Tag: Ingles_activities

Weather conditions today and the forecast for the next few days. A sum of useful data to project an encounter in nature.

If you are coming by car when you enter to Valdes Peninsula, almost half way betweenPuerto Madryn and Puerto Piramide, you will stop by the boxes where you must pay the park fee, the value depend on age and origin.The closest city is Puerto Madryn, approximately 100km away. The city has an active “downtown” and the air of port town with its extensive beaches, coastal marine walk and central pier where commercial fishing vessels and the occasional cruise ship can be spotted. Over a isolated road scattered with wild animals and accompanied by the natural beauty of these latitudes you with be introduced to the Valdes Peninsula. Please travel with caution. From the road you will encounter Merino Sheep, Guanacos, the Elegant Crested Tinomon, Darwin’s Rhea and falcons. Off in the distance, and in just a few areas, you can observe the two gulfs of the Peninsula, the Golfo San Jose to the north and the Golfo Nuevo to the south. The road is paved all the way to the town making it impossible to get lost.
The first site of the town is the most beautiful, as you drop down and around the last curve, into Puerto Piramides. Take all the time you need to enjoy the panaramic view of the bay and the warm sunlit cliffs that nestle the bay in the middle of Patagonia’s enormity. We will be waiting for you with the comfort that you deserve. Puerto Piramide is the starting point for all those activities you want to take part in, starting with “breathing fresh air” until what will become the most spectacular memories of your trip. Puerto Piramides is the only tourist village within Valdes Peninsula.It is 104 km from Puerto Madryn, an hour by vehicle from the airport or bus station there and almost two from the airport and bus station in Trelew. There are nearly 500 permanent residents in Puerto Piramides , make their living from tourism which, year after year, brings visitors wishing to take advantage of the only whale watching port in Valdes Peninsula.

Its extensive beaches, which gently slope towards the sea, are protected by natural enclosing walls of cliffs which mark the limits of the plateau and drop into the small coastal valley where the town of Puerto Piramides is situated. The name comes from a certain conical pyramid formation, found in places like Punta Piramide Reserve. The rocks around Puerto Piramide contain deposits of fossil invertebrates, which have been dated, in some cases, as being up to nine million years old.From the point of view of travellers, lovers and connoisseurs of nature in general and the Peninsula in particular, we recommend a stay of four days and three nights, to gain optimum benefit from all that the area has to offer and to enjoy it to it’s fullest. A prerequisite of visitingPuerto Piramides, is to accept or be willing to learn to enjoy nature and tranquillity; advertising, television, formal clothing and all the necessities of city living are not what Puerto Piramides is about.The village of Puerto Piramides has only three streets, so it is not possible to get lost and it is easy to move about in. Amble along the streets, see the people and speak to them, get to know them. You can be assured of a warm welcome wherever you go.

As a Provincial Nature Reserve, entering into the Valdes Peninsula requires stopping at a control station where information will be provided along with an entrance ticket. The fees for accessing this protected Natural Park are indicated here.The entrance to the park is clearly marked, unavoidable and placed in the middle of Provincial Highway No.2, half the distance between Puerto Madryn and Puerto Piramides, 50km in either direction, on the Ameghino Isthmus, a geographical accident connecting Peninsula Valdes to the continental mainland. Here I have provided the Facebook page for the Valdes Peninsula Park Administration. This page is maintained and constantly updated with relevant information concerning wildlife and nature in general, weather forecasts, road conditions, new installations, park projects and more. The closest city with an urban cosmopolitan center is Puerto Madryn, with the air of a port town and separated from the coast by a long, extensive beach. This attractive coast and pier, aside from commercial fishing vessels and the Coast Guard, receives several large cruise ships each year as they pass along Coastal Patagonia.A desolate road occupied by wild animals, unique to the landscape of theses latitudes, serves as an introduction to the Valdes Peninsula. 7km after passing the control booths and entrance to the Peninsula, a large round-about offers access to the Visitors Center.Here a small and well maintained museum exhibits a general view of the region and a complete skeleton of a juvenile Southern Right Whale.Passing the round-about and 28km further down the road is Puerto Piramides.  The visitor’s center lies on the Isthmus, the narrowest point separating the Golfo San Jose to the north from the Golfo Nuevo to the south and connecting Peninsula Valdes to Continental mainland. Following the round-about and entering a well maintained dirt road to the north is access to “Bird Island” observation   point, 5km from the Visitor’s Center.Different videos are shown in the multi-media room, graphically explaining the different aspects of the Valdes Peninsula. Other installations include taxidermy birds and detailed graphics of fossils, fish and the fauna in general that are found in the peninsula. Outside, an observation tower provides an excellent space for contemplating the immense Patagonian Steppe. Along the side of the visitor’s center, a walkway invites you through an interpretive path for a better understanding and identification of the diverse and interesting flora which to the unexperienced eye, look the same and are easily confused, being short and relatively uniform in color. A stop here is recommended and aside from the mentioned installations, there is a souvenir shop, kiosk and very nice restrooms, allowing a more comfortable arrival to Puerto Piramides.It is normal to encounter Guanacos, Choiques, Maras and ocasionaly sheep that have passed the fence, while traveling this route. For this reason one should drive cautiously and pay special attention. In some areas you can see, in the distance, both the Golfo Nuevo, to the south, and the Golfo San Jose to the north. This road is paved and well maintained up to your arrival at Puerto Piramides. It is nearly impossible to get lost and keep in mind, the first view of the bay is the most beautiful, just before dropping around the last curve and into town.

Roads with in the Valdes Peninsula

Aside from the route into Peninsula Valdes and Puerto Piramides, all the other roads are dirt and gravel. It is recommended not to travel at a speed of more than 60km/hr, a velocity that allows you safely enjoy the landscape. There are 4 emergency SOS telephones strategically placed along the roads that connect the Ameghino Isthmus with Punta Norte, Caleta Valdes and Punta Delgada.  The use of these emergency telephones is simple, just push down on the button for 2 seconds and you will be connected to the Police. In the one minute connection the person calling should indicate their location and the problem.

The use of these emergency telephones is simple, just push down on the button for 2 seconds and you will be connected to the Police. In the one minute connection the person calling should indicate their location and the problem.
Please pay attention to and obey the road signs and enjoy this amazing World Heritage Site. With patience and going slow you will guarantee a great trip with many trouble free kilometers full of experiences worth sharing.

Climate in Puerto Piramides and the Valdes Peninsula

Due to the maritime characteristics of the Peninsula, annual temperature variations are minimal, with the highs and lows in summer and winter respectively, rarely reaching extremes. Over the entire year the average monthly temperatures vary only 10*C, with a mean summer average of 18 *C and 8*C in winter. In general the climactic conditions of the Peninsula follow those of most of Northern Patagonia, modified locally by atmospheric interactions with surrounding bodies of water. The CENPAT (Center for Patagonian Studies) measures most of the variation from Puerto Madryn, the city closest to Puerto Piramides and the Peninsula, and resting on the shore of the same gulf.  Some variations will occur with respect to precipitation and wind.

Wind

Wind is the dominant factor in all of Patagonia and usually coming off the Andes from the West. Due to its geographic position, Puerto Piramides lies totally exposed to and is most complicated by south-west winds. During the winter months northerlies usually carry humid air due to the anti-cyclonic movement coming off the South Atlantic Ocean. In summer the north winds tend to be dryer as the anti-cyclone moves more to the west over the continent. In summer it is common to encounter a fresh southerly breeze produced from the cooler waters of the Golfo Nuevo. An increase in solar radiation and little water on land creates a significant difference between the temperature along the coast and the temperature over the Golfo.  Winds from the South and South-West in summer come in at a frequency of approximately 38% and in winter are more prevalent at about 50%. In spring and summer there is a relative increase in winds from the East and North-East.

Tides

Tides of the Valdes Peninsula are constantly coming and going. As is normal with the tidal flux almost everywhere, there will be two high tides and two low tides in the 24 hours that make up a day. The times and levels of the tides vary greatly throughout the peninsula.  The flow of the incoming and outgoing tides is slightly over 6 hours between high and low and depending on the tidal cycle there will be a stationary period of approximately 30 minutes between each shift in flow. In the Valdes Peninsula the tide levels are more than notable, reaching a difference of more than 5 meters in the Golfo Nuevo and up to more than 8 meters in the Golfo San Jose and on eastern coast along open-ocean.  Keeping this in mind and the fact that there will be 2 periods of high tide and two periods of low tide each day, it is amazing to observe the changes in the coastal geography.  In places like the Riacho San Jose Estuary at the western extreme of the Golfo San Jose, where a very low angle accompanies the beach into the sea, the tide can recede as much as two kilometers. In other areas, like the rock reefs of Puerto Piramides, where these three images were captured, at high tide the reefs are hardly visible, though at low tide the formations are left totally exposed forming small islands and isolated figures.  Tide tables are specific to each particular coast, considering latitude, geography and specific coastal form.They are also accompanied by a certain margin of error due to factors impossible to predict such as wind intensity and atmospheric pressure.  They are more than sufficiently precise for organizing dive excursions and other coastal activities.  Here I have provided a link to access the tide tables for Peninsula Valdes, from the Valdes Peninsula Nature Reserve Park Administration.  This link is visited frequently during Orca season, since the orcas, almost exclusively, attack at high tide when the water reaches the sea lion colonies. For more information about the world’s tides I have prepared a short article.

Geology

Characteristic to the geography of the Valdes Peninsula are high cliffs and extensive rock reefs that harbor cobblestone, gravel and sandy beaches. Numerous small bays and islands help to complete the picture of this coastline. Formed from sedimentary rock, over the slow geological process that took millions of years, accumulating and consolidating stratus layers into what is now a great exhibition of the past. An amazing display of marine fossils illustrates the varied and complex marine life that one thrived in the area. Some of the most common fossils observed along the coast are oysters (Ostrea Maxima), Pectin, Sand Dollars, Turitellas, Shark Teeth, fossilized Crabs, as well as fossilized remains of Birds and Marine Mammals.An ancestor to the Great White Shark has left evidence of its existence in the Valdes Peninsula and fossils of this huge predator can often be observed along the cliffs and on the beach. Like with most shark fossils, that of Carcharodon is reduced to thousands of jaw-bones and teeth spread throughout the world. Their skeleton, formed of cartilage, is usually destroyed before fossilization can occur.  Their teeth, on the other hand, are extremely hard, ideal for the long process required for fossilization. When they bite their teeth often break and fall out, and another tooth growing in the back will move in and take its place, often loosing and replacing hundreds of teeth each year.  Fortunately, for those of us that enjoy diving and swimming in the waters of the Valdes Peninsula, these animals no longer exist, and the modern Great White Shark (Carcharodon Carcharias) prefers warmer waters. Their ancestors lived in this area millions of years ago when the Patagonian Steppe was a jungle and the sea was occupied by Sand Dollars, Turitellas and other tropical marine life.

It is extremely common to encounter fossils, but please remember that the removal of fossils from the Valdes Peninsula is strictly prohibited. The best way to take a fossil home is by taking a photograph and leaving it where it was found, conserving the World Heritage Site. Often, at the park entrance, vehicles leaving will be  stopped to control the illegal transport and removal of protected aspects of the peninsula (flora, fauna and historical artifacts). Avoid problems and treat the park with respect. 

If you are interested in more information about the Great White Shark, I invite you to visit a web page of the well-known cameraman and visitor at Del Nomade, Andy Casagrande. Andy has spent weeks here with us during Orca season while filming for National Geographic. An amazing documentary cameraman and Great White fanatic, Andy has spent a lot of time below the surface with this species in South Africa and Guadalupe Island, The elevated geological value of the Valdes Peninsula is one of the reasons why it was declared a World Heritage Site. Included in the intentions of this world status are the protection, preservation and importance of the Tertiary profiles represented all along its coast.

This particular geological formation is exposed on a large scale along the coast of Puerto Piramides, due to constant erosion caused by wind, sea and rain. A panorama of deeply carved canyons, chiseled cliffs and gravel deposits along the beaches are accompanied by exposed rock reefs cut out of the cliffs by waves and tides. The bay of Puerto Piramides is marked by a smooth sandy beach while in the bay of Pardeles, just around the point to the south, a steep cobblestone beach. Two large points with high cliffs, jutting out into Golfo Nuevo to the south and west establish the natural limits of the Bay of Puerto Piramides, which is back dropped by large areas of sand dunes produced by millions of years of wind in an incessant process of erosion.Compatibility amongst different interests in the same geographical area is often extremely difficult to attain and is a dilema with many of the protected natural parks. Often the benefits obtained by protectionist legislation are directly countered by man’s use of the same area, whether for scientific studies, tourism or simply commercial reasons.  This is the case with the Valdes Peninsula and the problem is even greater due to the fragile nature of this particular ecosystem. For this reason, consciously enjoy and conserve

– Peninsula Valdes Maps –

Here is the link to the historic document that named Peninsula Valdes, as World Heritage Site, by the UNESCO committee.

Location

More Tourist Points Nearby

Punta Tombo: 221 Km. Dique Ameghino: 218 Km. Gaiman: 185 Km Comodoro Rivadavia: 490 Km. Viedma: 477 Km. Rawson: 152 Km. Trelew: 171 Km.  Puerto Madryn: 104 KmAirports: Trelew y Puerto Madryn.

Distance from other attractions:

Cataratas del Iguazú: 2656 Km. Mendoza: 1600 Km. El Calafate: 1.418 Km. Bariloche: 966 Km. Esquel: 644 Km Puerto Piramides  is 1.430Km from Buenos Aires, 2.392Km from Saltain the north, and 1.829km from Ushuaia to the South. Latitude: 42.35 (S) Length: 64.17 (W). Area: 3625 km2 Length: 63 km Width: 97 km

The quaint tourist village of Puerto Piramides, the Argentine capital for marine mammal observation, with a population of approximately 500 individuals, is the only town within the Valdes Peninsula Nature Reserve and UN World Heritage Site. Nestled into a hidden and protected corner of the Patagonian coast, Puerto Piramides is the ideal base for organizing close encounters with the abundant fauna of the region.The geographic and climactic characteristics of the Peninsula harbor a vast biodiversity that includes the annual visitation of marine mammals, birds and fish, visits that have taken place over the last several million years.

