia San Lorenzo, a Patagonian ranch where you can enjoy a typical Patagonian lamb on the spit (lunch not included). After lunchtime, be prepared to visit an amazing penguin colony: the largest Magellanic penguin colony in the world. Finally you will meet these curious birds! Then visit the provincial reserve of Punta Norte where, according to the season, you can see elephant seals or fur seals and eventually killer whales. From there you will return and stop at the Interpretation Center located on the Carlos Ameghino Isthmus. At the end of the excursion, you will be transferred to your accommodation in Puerto Madryn.

2-Day Perito Moreno Tour with Boat Ride & 4WD Safari

9. 2-Day Perito Moreno Tour with Boat Ride & 4WD Safari

Spend 2 full days exploring the nature and scenic views of Patagonia with a professional guide. Day 1: On your first day, you will be driven from your hotel in El Calafate and towards Glaciers National Park. Enjoy the landscapeon the way. Glaciers National Park, hosts the second largest icefield in the world after Antarctica. At the hop-off point, your guide will explain how to tour the 2 mile-long boardwalks that showcase the front wall of Perito Moreno Glacier. These are low difficulty paths connected by stairways. You can read the informative signs in key viewpoints, and if you're lucky, you may even see a gigantic piece of ice breaking and falling into the lake. Join your guide again at the stated time to take your hour-long boat trip across the whole frontal face of this 260 foot-high ice wall. There is a little bar inside the boat where you can buy hot beverages to fight the cold Patagonian wind. Return to your hotel in El Calafate in the early evening. Day 2: On your second day, you will be picked up at your hotel again and head to the remote Patagonia which, although often mistaken as desolate, is full of unique wildlife. You will explore 32 miles of a natural reserve in a small group using a 4wd off-road vehicle. Make different stops to discover guanaco herds and the trail of the Patagonian grey fox.   On the tour, you will try to spot and identify native species. Discover the delicate steppe ecosystem, where 80,000 years of Earth’s history can be traced by different fossils and the remains of different mammals which walked the Earth over 15 million years ago. Learn about the pioneers’ history and taste exquisite Patagonian lamb at an authentic house tucked deep within the Patagonian countryside before heading back into town.

Ushuaia: Tierra del Fuego Trekking and Canoeing

10. Ushuaia: Tierra del Fuego Trekking and Canoeing

Enjoy being immersed in nature at Tierra del Fuego National Park. Enjoy an intense walk a ride in inflatable canoes, across an incredible landscape with rivers, sea, mountains, and forests.  Inside the Tierra del Fuego National Park walk a 7-kilometer path, considered of medium difficulty, to discover a recovered paradise where the mountains can be reached from near the sea, and freshwater rivers and lakes coexist with the marine coast. Near the Acigami Lake, enjoy lunch in a dining tent out of the wind or rain. Afterwards, grab your provided rubber boots, pants, and life jackets and get aboard very safe and stable inflatable canoes. Reach Lapataia Bay following the slow flow of the Lapataia and Ovando rivers. For about an hour, you will see the transition from the freshwater environment to the sea at Lapataia Bay.

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What people are saying about Patagonia, Argentina

Overall rating

4.8 / 5

based on 9 reviews

Great trip. Guide spoke both Spanish and English. They made sure at the various sites everyone got a chance to take a good look and pictures. The photographers might be annoying to some people, but they help make sure everyone gets a chance to have a good picture, so they make it more inclusive for everyone.

great experience walking on the island to see the penguins. the tour at the marine museum was also very informative. highly recommend. (if you can book the tour and pay in person in pesos it would be much better because I really overpaid with the exchange rate.)

A great introduction to the National Park - canoeing, hiking, and sight-seeing; plus a delicious lunch with wine! The full day tour was excellent! Guides had everything well-organized. I would highly recommend!

Really great experience! You get a full hour on the island to walk amongst the penguins and you get to see a lot while there. Tours guides are very informative and kind.

The excursion to watch the Magellan penguins in their natural habitat is ineffable.