These varied species have chosen the calm and protected geographic anomaly that is the Valdes Peninsula, in an otherwise crude and windswept Patagonia, to mate, give birth and raise their offspring.Here I share a photo I made in Puerto Piramides with the relative motion of the stars. The rock in the picture is the Punta Olazabal, is located at the end of the second descent to the sea.A powerful cliff that closes the Bay of Puerto Piramides, pictured framed by millions of stars that surround it, over time.

I captured the following image from the Panoramic Apartment offered at Del Nomade one early sunrise in fall. I have prepared a gallery of photographs taken from this apartment. The best sunrises, moonrises, sunsets and other simply incredible moments I have experienced there, in this special space. I hope you enjoy the images.Puerto Piramides has a volunteer fire department, a rural hospital and civil defense personnel, which has 24-hour assistance. They instruct and assist the population and visitors about safety and health routes within Valdes Peninsula.It also has since 2015 with the AGB (Whalers Guides Association), as its name suggests, brings together sailors and captains working on whale watching. In it begin to conferences and workshops free entry for a bargain price which allows stakeholders, residents of Puerto Piramides, Puerto Madryn, Trelew and tourists to know more about the land we walk and environment, often ignored . Participation in the different cycles have a diploma that certifies the assistance.

Puerto Piramides, a meeting with wildlife

Seduced by an abundance of wildlife, the last several decades have been witness to our arrival, in the form of adventurers, scientists, documentary film makers, wildlife photographers and the devoted pilgrims who come to see wild animals in their pristine natural environment. Travelers from around the world congregate in this small town year after year.Over the last couple of decades living in, exploring and photographing this privileged coast, I have learned to observe, listen and continually understand more about the infinite details that lay preserved in the arid and solitary steppe lands at the end of the earth.To feel oneself as an active observer, as part of this immense natural theatre, transforms the moment into a pure and permanent experience. Without the need for imagination, an encounter with prehistory becomes real life adventure. A scene unchanged, as it was millions of years ago, makes today a day just like in the Cenozoic Era.Our local rhythm is an aggregate of experiences far from the parameters of urban existence, where the constant and integral presence of nature is part of life. This characteristic converts Puerto Piramides into a magical destination, with a unique and personal identity…while the conversations continue between Captains, Deck hands, Whale Guides, Biologists, Park Rangers, Divers, Gauchos, Geologists, Professional and Amateur Photographers, Tourists and Public Employees. In general, the daily activities that we carry out as members of this small village are directly related to Whale Watching Tours, Diving with Sea Lions, Kayak Excursions, Mountain Biking, Horse-back Riding, Interpretive Coastal Hikes, amongst others. Providing a parallel world where life flows through and is nurtured by nature in constant reverie with the surroundings. Usually arrived from other locations of Argentina, we created over the last 30 years,this tourist village. Joining in those early settlers, cowboys who lived in a remote and inhospitable landscape of Patagonia Coast for generations, working on sheep shearing and the work that life in the countryside still claim.

This cultural melting does give Puerto Piramides unparalleled identity. A rich cultural cocktail that blends ancient traditions and current.From December to March the beaches attract vacationers who enjoy the sun, sand and sea, endless days and cloudless. It’s incredible to see how the end of December, the last whales leave the Gulf and changes suddenly the tourist interests.During the first three weeks of January the campground and the entire town is swarmed by tourists, most of them on summer vacation from school or university and other local families from the nearby cities of Trelew, Puerto Madryn, Rawson and Comodoro Rivadavia.  Puerto Piramides and its bay are transformed into a beachtown for those seeking sun, sand, heat and the intensity and liberty that only summer can offer. For the most part these vacationers have little interest in the amazing and bountiful wildlife that surrounds them. The holidays and first three weeks of January obligate those that have come specifically for nature and the local fauna to coexist with these summering masses.Every evening, the few bars and restaurants, scattered along the only avenue that runs through Puerto Piramides, Whales Avenue ( Avenida de las Ballenas) provide the ideal space for nocturnal encounters. Sharing the day´s adventures is nearly tradition, creating a continuum from one experience to the next.Going over and reliving the details of the day while eating local scallops, fish and a fresh salad, accompanied with a glass of good Argentine wine or local artisan beer more than justifies a late night. While the immense sky invites a detour to the sand dunes or the beach before returning to your room. A short walk and a little observation will transport you into an intergalactic journey.
The universe has a natural observatory in Puerto Piramides. A tourist village, surrounded by unattainable horizons A destination where it is easy to escape the electric lights, trying to turn off the infinite, illuminating the street.The beach and dunes become ideal places for contemplation in absolute solitude and silence. The power of nature is demonstrated in every corner.On a personal level I make an effort to experience each sunrise of each new day in Puerto Piramides. Feeling the energy rising up out of the obscurity just before the aurora of dawn is a gift of uncommon dimension, and for me, an indispensable part of a complete day. During Whale Season the sun rises behind an old dirt road that was once the entrance to our ¨pueblo¨. From this point, without rush o pause, the signals of the passing of time leave no room for wait as the sky begins to clear, the veil is pulled back and a new day begins. In this link I shared a gallery of photos from the panoramic hotel apartment. This apartment is forced to witness the display of nature that surrounds it. The best sunrises, moon outputs, sunsets and incredible events of nature’s lived there. I hope you enjoy the pictures and descriptions. 😀In whale season, the sun rises behind the old road that descends to the village. From that time, slowly but surely, the signs of the relative time do not wait, start breaking,and the imminent dawn approaches.A neighbor´s rooster can be heard in the distance as the gas station attendant to the only gas station in Valdes Peninsula heads his car down the hill to work, passing the night shift employee of the electric company on his trudge back to home, and all amidst the warm aroma of  Del Nomade´s homemade breakfast being prepared.Often, during this mystical moment of dawn, I will climb the hill just behind Del Nomade Eco Hotel with a thermos and ¨Mate¨ in hand, to sit and contemplate the surroundings while massaging my bare feet in the sand. From this position the horizon is seen some 60km in the distance. Behind an immense sea, at the same point where the sea meets the sky, a thin fragment of land appears, the other side of the Golfo Nuevo, catching first light and providing closure to this amazing landscape bathed in brilliant gold.Taking a deep breath, I observe the hypnotic geography that surrounds me and, once again, I give thanks. I make a quick panoramic pan slowly rotating my head from left to right, my eyes following the motion from Olazabal Point to Pardelas Point to Cormornes Point, the mouth of the Golfo Nuevo and its gateway to open ocean, Ninfas Point on the continental side of the gulf, its bays, cliffs and hills disappearing in the distance and following the coast I arrive again to where I am sitting.This is a unique panorama that invites contemplation and provides a glimpse of the infinite and beyond. Within this arid natural landscape overflowing in every direction is geography practically unaltered over the last several million years, generating a sensation out of time. The fossils remains, habitants from another era form and decorate every cm of the path I walk.Yesterday and today are simultaneously exposed without intervals in the varying layers of stratus along the cliffs. Distinct geological eras are expressed in the form of sedimentary deposits, often several meters thick, on display for the eye to see as they fall off the steppe downwards towards their unavoidable encounter with the Atlantic Ocean. There are areas where this natural border forms vertical walls more than 70 meters high.With the arrival of sunset a golden light dissolves over the sea, a coronation for the oncoming procession of stars that at first appear immobile in their slow caravan eastward giving way to the slow, almost imperceptible rhythm that will birth a new day.After several years living in Puerto Piramides and feeling myself an integral part of this town, I decided to create a hotel for friends of the earth. My primary motivation for the creation of Del Nomade Eco-Hotel was to receive those that come to the Valdes Peninsula with a certain level of consciousness, respect for the planet and an adventurous spirit. This was the motivation that produced Del Nomade Eco-Hotel. I hope that you enjoy your stay and take advantage of the information provided with respect to activities, adventure, destinations and wildlife.

Puerto Pirámides a town with history

More than 100 years ago the number of people living in Puerto Piramides was much larger than its current population. In a few sentences I will try to make a simple recapitulation of this century of history. During the early 1900s salt mining and extraction brought a large labor force to the peninsula, an activity that lasted several decades. Although hard to imagine today, there was a narrow gauge train used for transporting salt from the salt flats to port. The arrival of the First World War along with the concept of refrigeration changed the way food was conserved and transported and the need for salt was greatly diminished.
During this thriving period of salt extraction in the Peninsula Puerto Piramides was an extremely important and active port town, much more so than Puerto Madryn, until the town was almost completely abandoned. Once meat, fowl and other food was being stored with refrigeration there was no longer a need to salt and cure for storage and the business of salt trade practically disappeared in the peninsula. A town that reached a population of over 3000 individuals, one of the most populated areas in all of Patagonia at that time, vanished like a mirage in the desert in a matter of a few short years. To get a better idea of the dimensions and historical importance of this port town, today we are approximately just 500 habitants, one sixth of its previous population and in its heyday Puerto Piramides had a large market known as “La Anonima”, what is now the most important chain of supermarkets in all of Patagonia. In 2003 the Puerto Piramides Light and Power Cooperative recognized “El Español” as a site of historical importance. This bar and hostel is more than 110 years old having survived the economic and population ups and downs over the course of time. The following image is a 360 degree panoramic photo that I made a few years back in the “El Español” with its legendary, classic bar and original décorJust a handful of individuals weathered through the economic bust in this isolated and windswept corner of the world, finding a way to survive and continue a peaceful lifestyle surrounded by nature, they had no idea that another moment of glory was yet to come. Eco-tourism and the title of World Heritage Site brought Puerto Piramides full circle and back to the geographical epicenter of activity in the Peninsula. After 4 decades of inactivity, tourism and the concept of nature tourism began to take hold, stimulate and attract new inhabitants to the area. Little by little the activities of wildlife observation and whale watching in particular generated interest in the unique nature of the Valdes Peninsula. Once again making history, Puerto Piramides has regained its importance, although this time thanks to eco-tourism.

 Puerto Pirámides Videos

The following video is a testament to the adventures that can be had in Puerto Piramides and the wildlife that can be observed. A professional documentary, conceived, produced and edited by members of our local community.

Puerto Madryn is a Young city with only about 85,000 habitants. For those of us that live in Puerto Piramides, 100km from this beautiful city, its presence is indispensable, providing the logistics of supplies for the services offered in our ¨pueblo¨. Energy and part of our potable water supply comes from this city as well. For the most part, those of us that live in the tranquility of Puerto Piramides, inside of the Valdes Peninsula Protected Nature Reserve, make weekly pilgrimages to the city for provisions, banks and paperwork, before returning to this natural paradise.On July 28th, 1865 a group of 150 Welsh immigrants stepped down from the sailing vessel ¨Mimosa¨ on the shores of what is now Puerto Madryn. This is the date now understood as the founding of the city, and its name, in homage of Loves Jones Parry, the Baron of Madryn at that time in Whales. The calm protected waters of the Golfo Nuevo came as the invitation for the naming of this port city. Being the principal port of commerce for the region,  Puerto Madryn was home to the central train station of Chubut from 1890 to 1961, converting this small port town into a cosmopolitan city with inevitable plans for future growth. The city grew primarily around the activities of the port and train station, as well some commerce and services.National and international politics have complicated the systematic growth of the area. While some aspects favored the establishment of factories others brought about an end to regional transportation and communication, as was the case with railway service. Today turned into Historical Museum, the railroad station shows a sample of a not so distant past.In the 60s several textile industries set up shop in Puerto Madryn due to certain tax exemptions, though several years later they all closed, producing a decrease in the local population, many moving away due to a lack of work.In the 70s the urban structure of Madryn had not changed, but all the railway installations were abandoned. The activities that had given birth to this port city had practically ceased to function, leaving a gap that would not take long to fill. A new industry was just around the corner, and it promised work for the entire city.With the arrival of Aluar and its aluminum production plant, together with its new pier and industrial port in the 70s, there was an explosive increase in the population. In a matter of less than 10 years Puerto Madryn´s population was tripled. Other industries joined in the expansion creating even more growth with families arriving from every corner of the country.
On the other hand, a new tendency was taking form in the province of Chubut with respect to environmental protection and the beginnings of a new work force in the area of Eco-Tourism. Thanks to a group of people who saw the unique nature of the region as a resource worthy of protection, Chubut became a pioneering province in the area of nature reserves. Over the course of a few years, several key regions received the status of protected or intangible areas.On the 29th of September, 1967 the Nature Reserve at Punta Loma was established. This was the first nature reserve to be established in Chubut and just 17km from Puerto Madryn, its two observation platforms allow for the unobtrusive observation of Sea Lions.The Punta Loma Nature Reserve also has a very interesting interpretive pathway for the identification of local flora. Although short in stature, the flora of the Patagonian Steppe is extremely varied with many plants that take decades to grow just a couple of meters.Tourism is a relatively new industry but in the last 30 years Puerto Madryn has continued to invest more and more in installations, locatuins and activities for visitors. Many adventure activities go hand in hand with the desire for contact with nature. Mountain biking, Boat tours, kayak excursions and 4×4 tours have become par for the course.The ocean is the great attraction and Puerto Madryn offers a permanent invitation for contact with the sea and enjoy excellent holidays. During summer months the ¨Ocean School¨ provides, for all ages, Kayak, Stand-Up, Windsurf, Kitesurf and Scuba classes, as well as a children´s summer camp.A couple of times each year the local yacht club (CNAS) organize regattas with the participation of local, national and international sailors.Contact with the sea during any of the mentioned nautical activities is an excellent option, but not the only way to enjoy the ocean. A tour of the Doradillo Beach during Whale season is a must and offers one of the most amazing and unusual natural events that exist. In complete harmony with their surroundings, dozens of whales, with their new born calves, can be observed right next to the coast as they teach and nurse the young. Puerto Madryn also offers an excellent museum circuit for a better understanding of the natural world that surrounds the area, with graphics, presentations and installations. One such museum is the Ecocentro, a place well worth visiting, where hands on activities provide a better knowledge and perception of the natural world generated by the sea and its tides.Having opened its doors at the beginning of this new millennium, the Ecocentro houses several different displays, expositions and replicas of local fauna, interactive monitors and models for better understanding the tides and the infinite world that depends on these tidal shifts, and much more.Their excellent conference rooms provide a continuous circuit of presentations, exhibitions and conferences keeping the theme of our oceans protection close to the surface.Another option is the Museum of Man and the Sea, often referred to as the Pujol Museum. Aside from several well presented skeletons and other displays the center attraction is a Giant Squid preserved for close observation.

The villa or castle Pujol is one of the first buildings of the town of Puerto Madryn, was built a century ago by Agustin Pujol who was a Spanish-based trader, for several decades in Argentina. After he and his wife died, the family decided to donate the house to the Museum of Natural Sciences and Oceanographic.
For a feel of the Patagonian Steppe, keep in mind that with each excursion you make, the local guides from the area will offer pristine moments, with a true sense of immense space, far from the bustle of humanity. Adventure tours of the Valdes Peninsula not only originate in Puerto Piramides, a tiny town with a population of just 400 and located within the Nature Reserve. Puerto Madryn also offers a large array of adventure tourism.An interesting option in Puerto Madryn is offered by ¨Costas de la Patagonia¨ with daily excursions. A 4×4 tour through the arid trails between cliffs and sheep ranches takes a visitor from the points of interest of the city south along the coast, past the monument to the Tehuelche Indians, the Ecocenter and the horse tracks. From this point the city disappears in the rearview mirror and the Patagonian Steppe takes over with its immense scenes of solitude and infinite landscapes. The local geography rich in fossil remains and legends frames this uncommon excursion in a mystic halo.In the last decade Puerto Madryn has become a destination for cruise ships touring the southern waters of Chile and Argentina increasing tourism for days of each month. The cruise ship season begins in September and lasts until the end of summer.For the most part the local climate is arid with little rain, winds are common, but sunshine is almost always on the menu. Without a doubt this is one of the best places in the world to visit from the months of September through April. During time frame is when the immensity of nature shows its true colors with an abundance of species, amazing numbers of individuals, unique behavior, adventure and the warmth of the local population. The winter months are usually not so comforting.For this reason ¨Del Nomade¨ Eco Hotel, in Puerto Piramides, opens its doors during the best time of the year, mid August, inviting visitors when the animals and the conditions are at their most pristine in the World Heritage site that is the Valdes Peninsula. We recommend that you visit the Valdes Peninsula from the peak season of the Southern Right Whales through the end of Orca season in April. During the months of May through August adverse climactic conditions are in general less attractive. Shorter days, cold, rain and strong winds are par for the course making it the best time to avoid the Peninsula. The remaining 8 months of the year make this an excellent destination. Here I have provided 3 videos. The first is a series of images of Puerto Madryn accompanied by information for the visitor. The second is a more artistic video, bringing to the forefront the natural beauty and attractive points of interest in and around the port city of Puerto Madryn.

Hello, I am Alejandro Avampini, and my photography is available exclusively in this APP and in the Red Bubble products offered for sale. This service includes shipping, with guaranteed reception and satisfaction.

If you’re looking for unique and impossibly brilliant t-shirts, heart-stopping wall art, attention grabbing iPhone cases or any other beautifully designed products with pictures of Valdes Peninsula, here you find an alternative to the mass producing hordes rudely hawking your individuality back to you on the Puerto Madryn or Puerto Piramides main street.
Once your custom-printed order is placed, it immediately goes into a production queue. While the majority of orders will print and ship within 48 hours, an order may occasionally take up to 3 business days to produce.
You can send a gift to someone else. The billing address must be your own, however you can choose a different delivery address.
 We don’t include any invoices or payment information in the packages, but elements of the packaging may reveal the goodies inside.
Please note, because we email your payment confirmation and receipt it’s also a good idea to use your own email address, to keep your secret.
Yes, of course you can return and exchange gifts!

The Valdes Peninsula is, by far, one of the best places in the world for the observation of whales, where the concentration of individuals per square kilometer is extremely high. During the 2013 whale season there were more than 1,1oo individuals counted in the month of September, the month of highest concentration in what is an extensive whale watching season, from June to December. This species, The Southern Right Whale (Eubalaena Australis) has an annual increase of approximately 7%, meaning that we should expect some 70 whales more with each season.
The whales have understood, for millions of years, the luxuries offered by certain topographies and here in the unique geographic formation of the Valdes Peninsula they are at home. They have chosen this natural refuge for protection from the raw angry seas of winter that engulf their feeding grounds further south. The geographic anomaly of the Valdes Peninsula with its two enormous gulfs full of small sheltered bays has its own micro climate, providing an ideal location for the Southern Right Whales reproductive behavior. Each year, from fall through spring, these whales travel from their feeding grounds in Antarctic and Pre-Antarctic region to spend months here in the Peninsula.

These two very distinct periods can be observed in the whales over the whale watching season. In the southern feeding grounds they will spend approximately 3-4 months feeding until they begin their migration north to the reproductive region along the Patagonian Coast. Upon arrival they are enormous! This can be perceived through simple observation. The surface area that remains out of the water is much greater and their girth is much wider than towards the end of the season. With pregnant females this is even more obvious, due to the baby she carries in her womb that can be born with as much as 5,500kg.
Aside from the immense space in which the whales are distributed throughout both the San Jose and Nuevo Gulfs, to speak of the whales of the Valdes Peninsula is to speak of Puerto Piramides. An oasis in the desert, Puerto Piramides is the place where man meets the sea. A hidden corner of Patagonia that serves as the ideal base for organizing encounters with the wildlife of the region. As well when speaking of whales of the Valdes Peninsula, El Doradillo beach must be mentioned. This peculiar beach, close to Puerto Madryn, is known for the grouping of many mothers and calves close to its shores.El Doradillo and the other surrounding beaches just north of Puerto Madryn seem to function as the most popular nursery. Dozens of mothers will group along this coast with their calves during the calves first few months after birth. There are other species that, as well, choose specific parts of the Valdes Peninsula to carry out some specific phase of their yearly cycle. The whales that arrive are from the Southern Right Whale population (Eubalaena Australis). Their cycle begins with their arrival at the end of April and beginning of May. Usually the first sightings will be along the coast just south of Puerto Madryn, and day by day the sightings will increase until the whales begin to form groups. They have a certain pattern in their circulation of the gulf during their 8 months of presence in the area, with the largest concentration grouping along the northern edge of the gulf, near Puerto Piramides.At the beginning of the whale watching season, between June and mid October, El Doradillo beach becomes one of the best places in the world to see whales up close from the coast (Months to enjoy excellent holidays) The whales come so close to the coast in this area that one can truly appreciate their size, often viewing animals less than 10mts from the beach. The primary characteristics of this area that attract the mothers with their newborn calves are a steeply inclined coast with cobblestone and pebble that quickly reaches a depth of 8mts., with excellent protection from the predominantly west and south west winds. These conditions allow the mother enough room for comfortably nursing her calf in calm waters, yet just shallow enough to impede the presence of males wishing to mate the female. For the most part, the whales of this species need between 15-20mts for mating behavior.
In 2012 a friend and colleague, Luis Pettitte, photographed the first birth of whales in history, a story that went around the world, being the first time that this document is achieved across the globe.As adults these whales need no more than 4mts of water to float comfortably. Calves will nurse by holding their breath and moving just below the mother where her mammary glands are located, on either side of her vagina. Stimulated by the calf´s presence, the mother will slightly raise her fluke and peduncle better exposing her mammary glands. The mother will push her fat rich milk straight out into the ocean water. The calf will be waiting will its mouth open right next to the mammary glands and will capture the milk together with salt water. The calf will consume huge quantities of milk and will grow at a staggering rate during the first few weeks.Being mammals, although marine mammals and with a shape and size greatly different from our own, we have a lot in common and spending time close to these amazing creatures on their terms in complete freedom, is an unforgettable experience.El Doradillo beach is a quiet and calm area just removed from the city. It is a public access beach that can be reached in any vehicle or excursion or even by bicycle from Puerto Madryn. Round trip from the city is 34km. If your destination is Puerto Piramides, making a visit to this beach before arriving to Puerto Piramides is a must.

The road takes a slight detour from the normal route to Puerto Piramides, is a dirt road and not all that well indicated. Make sure you get good instructions before leaving Puerto Madryn. From Doradillo beach the same dirt road continues until reaching the provincial route 2 and your arrival to Puerto Piramides. With the arrival of September we will observe the largest concentration of whales of the entire season. Puerto Piramides, at this time, becomes, indisputably, the best place for the observation of these friendly and curios animals. The traditional whale watching tours aboard certified boats with experienced crews takes place from the beginning of June through the month of December. Puerto Piramides is the only port in Argentina that specifically offers Whale Watching tours. For this reason, when the inauguration of a new whale watching season begins, Puerto Piramides is always highlighted, as is seen in the following video when the 2014 whale watching season coincided with the world cup of football in Brazil.The weeks go by and the season continues into October and November with lots of whales and diferent behavior. The mothers that have given birth with be observed together with their calves, though now much skinnier than upon their arrival before giving birth. The females that arrived for mating will be observed in groups surrounded by males in one of the most uncommon and beautiful courting behaviors found in nature.

The mating behavior of the Southern Right Whale is normally carried out with one female and several males. The female will usually be held on the surface, on either side by 2 or 3 males while another male will mate her from below, belly to belly. This behavior can last for several days before mating is complete. Often the female will be observed belly up on the surface as a method of avoided the male´s advances. She will often hold this position for several minutes before having to breathe. The females that arrive after a 12 month gestation period will give birth to just one calf. The adult female will give birth to one calf every 3 or 4 years and in the mean time will be dedicated to the teaching and well being of there baby. The adults and juveniles will spend most of their time involved in the amorous and erotic courting behavior.

According to most theories, the promiscuous behavior of this species is due to the female literally collected sperm samples from the different males to be later fertilized by the strongest and most adequate individual. During their first year of life the calves will remain close to their mothers nursing and weaning. The next stage of the calf´s life, before reaching reproductive maturity, as sub adults, will be taken on without the mother´s presence.

The beginning of December brings with it a noticeable departure of the whales. In the last few years there have been whale watching tours up through the first few days of January in the Golfo Nuevo, though at this time, sightings are not guaranteed and the excursions will often last several hours, travelling as far as the mouth of the gulf near open ocean. The photos published here in the different articles were captured aboard whale watching tour boats which operate every day, weather permitting, from Puerto Piramides, Valdes Peninsula.

A little bit of history about Man and the Whale:

The Southern Right Whale is a warm blooded living being that has suffered man’s industrialization of the world’s natural resources. Over hundreds of years Man hunted and killed whales, sea lions and seals amongst many other species with the goal of using their fat, reduced to oil, for making candles and thus lighting the streets and homes of Europe and the colonized continents. Various parts of the whale’s remains were also used in the making of frivolous cosmetic products. Their baleen filters, used by the right whales and all other mysticeti for feeding, were processed to make umbrellas, corsets and other massively consumed products. It is estimated that the numbers of Southern Right Whale before the indiscriminant commercial hunting of these animals reached well over 50,000 individuals. With the discovery of petroleum, gas and electricity, these enormous marine mammals have, little by little, lost their importance in the industrial world. Many species were unable to survive the voracious consumer market. One such is the North Atlantic Right Whale, a species that occupied the Bay of Biscay in northern Spain and was similar to the Southern Right Whale. In 1937, when only several hundred individuals remained, the Southern Right Whale was provided total protection with the signing of the International Agreement for the Regulation of Whaling. From this point forward the recovery of the Southern Right Whale has been slow but sustainable. In 1984 this species was declared by the Argentine Republic as a National Natural Monument. Thanks to a change in vision and consciousness that the age of Aquarius as awakened, today the Southern Right Whale is observed by thousands of tourists in Valdes Peninsula aboard whale watching boats or from the coast, perceiving through new eyes the wonder of diversity that our small and fragile planet offers. It is a much more positive memory enjoying a photograph taken of the whales instead of a keratin umbrella made from baleen filters, just in case it rains! An amazing underwater video of the whales was uploaded to You Tube by the well known documentary cameraman, Luis Burgueno. The clip is published here and thanks to a variety of angles and the clarity of the water, these giant and adorable marine mammals can be viewed at home in the waters of the Valdes Peninsula.

The Universe of whale watching in Puerto Pirámides
Most whale photos shown in the various articles were taken from the whale watching boats leaving every day of the week, only from Puerto Piramides in the Valdes Peninsula. So many launches are commemorated whale season or highlight the presence of Puerto Piramides. This video made in 2014, when he started the World Cup in Brazil.

This promotional video of the company’s whale watching Jorge Schmidt, could not get off the page. Produced by Frank Wirth,

Companies that have licenses for whale watching are 6. They have good boats, enabled by Naval Prefecture Argentina, equipped with trained staff and liferafts. One company entered a boat with underwater windows, the Yellow Submarine, currently enables to have an underwater viewing whale and marine fauna.

Whaling captains and guides

Several people in these 40 years have been captains and guides whale watching. I present some of the inevitable protagonists of the season watching in Puerto Pirámides. Key figures for tens of thousands of visitors have a close contact with the largest animals on the planet.

Marinao Van Gelderen

Mariano Van Gelderen is an alive legend of it. He has an important skill that has helped him to be always one step advanced : he knows how to observe, plus he has knowledge about what he talks about. Incurable bohemian, uses his verborragic personality to always give alerts in environmental areas and telling how things should be. In this small article while we summarized in a few lines its last 40 years in Valdes Peninsula, we try to do a tribute to him as a pioneer of the revolution that tries to bring us back to consciousness and cheer us to “Return to the Nature”. Nowadays it is dedicated also to paint the patagonik fauna and its landscapes.

Pinino Orri
A charismatic figure usually found on the first of the two access roads to the beach in Puerto Piramides, Pinino Orri is a great host wherever encountered. Now dedicating most of his time to his business, Whales Argentina, Pinino stood out in his youth as a free diver, spear fisherman and open ocean swimmer. A reference in Underwater Salvage and Diving, Capitain and Whale Guide, Pinino is one of the creators in the Patagonian method for whale watching and cofounder of this important tourist activity.

A few years ago we participated with a large group of individuals and foundations in the recovery and rescue of a dolphin that was stranded on the beach and he was one of those responsible to accompany him on reintegration into the dolphin to the sea.

Diana Visintini  Diana Visintini An intuitive visionary, Diana Visintini received most of her maritime education here in the Golfo Nuevo and she knows how to comfortably insert herself into any maritime environment. Over the course of time she has earned her place and the admiration and respect of her colleagues. One of her most noted achievements, up to now, came in 2000 when she obtained the title of “First Female Whale Guide in Argentina”.

Sofia Benegas Raised in the Valdes Peninsula and daughter to the first hookah artesian fisherman to set up camp in the Riacho Estuary of Golfo San Jose, the sea has been an integral part of her life. Without losing sight of her sensitive, feminine profile Sofia has educated herself in maritime activities that many a man would find impossible. Specializing in open air activities she is an ocean kayak guide and directs, together with her husband Pablo Passera, Patagonian Explorers. Together they offer excursions exploring and interpreting the Patagoian Coast. Many of their excursions take place along the Valdes Peninsula in the San Jose and Nuevo Gulfs. Sofia is a PADI dive instructor, Argentine Coast Guard approved Professional Diver, Whale Guide and Boat Captain. She has dedicated her life to activities in the sea and over the last 15 years works the whale season as a guide and captain in Hydrosport, her brother Rafael Benegas’ whale watching company

Pablo Fioramonti y Ernesto Ricci Like most the Whale Watching Captains that live in Puerto Piramides, Pablo Fioramonti is a self-invented man. When he arrived in Puerto Madryn, from his birth place in Greater Buenos Aires, he began working and learning to be a diver in the same company where he is now an international Dive Instructor, Captain and Whale Guide. Working for the same company, Whales Argentina, Ernesto Ricci followed a similar path, working first in the dive industry and exploring every corner of this history in the making. Now, 15 years later, both live life from a different perspective and either can be found at the helm of whale watching boats in Whales Argentina, a company owned and operated by Captain Pinino Orri.

Claudio Nicolini Having arrived from the small town of Cañada Rosquín, in the province of Santa Fe, Claudio Nicolini is a retired football player and fanatic fisherman. Claudio discovered his place in the world in Puerto Piramides, arriving in 1998 in a small trailer and installing himself in the municipal campground, where he lived for several years. Dedicated to work in the sea and contact with nature photography, he could not resist the temptation and naturally began to photograph whales. His passion and unique vision has allowed him to capture unique and privileged moments of the Valdes Peninsula and exhibit his work in different venues, articles, magazines and books.Now living in his home with a wonderful view of the bay, Claudio is a Whale Watching Guide and Captain, works in diving and swimming with Sea Lions and with his own boat, Deyje ll, offers special tours for documentary film makers and nature photographers from around the world. In the photo, Claudio is captaining Deyje ll for the photographer Gabriel Rojo and cameraman Segundo Serrato in a National Geographic production.

Whale Photographers

With each new whale watching season, national and even more international photographers discover, usually through the internet, the existence of this natural paradise, motivation enough for feeling called to the Valdes Peninsula. From September to December there are several of us, amateurs and professionals, which reencounter every year here in Puerto Piramides. Passion for the whales causes each season to be full of energy and emotion, especially after having suffered their presence during the rest of the year.

Guillermo Giagante
Guillermo is a sensitive artist with a great ability for translating unique moments which play on space and time, into 2 dimensional images. The images he has achieved in the Valdes Peninsula are surprising, whether of crashing waves in Pardelas, the cliffs of Punta Delgada or some other landscape, they appear as if observed in slow motion, with a transparent and unembodied spirit. With this particular vision, his images of the Valdes Peninsula are enjoyable to observe. Guillermo is one of the photographers that come each year with his family, in an almost obligatory pilgrimage, to renew and compliment his existing whale archives.

Ana Ponce y Belén Etchegaray FNA (Argentine Nature Photography)

Ana Ponce coordinates Photo Trips and Belen Etchegaray is the director of ANP, Argentine Nature Photography (FNA in Spanish), and they visit us each year with groups of amateur nature photographers. For more information about the Photo-Safaris they organize, I recommend that you make contact. They are very serious about their profession and enjoyable people to be around.

Luis Petitte Documentary cameraman and photographer, Luis has made the Valdes Peninsula his home over more than 30 years of documenting its flora and fauna. During whale season Luis spends the better part of each day with the whales, observing and documenting the behavior of these amazing cetaceans alongside the tourists in their whale watching excursions in Golfo Nuevo. His enthusiasm and years of diving experience has allowed him to film the whales up close, in their aquatic environment, dozens of times.
Luis has participated in 9 Orca seasons, patiently waiting close to the attack channel in Punta Norte and capturing unique images of the Orcas of Valdes intentionally beaching themselves in an attempt to capture sea lions while bathed in the sublime light of sunrise. Several of his images have been used in documentary films produced in the U.S., Europe and Asia. Luis is constantly collaborating with different foundations and institutions in the areas of behavior, identification and fund raising. With so much time and dedication, and a camera always in hand, Luis was the first and only photographer in the world to capture images of a Southern Right Whale giving birth. A close and dear friend and easy person to find in Piramides’ limited night-life, Luis is always in a good mood, humorous and with a predisposition for making those that surround him feel comfortable.

Daniel “The Octopus” Casielles With an innate capacity for learning and understanding, Daniel is an underwater cameraman, editor, and musician. His artistic nature is made evident in many videos and local television productions where his work is presented. Entirely self-taught, at a young age he saw in Puerto Piramides his place for growth and twenty years later he has developed a life immersed in nature and maritime activities. Below is an unforgettable example of his work. This video was captured on the 10th of May, 2008 when a group of aprox. 150 Pseudo Orcas appeared in the bay of Puerto Piramides, coinciding with the eruption and activity of the Chaiten Volcano in Chile. The volcanic ash from this eruption was blown west until reaching the shores of Golfo Nuevo. For several days the horizon line was lost in a foggy haze of ash and the Pseudo Orcas appeared, swimming non-stop back and forth in the bay, as if disoriented. A possible theory is that the minerals found in the suspended ash disrupted their echolocation, disorienting their natural guidance abilities. The reality was an unusual situation with unique, warm, natural lighting, ideal for documenting these rapid marine mammals, a rare situation immortalized by Daniel’s video.

Alexis Fioramonti A relaxed member of the aquatic community, Alexis is found in the photo above between Paula Torres and his brother Pablo, at the helm of Whales Argentina’s whale watching catamaran. Alexis first arrived in Puerto Piramides, when still very young, to visit his older brother. He fell so in love with the town that he grew into and formed his personal and professional life in Puerto Piramides. He began his career as a cameraman working for Luis Pettite, as with many of the whale photographers in town. Having earned his space in the maritime realm as well as the artistic, Alexis is also now a whale watching captain and whale guide who has forged his identity in the local maritime community.

–Stephen Jhonson With a Fervent and unconditional love for nature and far from his birth place in Utah, Stephen made his way into Puerto Piramides almost 20 years ago. Attracted to the sea and the unique energy of the whales he began photographing these amazing cetaceans while working for Luis Pettite. For more than ten years Stephen has and continues to work as a photographer aboard the whale watching boats of Jorge Schmid, Punta Ballenas, on the second access road to the beach. Stephen also dedicates much of his time to underwater photography and some of his work and observations can be seen on his blog. The photograph below is just an example of his artistic expression in the depths. Stephen has collaborated for many years with different foundations and institutions and has been invited to exhibit his work in different galleries.

Angel Velez Without a doubt, Angel is a photographer that has reached the heights, having established his office in the crow’s nest of Whales Argentina’s Catamaran. The images he has captured in 15 years of work on the sea have been published in the most diversified ways, from varying editorials to giant billboards along the 9 de Julio avenue in Buenos Aires. With this original perspective and angle, he has achieved aerial images difficult to capture due to the movement of the crow’s nest and impossible images for those who suffer motion sickness. He has collaborated in photo-identification of the whales along with other scientific projects. In the posted image, the catamaran navigates amongst orcas while Angel captures his amazing images.

Jorge Barone Often surreal and juxtaposed, the images created through Jorge’s visión of whales and whale watching tours are just as captivating as his photographic work with the local artesian fishing communities. Jorge studied photo journalism and worked as an independent photo journalist for different national and provincial magazines and newspapers. Jorge and his family left greater Bs. As. many years back to call Puerto Piramides their home, a change in air that allowed Jorge to become a reference in Argentine maritime photography. Jorge often gives photographic clinics and courses and continues to collaborate and actively participate in varying educational areas.
Nacho Corbalán With an innate don for observation he knows how to capture each moment with a special sensitivity that has been his from birth. Continuing is his father’s profession it could be said that in his core he breaths photography. Many years passed before returning to a place he had frequented since 1994, when he came to photograph Orcas in Punta Norte. Aside from Orca attacks he obtained wonderful portraits of the park ranger, Beto Bubas amongst other characters of the Valdes Peninsula. His whale photographs have brought life to many National Tourism campaigns. In his 30 years as a professional photographer he has been published in as many editorials as can be imagined and with equally varied subjects. Nacho has worked for Perfil, Atlantida, Clarin and others, his images standing out in their graphic publications.

Each photograph tells a story

The following photo of a whale watching tour was taken a couple of years ago from the panoramic window of the top floor apartment of Del Nomade. Sitting comfortable inside while watching whales is a priceless experience and I think that this image speaks for itself. I have enlarged the subject matter from the original photograph to better ilustrate the situation.Observe the size of the whale’s fluke in relation to the whale watching boat. This image was taken with nothing more than an 80-200mm lens and a Nikon D-90 camera at a distance of at least a km.

This video talk about the history of Whale watching in Puerto Piramides –Valdes Peninsula

To provide context, a brief historical base is necessary before delving directly into the importance and beauty of the “Bird Island” nature reserve, a biological Pearl of Valdes Peninsula that rests, embraced on all sides by the magnificent Golfo San JoseChubut has been a pioneering province with respect to conservation in Argentina thanks to a group of people who saw the need to preserve its unique natural resources. The nature reserve at “Bird Island” (Isla de los Pajaros) was created in 1967 along with many different regions of Chubut that were identified in this time period as important areas to protect, establishing nature reserves that today are the bastions of Chubut’s protected areas.

Bird Island is not an island!

The tidal shifts are so large in Golfo San Jose that when the tide goes out a spit of land connects the “island” to the continent. With low tide coming twice a day a person could walk across without even getting their ankles wet, tramp the island and return in a couple of hours. With high tide the spit is covered with water making it appear to be an inaccessible island once again, a geomorphological characteristic referred to as a Tombolo.The Bird Island Reserve is located on Route 2 after entering the Valdes Peninsula. A 7 km from the booths where you paid the entrance, there is a roundabout. The first access is to the Visitor Center. A museum can take a screenshot of the region and see an amazing and complete skeleton of southern right whale. By continuing the roundabout follow the route to Puerto Piramides, 28km later and the rest of the Valdes Peninsula. The third output is access, leading by a well maintained gravel road for 5km, to the Bird Island Reserve. If you continue the circle, the roundabout come back to Puerto Madryn, Trelew or Route 3.At the same place you’ll find the junction that leads to Bird Island, a reserve called because it is an important nesting area for migratory and non-migratory species. . We can say, however, that this isthmus has great biological value, because it is used as a breeding area for ten species of seabirds and shorebirds and others which also frequent it in smaller numbers. It is a very special place, perhaps even a bit mystical. The best time of year for visiting this privileged appendage of the Valdes Peninsula, when the occupation and activity of various species of birds is at its highest, is from September through April. The early and visionary concept of conservation greatly favored the protection of Bird Island’s biodiversity from destruction and vandalism. Historically, as told by early visitors and residents of the Valdes Peninsula, “anyone could walk across to Bird Island where eggs were touched, moved, broken and removed…or the nesting birds were even shot at for sport”.

Today, access to Bird Island is strictly controlled and tourists can observe the island from just across the channel on the coast. With respect to people previously walking across to the island a question is created that will be quickly answered.

Following the circuit prepared for tourists at Bird Island an attractive new wooden walkway is reached with informative and educational signs and graphics. Stopping at one of the signs and reading the information while observing the island it becomes evident how its shape could have easily inspired Saint Exupery in the creation of his book “El Principito”. The drawing made in the first few pages of his book of the boa that swallowed an elephant is almost identical to the shape that is seen when observing the island from this perspective.From the wooden walkway an important and impressive panorama of Golfo San Jose and the geographic accidents that comprise its coastline are displayed. Looking west is Punta Gales (Welsh Point) and Punta Logaritmo (Logarithm Point), while the island occupies the field of vision in front looking almost due north, right next to a replica of the small chapel that existed in the San Jose Fort. With the clear skies that are frequent in these coordinates, the mouth of  San Jose Gulf can be seen, with Punta Quiroga to the west and Punta Buenos Aires just 6.8km to the east. Between these two points marked by high cliffs and strong currents the enormous tidal shifts flow to and from Golfo San Matias. The unique natural characteristics make this portion of paradise worth a visit, aside from the array of birds that can be observed.. The reserve has a large fixed binocular, allowing visitors to move-in close to the activity while not disturbing or altering the bird’s reproductive behavior during their spring and summer residence.The colour of their feathers are acquired by the food they eat, that’s why their offspring are born whitish and take on the intense pink colour from the small crustaceans, which form the major part of their diet.Flamingos are not resident in Valdes Peninsula area, however they nest in lakes in the Province of La Pampa.“The Valdes Peninsula is an extremely special place…” says Medina, a Park Ranger at Bird Island “…it is a huge maternity ward”, in reference to whales, sea lions, elephant seals, and dozens of species of birds that come each spring to mate, give birth and raise their offspring. Medina has worked from the start as a young, idealistic volunteer whose participation in a new concept around conservation and protection set the groundwork for what is now an established and necessary group of Park Rangers in the protected nature reserves of Chubut. Also living and working as Park Rangers in the reserve at Bird Island are Montero and Garcia Vera, both having dedicated decades of their lives assisting and educating tourists while protecting this special site.The different species of birds that nest and reproduce on Bird Island include the Great Egret (Egretta alba), Black Crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax), Kelp gull (Larus dominicanus), Rock Cormorant (Phalacrocorax magellanicus), Neotropic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax olivaceus), Chubut Steamer Duck (Tachyeres leucocephalus), several species of Terns (Sternas) and some Megallanic Penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus). Other birds that can occasionally be observed in the area or on the island include Brown-hooded gull (Larus maculipennis), Southern Giant Petrel (Macronectes giganteus) and Chilean Flamingos (Phoenicopterus chilensis), amongst others.

Great Egret

This elegant bird, was on the verge of extinction by early 1900. The cause of this destruction was the prevailing fashion amongst women for “aigrettes”, which were made from the breeding plumage of the male bird. The spectacular nature of these feathers gave them great value and hunters pursued the bird tenaciously without any control and without respecting the breeding season. Finally, at the last moment, laws began to be applied to protect our wildlife. In this way the beautiful white egret survived and in recent years they have more numerous but are still rare.

Neotropic Cormorant

It is frequently seen flying swiftly, striking the water with a straight and accurate flight, and occasionally touching the surface with the tip of the wings.  This species is primarily piscivorous. However, these observations suggest that, unlike the King cormorant and the Rock shag, the diet of this species is characterized by a high proportion of fish moving in schools and near the surface such as the smelt and bottom fish as bass. In marine environments, this cormorant has been observed feeding both individually and in flocks. It feeds mainly in shallow coastal waters (less than 1.3 km and not more than 10 m depth). After diving in search of food, it is common to see it with spread wings to the sun on a branch, drying off. The neotropic cormorant builds nests with branches cemented with their own guano.

A historical record of the colonization of Patagonia

This image represents just one small corner of Patagonia, a landscape illuminated by the warm glow of sunset reflected upon the small chapel at Bird Island, a replica of the one that stood at the San Jose fort in an early attempt at Spanish colonization. Isolated and alone, set to one side of the visitor’s center, its construction brings to life time long past and refreshes our collective memory.For those with a deeper interest in this colonial history I have attached (spanish) a study made by Jimena Alberti on the archeological history of the Valdes Peninsula entitled The First Historical and Archeological Analysis of the San Jose Fort (1779-1810). This a professional and very complete study reduced to a 43 page file.  For those interested in a more concise version I have included here a series of historical anecdotes of the peninsulas past.  The beginning of European presence in the area dates back to the 26^th of February 1553, when a Spanish expedition led by Simon de Alcazaba and the two ships “Madres de Dios” y “San Pedro” touched land near the present day town of Camarones, and on the 9^th of March of the same year the area was given the name Nueva Leon. During the inland exploration of this same expedition the rivers Chico and Chubut were discovered, hundreds of km from the Valdes Peninsula. As more ships ventured this coast carrying supplies or searching for resources, it was only a matter of time before the protected waters of Golfo San Jose and Golfo Nuevo were explored. This is exactly what happened some two hundred years after touching land near Camarones.  On the 7^th of January 1779 the first Spanish colonizers rowed to shore at what is now called Villarino Beach, Golfo San Jose, Valdes Peninsula.

Don Juan de la Piedra, at the helm of the sailing vessel Nuestra Senora del Carmen and while commanding a fleet of ships, including the Santa Teresa and Nuestra Senora de Oliveyra, decided to enter Golfo San Jose in search of refuge from the rough seas of opean ocean that are common at these latitudes. Their landing was made along the South-Southeast coast of the Golfo San Jose and founded what would be known as the San Jose Fort or Kings Ranch.The ships pilot, Genral Don Basilio Villarino, discovered fresh water springs close to the landing site, a place that would later be named Don Basilio in his honor. Thanks to drinkable water from this spring and through an arduous process of work and sacrifice they were able to establish small shelters and gardens with irrigation channels.With the objective of establishing a fixed colony and thereby expanding and protecting Spanish sovereignty individuals of various professions and abilities constructed, amongst other buildings, a small chapel. The chapel that can be visited at Bird Island is a replica some 30km from the original site where the small fortress La Candelaria once existed.

According to documents recorded months later at Fort Rio Negro, by survivors, it is told that on the 8^th of August 1810, the colony at Fort San Jose was attacked by an indigenous mob of Tehuelches, led by the Chiefs Colchecan Cossuna, Tanana, Zenchil, Salu and others. The attack completely destroyed the colony and its installations, including the fortress and chapel. The unofficial story is that this violent attack, where only a few were allowed to survive to tell the tale after 30 years of mutual occupation, was probably the product of poor treatment by the colonizers.  Today, Villarino beach is easily accessible by land, resting along a lonely coast lost in the great expanse of its surroundings and with no visible evidence of this colonial history.  Aside from the reasons for the indigenous intolerance of the white man, it is easy for any visitor to Bird Island, together with a little bit of imagination, to travel back in time and get a feel for the harsh, distant and isolated conditions that the first colonist had to endure along the Patagonian Coast.

Here I present one of the options for adventure in our Town. Sea expeditions Kayaks day Trips to visit the Sea lion colony at Punta Piramide, during this past year this outing become obligatory in Peninsula Valdes. Pablo Passera with Sofia Benegas, her wife, own Patagonia Explorers a small Sea Kayak company who runs Sea Kayak Trips and day trips in Patagonia.With Cecilia my wife we did several trips with this couple of friends, I remember one Sea Kayak Trip in San Jose gulf I’m going to describe.  It was 3 days trip around several kilometres of Peninsula Valdes. After organize all the logistic, we pass 8 gates in 2 4×4 trucks and a trailer with the kayaks, to arrive at one beach our starting point. We loaded into the hatches of the kayaks enough amounts of fresh water, food, and snaks with pure energy. We would begin a journey that would depend on the local Guides.Each couple had their tents, sleeping bugs and everything you need for camping 2 nights. Anxiety to explore and been in the water, led us to prepare to go to Buenos Aires Point. A desolate point, but very sunny, this is the northeast point which forms the entrance to the San Jose Gulf, on the other side is Punta Quiroga. Before the sunset we were at the place for camping, a great asado with a small fire by the beach. Folowing leave no trace techniques to minimize the impact in these natural places

The transparency of the water let us to observe them. Its immense sizes are proportional to the delicacy of harmonic movements. One option that allows this form of movement without motor, it is navigate in silent. So it was that we entered without altering the behavior of the colony of Sea lions, our advance was in silent, quiet and marveled, calm sea and crystalline, some sea lions came to lean on the side of the kayaks very curious. When we reach the destination beach, we stop for lunch gourmet style with the special touch of Sofi. Sun dried tomatoes with olive oil and garlic, Dijon mustard and eccentricities in such a desolate and private atmosphere, become a delicious dimension. A short break at the beach lying imitating Sea lions, served to rest. After a while we continued the paddling in our kayaks, heading Punta Conos. A unique rock formation in the area, attracted our attention. We paddle all under a Bridge.We arrived at the campsite, set up our tents and went for a short trek along the coast. Another spectacular night at Pta Conos, with Bolognese pastas and a relaxed chat with memories of lived experience a few hours ago. The paddling to playa Fracasso was filled with whales, all resting and relaxing, because the sea was calmer than the days before.

The feeling of being tired was complete forgotten for the greats moments that we could live during this days. Once the 4×4 arrived, we could not contain the happiness to done this great trip. For us it was the first adventure kayaking in San Jose gulf. The view of the cliff from the solid and comfortable kayaks, the colors of the sunsets and the group camaraderie and professionalism allowed us to experience and document this experience to the fullest. Thank you for give us this adventure of a live time!!. Here you can see the Video of those days of adventure in the San Jose Gulf, and more kayak in Peninsula Valdes.

Part of the adventure is to be able to tell it. So with Pablo also enjoyed a pint of beer in the bar of a neighbor, Brad Spitz “ Cerveceria Guanaco”. Our tourist Village, Puerto Piramides also offers alternatives to enjoy and celebrate. Every night, a few restaurants and bars in the only avenue of the town “Av. de las Ballenas” , encourage the encounter. Share experiences lived under the sun it is part of the same story.

Like this young says in his website. “We work for our customers to see covered and exceeded their expectations, they feel comfortable, have a great time and get more knowledge about marine and coastal ecosystem of Patagonia”. If you want to live the Patagonian Steppe, remember that every trip you do, will give you the chance to fell unforgettable experiences in this pristine environment, with the guarantee of this young group, guides that born in the area.

This Video also shows the adventure and wildlife that live in Patagonia Peninsula Valdes.

This video also shows the adventure and the wildlife that you can live in this Patagonian experience.

Horse-back riding in the Valdes Peninsula is, thanks to Victoria and Gerardo, an experience made possible from Puerto Piramides. For those looking to enjoy their stay combining nature in all their activities, Criollos de Valdes, is a relatively new adventure that stands side by side in quality with other activities like kayak, mountain bike, boat tours and swimming with sea lions.Criollos de Valdes offers interpretive rides for discovering the Coastal Patagonian Steppe. Along the way it is common to observe whales, various species of birds and other animals both native and migratory, an indescribable amount of fossil remains, bringing to the surface millions of years of geological history, and one of the best ways for enjoying the peace and silence of a sunset in this unique and infinite site. This video, made by the province of Chubut, is dedicated to the adventure activities offered from the mountains to the sea. Very nicely edited, amongst the other areas of the province, you will observe those made in Puerto Piramides, such as Horse-back riding and Mountain bike.

Victoria and Gerado are experienced bilingual guides known for thier understanding of the Valdes Peninsula and the circuits they offer are on pure Creole horses, extremely domestic and easy to ride, allowing a harmonic experience with nature. While riding, an emphasis will be made by the guides on the topic of conservation, the environment, natural resources, their use and protection, and the cultural idiosyncrasies of the area. This is another great way to experience Peninsula Valdes.

Mountain biking the Valdes Peninsula, from Puerto Piramides

 Mountain bike riding is an adventure sport practiced just about everywhere with Patagonia being no exception. In Puerto Piramides, long time resident Mario Gadda offers daily tours and other special excursions. The name of his business Traccion a Sangre and his tours will take you along paths, trails and old ranch roads known only to him and very few other local guides.With modern, professional mountain bikes and all other necessary equipment provided, Mario offers guided tours for discovering at a rhythm your own body dictates, to hidden corners, through incomparable landscapes and magnificent sunsets that his more than twenty years exploring the region guarantees.

The magazine Vida Silvestre published an article on Sustainable Tourism. The article dedicated its focus on two different excursions in Argentina where specific environmental consciousness is applied. It is a challenge for any small business to function when dealing with adventure activities in isolated areas. One of the excursions analyzed in the article is that of Mario Gadda, with the only Mountain Bike service offered in Puerto Piramides. The Vida Silvestre foundation owns and manages a piece of land, just a few kilometers from Puerto Piramides, with 7,360 hectares and bordering the coast of the Golfo Nuevo, called San Pablo de Valdes. All of the activities offered on this land are financed by the Vida Silvestre Foundation, made possible through the support of thousands members and donations. Here is a video made by Traccion a Sangre during its classic yearly Mountain Bike event Pedaling with the Whales. In this video the Park Ranger of ¨San Pablo de Valdes¨ briefly explains the characteristics of the different activities offered. Combining these two unique and environmentally conscious businesses, Mountain Bikeing and San Pablo de Valdes, they have created a fantastic attraction for adventure oriented tourists who visit this Patagonian Destination.

While staying at Del Nomade Eco Hotel any reservation you need can be made, with no extra charge, allowing you to explore the unique geography of the Valdes Peninsula through any of these nature friendly activities.

One of the most attractive adventure activities for travelers to the Valdes Peninsula is Scuba Diving. Scuba is a discipline that is enjoyed by more and more visitors every day and there are many ideal underwater formations in and around the coast of Puerto Madryn and Puerto Piramides. 15 different professional dive companies in the area offer from the very first baptism dive to certified courses, deep dives, and wreck dives, amongst many other diverse options. The Valdes Peninsula is recognized as the Scuba Diving capital in Argentina.

Immersions can be made using tanks with compressed air, for certified divers, or with the use of a snorkel for beginners. Free diving has become more and more popular in the area and is a technique that requires physical training together with a dedication to individual mental relaxation and special attention to a proper diet and hydration for best results. The healthy aspects of free diving are made even more attractive by the weightlessness and liberty of movement that is discovered without the use of tanks and dive gear.Without a doubt the newest alternative amongst all of the dive options is snorkeling with Sea Lions. Since the approval of this activity by the provincial government of Chubut, it has become very popular and really is a must do experience, at least once in your life. Floating on the sea in a dive boat close to a Sea Lion colony activates the curious nature of these marine mammals and while the divers prepare to venture into the water the boat becomes surrounding by these excessively inquisitive creatures. Once over the side, one is immersed in the closest contact possible with wildlife of the Valdes Peninsula undunderwater. To make this excursion it is not necessary to be a certified diver and due to the use of a neoprene suit, providing positive buoyancy and maintaining body heat, it is not a requirement knowing how to swim. Calmly breathing while floating on the surface in a wetsuit with nothing more than a mask, snorkel and fins and surrounded by these curious and friendly ocean dwelling mammals is an unforgettable experience.All of the adventure activities offered in the Valdes Peninsula are safe, yet the unique nature and close interaction they allow creates intense, unimaginable and unforgettable sensations. This activity has generated a lot work in the area for professional divers and guides accompanying visitors in their interaction with these beautiful and innocent marine mammals, an investment well worth the rewards. On land Sea Lions are territorial, often remaining in the same place for hours and made uncomfortable by the close proximity of man, yet in the water their behavior changes dramatically. Underwater their movements are rapid and controlled, almost as if dancing below the surface as they approach, surround and dive below the observer. Swimming with Sea Lions is one of the activities that I most recommend in the area.They are mammals, but marine mammals whose curiosity often dictates their behavior. This is readily observed when approached in a boat as they immediately come in close, raising their heads and careening their necks while constantly changing from one side to the other, as if looking for the best perspective for observing us.Dozens of animals, mostly females, juveniles and newborn calves from the previous summer, surround the boat and raise their heads high as if investigating the interior of the vessel. For the most part, the dominant male, easily recognized by his size and thick mane, remains at a distance controlling his harem. As each diver enters the water the Sea lions curiously approach and begin to play around the divers like they were one of their own.For those with experience in underwater photography, this is the ideal adventure for capturing amazing images of wild nature in their liquid universe. The density of this aquatic environment surrounds everything equally and allows for silent contemplation from a completely different perspective. With looks that say a thousand words, an almost telepathic communication is established with the Sea Lions.In my work as a wildlife photographer my desire is to transmit, through the images I take of animals in general and marine mammals in particular, the understanding and symbiosis they share with their environment. Something that we as humans have either lost or have truly never come to understand, consisting in the ability to enjoy the present being free, alert and as one with our surroundings, with innocence, pushed on by nothing more than the vital energy of life itself.Even though diving can be practiced and enjoyed during the entire year, the local climactic conditions are not all that favorable in certain months. This is why Del Nomade Eco Hotel in Puerto Piramides opens its doors at the beginning of the best season, mid August. Inviting the visitor to come at the right time, when the conditions are at their most pristine in this World Heritage Site. I recommend you visit the Valdes Peninsula from peak Whale season up through the end of Orca season, mid August through April. During the months of May to the beginning of August adverse climactic conditions are in general less attractive. Shorter days, cold, rain and strong winds are par for the course making it the best time to avoid the Peninsula. The remaining 8 months of the year make this an excellent destination.

The Shared History of Sea Lions and Man

The coastal sea lion population was greatly affected as a direct result of killing of these animals for their skin and fat. In the Valdes Peninsula alone, more than 260,000 individuals were massacred from 1917 to 1953. During this same time frame, the number of individuals processed is Argentina was well over one half million. Over most of the last century this commercial activity was regulated, and in 1953, the killing of the One Haired Sea Lion was prohibited. Today, more than sixty years after having suspended hunting, the total population of Sea Lions in the Valdes Peninsula is estimated at 20,000 individuals, less than the number killed per year during the height of the commercial processing of these animals. Those that made a living in the killing of Sea Lions and Seals were known as ¨Sealers¨, and the way there job was carried out was bloody; with long, heavy wooden clubs they would beat the animals over the head and snout until dead. Today, in the Valdes Peninsula, the relationship between Man and Sea Lions is very different.Through the growing concept of conservation and eco-tourism, these animals are now seen in a different light and considered a natural resource. Diving with Sea Lions has brought tourists from around the world to observe and interact with these marine mammals in their natural realm. An intense encounter at close quarters with wildlife in its natural environment is an unforgettable experience. Experienced guides accompany visitors with these curious and friendly marine mammals, creating jobs and offering a unique experience that heightens ones sensitivity, an investment well worth taking advantage of. On land, Sea Lions are territorial and can remain sitting or lying in the same spot for hours. In water their behavior changes dramatically, their movements become rapid and with complete control of the space they want to keep. Swimming with these curious and friendly marine mammals is one of the activities that I would most recommend while in the Valdes Peninsula.

A short video about dive with sea lions in Valdes Peninsula. 

Within the Valdes Peninsula there are 7 distinct penguin colonies, but 2 are the most popular, one very large and another smaller. The first is located on the shores of the San Lorenzo Estancia, 75km from Puerto Piramides and close to Punta Norte. This colony has been experiencing an uncommon growth rate year after year and is now home to approximately 270,000 Penguins from September through February. Another fee must be paid to enter the Estancia and Penguin colony which includes a guided visit with biologists and a recommended Patagonian Lamb BBQ for lunch. Aside from this amazing Magallanic colony, remains of a sealing factory can be visited.Another option, with access included in the Valdes Peninsula park fee, is Punta Cantor in Caleta Valdes. Two different colonies, each with its own particular attractiveness that offers close encounters with the penguins of the Valdes Peninsula. Much further away is the traditional penguin colony at Punta Tombo, 270km from Puerto Piramides.Punta Tombo has been home to as many as one million penguins, though over the last several seasons a decrease in the population has been observed. In recent seasons,  population census recorded around 400,000 penguins observed.The scientific community has paid special attention to this change. The most widely accepted theory is that the penguin population has made a geographic change finding greater concentrations of fish and other marine life, on which they feed, close to the Valdes Peninsula. The information, we shared in this APP is corroborated by Pablo Borboroglu, President of GPS Global Penguin Society.

Penguins are perfectly adapted to marine aquatic life at low temperatures. A product of evolution, their spindle-shaped body allows better displacement of water, resulting in high hydrodynamic corporeal form.The Penguins’ beak is vertically flattened, very strong, long and curved at its end, together making it an excellent tool to capture their food. Like other birds its beak is adapted inside to regurgitate transported food for their young.
On the bird’s palate, there are “rugae (wrinkles) palatal” which channel prey down the oesophagus and prevents it from escaping.Penguins’ wings are short, very flat and strong. They are flightless, but their movement in the water is really a flight rather than swimming.The bird’s sternum is also very powerful, and is a shield to withstand the shock of diving into the water from considerable heights. In water, the wings act as propellers, driving the Penguin at speeds up to 7 miles per hour, and they can swim 105 milles in a single day. They are extremely acrobatic underwater, which is necessary for them to catch their prey and also to allow them to escape predators. This agility comes about by using their feet as rudders.Penguins spend much of their time preening and maintaining their plumage, which is very important to maintain the waterproof quality of the plumage. This seabird has, very close to the top of the tail, a gland, called Uropygial gland. Many specimens have there a patch of white feathers. He produce an oil that gets with his peak to applying it in their plumage with patience, achieving waterproof his new suit.

Behaviour:

In late January and February, groups of young born the previous season, spend nearly two weeks on land where moult their pens for first time. These non-breeding birds tend to group together under bushes to escape the heat of the Sun.During that time remain on land without feeding and the area are flooded with small white feathers among the boulders and bushes.Males are slightly larger than females and have longer and wider beaks. The male weighs about 4 to 5 kg and is 45 cm tall. They reach sexual maturity at 4 or 5 years for both sexes.

Reproduction:

The males will arrive in September to recondition their nests, built in previous years, and await their mate’s arrival several days later. If the nest is not properly conditioned the female might choose to go with another male who is better prepared. For this reason October has become a month of positioning and fighting in the colonies, often producing severe injuries and even death.They will nest as far as 800 meters from the coast and at times, due to natural geographic accidents, their trudge from the coast can be well over a kilometer.The chicks are born covered with dark gray down, which is lost in February when moving into juvenile plumage. At this time the chicks become independent making their first forays into the sea in search of food. The following year they’ll acquire adult plumage after another moult.

Their relationship with the man:

At the present these birds are surviving the collateral environmental damage created by we Humans. Many of the oil patches that litter our oceans are concentrated in the migratory routes these non-flight marine birds travel. They will often be covered by an unbearable film of petroleum while navigating the surface through these spills. Once covered in crude, their feathers are no longer able to insulate, causing the birds to loose heat, look for shelter on the coast and die due to intoxication, exhaustion or starvation. It is extremely important that we raise our consciousness while generating and enforcing strict legislation for the extraction and transportation of petroleum.

Conservation and its Anonimous Heroes

In an attempt to keep our collective memory alive, I am going to take advantage of this space by telling a unique story about conservation on the Patagonian coast. Through a collection of old newspaper articles, an important moment in the history of Argentine wildlife conservation, known as “The Battle of the Penguins”, is well preserved.Carlos Passera, one of the first Park Rangers in the province of Chubut, while living with his wife and children in the remote penguin reserve of Punta Tombo in the 1970’s, was converted into a conservationist hero. This was during the illegal de-facto military government, during which one day a representative of the govt. arrived with news that a factory would shortly be built on the coast. Its purpose would be for the slaughter of some 48,000 penguins per year in order to make and sell, amongst other banalities, golfing gloves. It quickly became clear that this govt. representative had no idea with whom he was talking.
“The battle of the Penguins”, became the name that took root during the defense campaign of these animals and this unique place. The legendary Argentine cartoonist, Fontanarrosa, became involved in the campaign through his famous cartoon character, Inodoro Perera. Carlos, through his communications with the press on the subject of this future atrocity, changed the course of and quite possibly saved one of the largest penguin colonies in the world. Today Punta Tombo represents one of the most important centers of ecotourism in all of Patagonia. All thanks to this hero in the history of Argentine conservationism, Carlos Passera.

Today, Carlos and his wife Carol, who has accompanied him since before their odyssey with the penguins of Punta Tombo, run Causana Viajes, a tour agency offering alternatives oriented towards sustainable, responsible tourism, guided by nature and the natural and cultural experiences offered in each region they visit.

The Valdes Peninsula, in Argentine Patagonia, is home to the only continental reproductive Southern Elephant Seal colony in the world. This species (Mirounga Leonina) is distributed throughout the Sub-Antarctic region with an estimated population of 700,000 individuals. It is calculated that approximately 20 thousand reach the Valdes Peninsula each year between August and March to mate, give birth and molt. The Southern Elephant Seal is the largest marine mammal to occupy this coastline during its reproductive season. Towards the end of August the first males begin to arrive, marking their territory and gathering their harems with the arrival of the females. The pregnant females are the first to arrive, giving birth just days after. While nursing her pup the female will fast, relying entirely upon her fat reserves. After a short nursing period and mating, the Elephant Seals return to sea for two months of feeding. The adult males of this species reach an unbelievable size. In one of the largest colonies in the Valdes Peninsula, at Punta Delgada, the park administration has set up an informative sign with amazing facts about this animal. Below I have provided some of this information to give an idea of what to expect when arriving at this unique and wonderful corner of Argentine Patagonia.

Males: 6.20 m. Females: 3.70 m Baby at birth: average 1.30 m. Weight Males: 4 tons. Females: 800 Kg Baby at birth: 40 kg. There are approximately 500 Southern Elephant Seal harems that form along the Valdes Peninsula´s 200 km of coastline consisting of between 2 and 130 females in each harem. The dominant males make up only 14% of the population and can mate as many as 15 times in one day.Another surprising figure is that 73% of births occur at night and the infant mortality rate is only 4.4%. Males can weigh in at more than 4 thousand kilos, 8 times more than sea lions, and the female weighing as much as 900 kg. Females can lose as much as 13kg per day while nursing and the pup will acquire approximately 4kg per day over the same period. These amazing facts do not end here.Elephant Seals can make deep, prolonged and continuous free dives, day or night, their ability improving with age, to depths greater than 1,500 meters and they have been tracked covering distances of more than 11,500 kilometers over the course of a year. They will usually spend close to two minutes on the surface between dives, and below the surface they can hold their breath for up to 90 minutes, spending as much as 80% of their time in the water below the surface.The uncommon dimensions of the Southern Elephant Seal are even more noticeable when compared to any other marine mammal that carries out its reproductive cycle on land. Along the interpretive paths at Caleta Valdes, in the Estancia Elvira, there is an informative sign that compares a male Elephant Seal to a male Sea Lion.The Elephant Seal can weigh in with as much as 8 times that of the Sea Lion at 4,000 kg., amongst other differences. Sea Lions have independent mobility with all four limbs, an external ear structure and an abundant mane around the neck of adult males. Elephant Seals advance by an undulating movement of the belly, without the use of their fins, they have no external ear structure and males do not have a mane.

Here, the video that made ​​our guests Doug Bertrand, National Geographic producer and his team. A fragment of the documentary called “Killing School”
A week after their arrival, the females give birth to their young which they suckle for about 25 days with high energy milk, producing a weight gain in the pup of about 5 kilos a day, while the mother, with fasting, loses about 9 kilos per day. At the time of weaning, the initial weight of the puppy will have increased by 300%. Thanks to the initiative of the Estancia ¨La Elvira¨, owners of the land at the mouth of Caleta Valdes, the interpretive paths created allow the visitor access to information while observing the beach full of wildlife.

The last of the informative signs shows the depths that different marine mammals of the Valdes Peninsula can reach. The champion of the deep is the Elephant Seal reaching as much as 1,500mt below the surface, with the Sea Lion close behind at 1,200mt, followed by the Right Whale at 500mt and the Orca at 100mt.From the beginning of September through the first days of October, Southern Elephant Seals reach the coast of the Valdes Peninsula to give birth and mate, after having spent months in the open ocean. After an effective but not necessarily affectionate encounter with the dominant male of the harem, the female will go through a 12 month gestation period. This species has the characteristic of changing their skin. The molting season begins in November and lasts approximately five months, ending in March. During this period it is common to observe these animals with spots and variations in the color of their skin due to this natural process.Observing the birthing process of these animals on the pebble beaches is an impressive sight that occurs at several different locations along the coast of the Valdes Peninsula. It is not easy to be present at the exact moment, but it is possible. An interesting fact is that only 27% of births occur during the day.During lactation the mother will not feed and will consume her entire fat reserves. After nursing and mating the Elephant Seals will return to the ocean for two months of feeding. As the days pass and we come to the end of October, the number of individuals will increase, forming a dense colony along the high tide limit in Caleta Valdes, Punta Delgada y Punta Ninfas.The Elephant Seal Pups, born in the end of September beginning of October in the Elephant Seal colonies of the Valdes Peninsula, have a short nursing period. The pups will suckle the mother´s mammary glands located on either side of her vagina.The pups will nurse for approximately three weeks, to then be abandoned by the mother and begin their life entirely independent of their mother´s care. The mother´s milk contains low water content and is extremely rich in fat, allowing the pup to increase its weight by as much as 4kg each day. After weaning, the pup will spend more than a month doing no feeding, surviving on the fat accumulated over the three week lactation period. At an age of just 2 ½ months the young Elephant Seal is prepared to enter the ocean and fend for itself on a diet of octopus, squid and fish.
Thanks to modern technology used in scientific research and in this particular case, tracking devices attached to the animals and followed by satellite, we can understand the routes taken by the Southern Elephants Seals of the Valdes Peninsula over any determined period. Through a YouTube search we found this related documentary, produced by Claudio Campagna.
“Through compelling stories, Dr. Claudio Campagna will share his experiences as a field conservationist in one of the most pristine marine environments on Earth: the Patagonian Coast. He will tell stories of southern elephant seals, magellanic penguins, South American sea lions and black-browed albatross that make up this enigmatic ecosystem.

Here is another video of the Orcas attempting to hunt a male Elephant Sean during the Sea Lions reproductive season. Very Interesting.    

More Videos about Elephants Seals in Valdes Peninsula – Argentine Patagonia

Valdes Peninsula in Argentine Patagonia is a world heritage site that has a plethora of wildlife. With everything from Elephant Seals to Whales to Penguins, there is a ton to see here and you can get right up next to it in the natural surroundings. Much better than a zoo!

In the animal world, the survival of each species is based directly upon the need for reproduction. With many mammals, as is the case with Sea Lions, the physiological and unconscious need for numerous offspring causes the males to establish large harems, allowing them to mate several times a day over the entire reproductive season. With female Sea Lions the situation is different due to a prolonged gestation period, allowing for the birth of just one pup per year. Due to this slow reproductive cycle their evolutionary process has permitted a relatively long life span, in order for each female to produce as many pups as possible over her extended fertile period. Female Sea Lions enter into their reproductive maturity at the age of 4. From the end of February through the end of March females will go into ¨heat¨. Over this month of reproductive activity the males will fight to establish their harem. After a 10 month gestation period the female gives birth to a single pup and incredibly, just a few days after the birthing process, she will once again become pregnant.The gestation and birthing cycle is repeated year after year over the stretch of her entire life, affirming the fact that she will live in almost constant state of pregnancy. During the summer season at Punta Piramide it is not just an expansive maternity scene but more so one of the largest reproductive Sea Lion colonies in the Valdes Peninsula. The density of Sea Lions here is obvious, where as many as 3,000 individuals can be observed each season.

During autumn, winter and the better part of spring, most of the Sea Lions will be found at their habitual colonies in Punta Alt and Punta Loma. During their reproductive season the adult males and females will be found at Punta Piramides, while the juveniles remain in the non reproductive colonies

Just 10 days after birth, the Sea Lion pups can be found spread out over the entire colony, moving amongst the males and females over a less than 1 kilometer stretch of rock reef that is covered with thousands of individuals. The pups can be easily differentiated from the rest with their small size and darker color, as they begin to familiarize themselves with the sea, that liquid environment that will be their home and only source of food during most of year.
The One Haired Sea Lion´s life cycle varies with the changing seasons. In December the males will prepare their harems anywhere from 2 to 12 females in the reproductive colonies. From January through February the pups are born, just one pup per female, and in a matter of just a few days she will once again go into ¨heat¨. The pups will continue to nurse from birth through May and during this time, most will return to their habitual, non reproductive, colonies at Punta Alt, Punta Loma, Punta Ameghino, Las Charas, amongst the many colonies in Golfo Nuevo.

During the months of May through November, the females will continue to nurse their pups and the structure of the harems will dissolve. Sea Lions are great free divers and can support high pressure, diving to as deep as 150 meters and holding their breath for close to 7 minutes.
An adult male can weigh as much as 300 kilograms, the female around 100kg and the pup, in the order of 12kg. The males measures as long as 2.3 meters, the female 1.8 meters and a pup reaching 80cm.Their weight is relatively little when compared to the Elephant Seal, with a male weighing as much as 8 times more than an adult sea lion and being more than twice as long. The life span of a Sea Lion oscillates between approximately 15 and 18 years.
Sea Lions feed primarily on fish, octopus and squid. The adult male has a large neck and head covered with a mane and is darker in color.

As of a few years back, the authorities responsible for the administration and protection of the Valdes Peninsula have offered special permits to the certified sport diving companies in the area, allowing for swimming and diving at specific non reproductive sea lion colonies. This is an unforgettable ¨must do¨ experience.

On land Sea Lions will establish family groups of six to twenty individuals, the average being from ten to fifteen per family, though sometimes the groups can be much larger. When a dominant male dies and is not replaced, the individuals from this group will merge with another, thus forming a larger a larger group.

Enjoy this video!

The Shared History of the Sea Lions and Man

The coastal sea lion population was greatly affected as a direct result of killing of these animals for their skin and fat. In the Valdes Peninsula alone, more than 260,000 individuals were massacred from 1917 to 1953. During this same time frame, the number of individuals processed is Argentina was well over one half million. Over most of the last century this commercial activity was regulated, and in 1953, the killing of the One Haired Sea Lion was prohibited. Today, more than sixty years after having suspended hunting, the total population of Sea Lions in the Valdes Peninsula is estimated at 20,000 individuals, less than the number killed per year during the height of the commercial processing of these animals. Those that made a living in the killing of Sea Lions and Seals were known as ¨Sealers¨, and the way there job was carried out was bloody; with long, heavy wooden clubs they would beat the animals over the head and snout until dead. Today, in the Valdes Peninsula, the relationship between Man and Sea Lions is very different.

Through the growing concept of conservation and eco-tourism, these animals are now seen in a different light and considered a natural resource. Diving with Sea Lions has brought tourists from around the world to observe and interact with these marine mammals in their natural realm. An intense encounter at close quarters with wildlife in its natural environment is an unforgettable experience. Experienced guides accompany visitors with these curious and friendly marine mammals, creating jobs and offering a unique experience that heightens ones sensitivity, an investment well worth taking advantage of. On land, Sea Lions are territorial and can remain sitting or lying in the same spot for hours. In water their behavior changes dramatically, their movements become rapid and with complete control of the space they want to keep. Swimming with these curious and friendly marine mammals is one of the activities that I would most recommend while in the Valdes Peninsula.

Argentine Patagonia, offers one of the best places in the world for whale watching. The morphology of this region of South America offers calm and protected waters, where this giant mammals has choosen to get birth to their calves and for mating (as other species also do), turning this World Heritage in a huge nursery. Most of the 300,000 visitors and tourists that reach the Valdes Peninsula each year arrive to Puerto Piramides to observe the Southern Right Whales. Like other whales, the southern right whale migrates twice each year: a trophic or feeding migration, to areas rich in zooplankton, near the Antarctic Convergence; and a reproductive migration towards coastal temperate waters, which provide a calm refuge from adverse weather conditions that they can suffer in the open sea and which would be risky for newborn calves. The Southern Right Whale, has ample space in the ocean where it spends its life. Those born in the Gulf Nuevo and Gulf San Jose not necessarily return every year to the Peninsula. They have welldefined areas for their fall and summer migrations and can travel thousands of miles on each trip. In fall, a time for breeding, they move northward as far as latitude 20 degrees. The furthest north where some very small groups of whales can be seen is on the coast of Brazil, in South America, and between Mozambique and the island of Madagascar in Africa. They are also found in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Arriving in December, they migrate back towards the feeding area around the 55th.the ICB (Whale Conservation Institute), it is estimated that in the winter-spring season, the whale population of Valdes Peninsula reachs over 2.000 individuals, the largest concentration of whales of this species in any breeding area, around the world. The calm waters of the gulf Nuevo and gulf San José , are very attractive to calves when learning to breathe, and are also favoured by whales at mating time.
For the first time in history, during the 2014/2015 whale season, a complete migratory registry of the Southern Right Whale was made on an individual named “Papillon”. In this season, 2015 / 16, these small transmitters will be placed to 8 whales to know other routes. Although 5 different GPS satellite tracking devices had been placed on 5 different individuals, two of them stopped sending signals while in waters near the South Georgia Islands, believed to be one of the primary feeding grounds of this species. The other three spent their time feeding in waters near the continental shelf off the Patagonian coast of Argentina. The route marked in red on the map below is the itinerary completed by “Papillon” over an entire reproductive and feeding season.

Guillermo Harris, president of the  Patagonia Natural Foundation is the project manager. He keeps the community informed on progress in each whale season. He said that between 20 and 25 September 2015, again placed small transmitters to 8 right whales to add migratory routes. In a few days the transmitter of the first whale to be marked this year, called Primavera (Spring) began to track the map course to the feeding area. He sailed back and enjoy the waters of Valdes Peninsula in April or May next year, down here you can fine valuable information. The first number in the tag is the transmitter device and then there is the date and time of the location at the time of registration. “Southern Right Whales of Argentina” is an educational documentary film by Chris and Genevieve Johnson.

It explores the natural history and ecology of Southern Right Whales in Valdes Peninsula, Argentina, examining the complex relationship between humans and whales, and the effect of a changing marine environment of the southern hemisphere. “Southern Right Whales of Argentina” highlights international researchers working to understand and protect these whales and examines global conservation issues from a scientific perspective. The exponential increase and popularity of eco-tour activities in the region such as whale watching, provides hope for this endangered species on the edge. Argentina’s Atlantic Coast is a haven for southern right whales . The waters around Valdes Peninsula are breeding area of one of the largest populations that still exist in this species. “So begins this work that produced Earth Ocean, a little more than 20 minutes. Centre interviews Dr . Mariano Sironi, scientific director of the Whale Conservation Institute, Vicky Rowntree, director of the Southern Right Whale program in Coservation Whale Institute. Both observe and record the behavior of whales, Dr. Jon Seger biology professor at the University of Utah in the United States. interview also Luciano Valenzuela, Researcher at ICB. Among explain general characteristics of this huge marine mammal show as performed whale photo-identification and harassment of gulls. Thanks to conservation efforts, the southern right whale is recovering steadily, after having reached the brink of extinction. You can also read the interesting synopsis that made Whale Trackers.Thanks to humanities slow acquisition of environmental consciousness and after having nearly reached extinction, the Southern Right Whale is on the road to sustainable recovery. With this in mind, their future is still quite fragile and their long term survival is in our hands. The exponential increase and popularity of ecotourism in the region, such as whale watching, offers hope to this species in danger of extinction. Commercially on the rise since the 1970s, whale watching has created conflicts of interest amongst different countries, though little by little whales are ceasing to be pursued as an industrial resource and moving back into a place of respect, where they belong.

The shapes that the whales have, in general, are much different from most other living creatures. Even though their morphology is so different from our own, the anatomy of these monumental beings brings us close. A certain parentage with humans can be observed through the common characteristics that we share with the largest living being on our planet. Both are mammals, or better said, warm blooded vertebrates with hair and mammary glands. According to scientific discoveries we do share a common heritage, seen at the end of the Triassic, more than 200 million years ago. Understanding this significant family lasso allows us an important affinity with mammals, including marine mammals.
The dimensions of these marine mammals are incredible LENGTH Adult male: 14m Adult female: 15m Newborn: between 4 / 5 m. WEIGHT Adult male: 40tons Adult female: 45tons Newborn: between 2 and 3 tons With nothing more than a comparison of the size of the whale’s head, which represents a third of its body, in relation to our own, which occupies barely an eighth, it is easy to see a tremendous difference between the species. I enjoy observing the life of the vast majority of marine animals, a world that rests horizontally in a cold, liquid medium, the head advancing forward with each movement of the tail. A smooth elastic skin, dark in color, wraps the entire body which, with calves, often appears lighter in shade than that of the adults. Most individuals have white underbelly markings and occasionally white markings on their backs or other areas of their body. Just below their constantly molting skin is stored a large layer of fat from 14 to 35cm thick, depending on which part of the body and the season.

The Jump

The southern right whale, like other whales, draws its body off the water in a unique and stunning show, which is commonly know as “breaching”. We are not entirely sure of the reasons behind the jump. Some scientists say the whale jumps because it is a way of communicating with other adult whales or calves. Others argue that another reason could be to try to see out of the water, perhaps just shapes and distances, but with eyes adapted to see salty underwater, it would be very unlikely to see the objects defined above, in the air and surface only at a glance. There are other possible reasons that cause the jump of the whale, one of them, which is tiny, is a small, crab-like creature,the cyamids, a crustacean parasite. There is evidence that there can be large concentrations of cyamids walking on the skin and callosities of the whale. Sometimes they can walk over very sensitive areas, such as the corner of the eye, and generate significant discomfort and it may be that, by breaching, the force generated by the animal falling back into the water, may dislodge some if not all of these parasites. Other annoyances that may generate breaching are the intense bites on their backs caused by seagulls, which lately developed the habit of feeding on their skin and fat. Whatever the reason for breaching, the sight of this amazing marine mammal propelling it’s body weight of more than 40 tons, 10 meters out of the water, using only the force of it’s tail or caudal fin, is a spectacle that is fantastic to behold.

Calluses

These calluses with hard and light forms have a rough base and sometimes take the form of small leaves. They are about 5 cm in height, are formed in the foetal stage and grow with the animal, throughout his life. They are found along the upper margin of the lower lip, jaw, dorsal surface of the face and eyes, forming a kind of eyebrow. In all specimens of right whales, the largest one is the bonnet which is on the end of the snout of the animal. These dark gray calluses have populations of cyamids, commonly known as whale-lice. The calluses sometimes host colonies of barnacles which can cause them to take on a yellow or orange colour. While all the whales have these skin blemishes, not all are in the same place or the same way. Each whale has its own unique distribution of calluses. 40 years ago, Roger Paine decided to use this unique distribution to enable photo- identification of whales. This was the first major discovery that Roger Paine offered in the study of this animal. These callosities harbor populations of small crustaceans called cyamids, commonly referred to as whale lice and very often interlaced with cirripedia (barnacles) causing an orange or yellow hue to the callosities.

According to the results of a very interesting and deductive study realized by Vicky Rowntree, on cyamids, this parasite/host relationship has gone on for more than 6 million years. Although these external parasites are inoffensive, though possibly bothersome, their DNA carries more information about the whales than the whales themselves.

In 1970 Roger Paine, here in Valdes Peninsula, discovered that he could be individually identified by photographs of the whales from the head´s calluses patterns. That was the beginning of the program of Southern Right Whale Research. Currently, this program is the study of longer duration in the world based on whale photo-identification. Until then, what was known about whales came mostly from the analysis of specimens hunted by the whaling industry.

I give him the picture “SOS tu destino” beacause this picture shocked years ago Roger Paine who believes that “It is the best photo of a whale’s eyes have ever seen” … and the proud photographer, can only boast of such a compliment!His work has been featured over thirty documentaries for television, including the documentary made in 1991, which was nominated for Emmy Awards “In the company of whales”. In 1995, Dr. Payne co-wrote and co-directed a production of IMAX, “Whales”, which was very popular among the critics and the general public.An estimated audience of 40,000 people across the world sees that footage weekly. Dr. Payne always wanted to films and publications how can help, educate and raise awareness about the uncertain future of the planet
Dr. Payne discovered that following the lives of individuals, could learn much more about the whales of what was known from dead animals, as they can make population census, and specific information on various aspects of their behavior throughout their lives. This research carries on today in Valdes Peninsula, the Whale Conservation Institute (ICB). Just above each eye there is a callosity that is referred to as the eyebrow. At the extreme end of the whale’s “snout” is the largest of the callosities known as the bonnet. Along the upper jaw the callosities tend to be less continuous with this species, when compared to its counterpart, the Northern Right Whale. Frequently callosities will be present along the upper edge of the lower “lips”. Their eyes are incredibly expressive and in my experience diving with them one can experience an unforgettable level of communication, through visual contact, full of simplicity and wisdom.

Feeding

The diet consists mainly of krill. They also eat larvae of various invertebrates, fish larvae and sea- floor organisms. While for many years it was believed that breeding whales fasted, today, thanks to the observations made by the captains of whale- watching boats and by analyzing stool samples, it has been found that while in the Gulfs of Valdes Peninsula, whales feed on zooplankton (lobster larvae, copepods and krill species present in the area) as well as sea floor organisms. The maximum depth recorded for this species is 184 mts. Maximum apnoea recorded 50 minutes at feeding areas (in the mating area dives rarely exceed 10 minutes). Unlike the dolphins which are toothed whales (have teeth) whales belong to the suborder of baleen whales, comprising few large species, the largest of which is the Blue Whale which can measure more than 30 meters long. The whales differ from other cetaceans in several ways, but the most obvious difference is that they have no teeth but baleens plates. Baleen is a flexible material called keratin (the same material of our nails and hair), with the outer edge smooth, and the inner in frayed fibers like a horse’s mane. The baleen plates hang from the upper jaw and are excellent for filtering food out of seawater. The southern right whale has between 220 and 260 baleen spread on both sides of the upper jaw. The central ones can measure up to 1.80 meters long.

Reproduction

The southern right whale females reach sexual maturity at five or six years old. The mating or courtship takes place with several males and a female courted is enclosed by the sides by 2, 3 or more males. Mating can last more than one day, and the female, to avoid being coupled is placed belly up, position which she can only hold for a few minutes, because of the need to breathe. A tactic developed by males is to support the belly on the back of the female, while others keep their positions on the sides. When the female turns to breathe, males are pushed until one of them manages to copulate.
Other times, as observed from whale watching boats in Puerto Piramides, while the female is belly up, males look for the vaginal slit with their penises.The male penis is about 2 meters long and its owner has control all of the movements, in much the same way that an elephant has control of it’s trunk. If the male is able to penetrate the female by a few centimetres, it can exert a force powerful enough to turn the female to him, and to facilitate intercourse. Copulation lasts no more than 30 seconds but courtship activity can be extended for several hours and generally almost all males copulate, but only one fertilizes the female. According to research provided by Patagonia Natural Foundation, the rate of reproduction is a calf every three years. The gestation period is 12 months, followed by a further 12 months of suckling the calf and another 12 months gestation.The wahles do not have multiple births, producing only one calf with each pregnancy. Births occur mainly between August and late October. Whale milk is oily and has a viscous consistency because it has more than 50% fat and 12% of proteins, allowing the calf grow between 2 and 3 cm daily, twice its size at the end of feeding, after a year. One mating technique used by the males is for a male to move on top of the female while other males hold their positions on either side. When the female turns, in an attempt to breath, the males advance on her until one is able to mate. Other times, observing from whale watching boats in Puerto Piramide, we will see how the males will literally probe with their penis, looking for the vagina while she lays belly up on the surface.
It is worth noting that the male’s reproductive organ is in the neighborhood of two meters in length and with absolute control of its mobility, much like that of an elephant’s trunk. The male being able to penetrate just a few centimeters is able to apply enough force to turn the female over, while floating on the surface, bringer her closer and facilitating coitus. The act itself will last no more than 30 seconds, but courting can go on for several hours or more and, in general, most all of the males will mate, with only one of them fertilizing the female. The fluke or tail fin of the Southern Right Whale is one the strongest forces in the animal kingdom, easily demonstrated with each breach the whales make, carrying ¾ of their more than 40 thousand kg bodies out of the water. The fluke is made up of fibrous tissues that connect to the body by the caudal peduncle, conformed of very powerful muscles. The fluke of an adult individual can stretch a breadth of as much as five meters.They can be observed holding this position for hours, coming up to breath every few minutes and then returning to take the previous position once again. Scientists argue that this behavior could be related to thermoregulation or as a pre-birthing exercise. Mothers, before giving birth, are observed raising huge volumes of their fluke and peduncle out of the water.The white whale it’s a nature’s rareness. Just like in others species, there are some whales born with their skin white instead of black because of the lack of pigmentation. It’s not very common to see them during a whale watching in Puerto Pirámides, but it is probably that a couple of this peculiar white whales born every year. Their behavior it’s just the same as any other whale: they jump, feed of its mother and show us their tail! The difference between this albinism and another animal’s albinism, it’s that in whales tends to disappear in their first years of life. While the years go by, their skin begins to get darker, going from white to grey, and finally black. As you can see in the top image, this white whale is son of a young white female whale who hasn’t get her skin dark yet. If you see one of these whales underwater, they seem to be green, because of the water’s transparency.

A little bit of history about Man and the Whale:

The Southern Right Whale is a warm blooded living being that has suffered man’s industrialization of the world’s natural resources. Over hundreds of years Man hunted and killed whales, sea lions and seals amongst many other species with the goal of using their fat, reduced to oil, for making candles and thus lighting the streets and homes of Europe and the colonized continents. Various parts of the whale’s remains were also used in the making of frivolous cosmetic products. Their baleen filters, used by the right whales and all other mysticeti for feeding, were processed to make umbrellas, corsets and other massively consumed products. It is estimated that the numbers of Southern Right Whale before the indiscriminant commercial hunting of these animals reached well over 50,000 individuals. With the discovery of petroleum, gas and electricity, these enormous marine mammals have, little by little, lost their importance in the industrial world. Many species were unable to survive the voracious consumer market. One such is the North Atlantic Right Whale, a species that occupied the Bay of Biscay in northern Spain and was similar to the Southern Right Whale. In 1937, when only several hundred individuals remained, the Southern Right Whale was provided total protection with the signing of the International Agreement for the Regulation of Whaling. From this point forward the recovery of the Southern Right Whale has been slow but sustainable. In 1984 this species was declared by the Argentine Republic as a National Natural Monument. Thanks to a change in vision and consciousness that the age of Aquarius as awakened, today the Southern Right Whale is observed by thousands of tourists in Valdes Peninsula aboard whale watching boats or from the coast, perceiving through new eyes the wonder of diversity that our small and fragile planet offers. It is a much more positive memory enjoying a photograph taken of the whales instead of a keratin umbrella made from baleen filters, just in case it rains! An amazing underwater video of the whales was uploaded to You Tube by the well known documentary cameraman, Luis Burgueno. The clip is published here and thanks to a variety of angles and the clarity of the water, these giant and adorable marine mammals can be viewed at home in the waters of the Valdes Peninsula.

Also known as FitzRoy Dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obscurus), the dusky dolphin gives splashes of magic and mischief in the calm waters of the gulf. Feel the energy of man’s best friend in the sea. It’s a marine mammal from the cetacean group, Odontoceti subgroup (such as orcas). It has a short, dark beak, and the dorsal fin is black with a grey crescent clearly visible in the back half. The tail is dark and has pointed ends, with a deep notch marked in the centre. The pectoral fins are long and pointed, with the curved edge and a darker colour than the surroundings. Both eyes are surrounded by a small dark spot.The back is dark grey or bluish black, with a light grey stripe on the flanks that runs from the caudal peduncle to the centre of the body and opens on both ends where it ends, generally below the dorsal fin. The ventral side is white and extends up above the pectoral fins to end in a narrow strip between the beak and forehead. 

Behavior

Dolphins are very curious and easy to approach with vessels, as the animal seems to prefer swimming in the line of the bow of the boat. It is a very acrobatic dolphin. It usually jumps very high on the surface of the water and makes a series of pirouettes as single and double somersaults, both forward and backward. It also usually jumps backward into the water, falling headlong, it collapses on the surface followed by aftershocks, jumps repeatedly giving “headers” to the surface and is able to perform jumps with twists and turns.It can be observed in pods that vary from 20 to 100 individuals, although, pods of nearly a thousand dusky dolphins have been recorded. It seems to be very sociable and associates with other species both for feeding and for coexistence. Examples are three cases found in Golfo Nuevo, Chubut coast, in which a bottlenose dolphin, two common dolphins and a possible hybrid, a cross between a dusky dolphin with southern right whale dolphin (Lissodelphis peronii), lived within a dusky dolphins herd. It is distributed exclusively in the Southern Hemisphere and can be seen in South America, New Zealand, Kerguelen Islands and South Africa.

Reproduction

Gestation lasts nine months, after which, the female gives birth to a single calf which remains in constant contact with her, swimming next to her body below the dorsal fin and only leaving that position to breastfeed. Lactation lasts a year or more. The average length for a newborn is 80cm.The maximum age recorded was 35. Females are sexually mature from six or seven years. From there it takes about a year to have her first baby in the summer.

Feeding

The Dusky Dolphin feeds mainly on fish (anchovies, hake, and small mackerel) and squids. When hunt- ing, the pod will divide into several small groups. When a group locates a school of fish, it is communicated to others, who can answer the call from 8km away. Dolphins enclose the shoal and lead it to the surface swimming around and below it. Seabirds often take advantage of this concentration of fish to feed, making it easy to detect the pres- ence of dolphins when you see a large number of seabirds in a very small area.

The Relationship with the man

Dolphin sightings in Valdes Peninsula-

Dolphin sightings or watching are a creative way to enjoy wonderful beings released. In this UNESCO Natural Reserve, enjoy contact with many marine mammals species from Puerto Pirámides o Puerto Madryn.

In Argentina, they are often caught in nets set for anchovies.In Patagonia there are between 100 and 200 deaths per year as a result of trawling for hake and shrimp. In the Rest of the World: in Peru this species was exploited commercially for their meat. Even today , several thousand animals are caught each year and generally eaten as cold cuts of meat. Chile also hunts them, although to a lesser extent, mainly to use their meat as bait in fishing traps.

Commerson’s dolphin

Length Adult: up to 2.70 m. Newborn: 80 cm.

Weight Adult: 70 Kg Newborn: 6 kg

The Commerson´s Dolphin (Cephalorhynchus Commersonii) are considered coastal dolphins, although they have been observed more than 100 miles offshore. In the Argentine coast, they are found from San Matías Gulf to the island of Tierra del Fuego. They inhabit coasts, fjords, bays, estuaries and river mouths. Watching dolphins usually takes place in Playa Union, about 6 km from Rawson, a city that is 152 km away from Puerto Piramides.
They live in pods and you can see small groups of 2 to 10 dolphins, scattered over a large area. However, sometimes the size of the pod can reach a hundred. Commerson’s dolphins are fast swimmers and active. You can easily see them on the surface and frequently jumping, often making several jumps in a row before diving for 15 or 20 seconds. They can be seen swimming upside down so you can see the genital spot and determine its sex. Sometimes they can be seen surfing waves, the wakes from stem to stern of boats, and even in the wake of a whale. The maximum recorded age, determined by the growth bands on the teeth, is 20 years. They reach sexual maturity between 7 and 8 years. At birth, the calves are between 55 and 75 cm. long and weigh 6 kg. The first calves are observed in mid- November and it is possible that the time of calving is extended throughout the summer. During this season you can see mothers with calves swimming in sync with the rest of the pack.

More than 180 species of birds exist in the Valdes Peninsula either passing through on their chosen migratory route in flocks or alone or occupying a niche as a permanent resident. Many can be seen from Puerto Madryn or Puerto Piramides, while the observation of other species requires a more dedicated search in specific areas where they enjoy the solitude of this incredible geography, like “Bird Island” on the shores of Golfo San Jose. Here I have illustrated just 25 of these species.

Flamingo

The Southern Flamingo is a large bird, most often seen in flocks. They can measure five feet, are easily identified by their pink colour on the outer feathers, their long neck, long legs and large wings. The legs have short toes, which are also webbed, helping the bird when swimming. Male flamingos are larger than females and this feature is the only visible difference between the sexes. The colour of their feathers are acquired by the food they eat, that’s why their offspring are born whitish and take on the intense pink colour from the small crustaceans, which form the major part of their diet. Flamingos are not resident in Valdes Peninsula area, however they nest in lakes in the Province of La Pampa. They are very wary birds and are easily disturbed by human presence. They can be very difficult to approach and photograph. The best way we have found to photograph them is to wait, camouflaged, at low tide. As the tide comes in, the birds will come to feed closer inshore. You must take great care not to alarm them or your opportunity will be lost. Photographing Flamingos requires a great deal of patience, as many of the professional photographers who live and work in the area will attest. Flamingos are not at all used to humans, living completely wild, and are, therefore, very elusive. Remember that Valdés Peninsula is an important area for wildlife to raise their young, and, as such is deserving of respect and minimal human impact. There are already 300,000 tourists visiting the area each year and the Peninsula is to some degree, affected by human greed. Please help to raise awareness of the need for respect for our wildlife by your own example.

Reproduction

Flamingos are monogamous. and before pair-bonding, males and females gather in groups of up to 150 individuals, and perform the so-called “wedding march”, with their necks stretched upwards, moving head vigorously from side to side and up in one direction. The march is accompanied by a strong hoarse croak from the whole group. The birds then form pairs. Weeks later, nesting begins. Flamingo breeding colonies are characterized by a gathering of thousands of individuals. The nest is usually made of clay, in the shape of a truncated cone,with a depression in the centre. A single egg only is laid. After 30 days of incubation shared between both parents, the young are born with white plumage and straight beak, which takes the hooked form as they grow. At the age of a week or so, the young birds gather in creches, which can number up to a thousand individuals, guarded by several adult birds. After a few weeks, the appearance of the chicks changes. Plumage colour turns grey, with black legs, and the beak curves to resemble the parents’. The creches stay together until the age of three months, after which, the young are able to fend for themselves.

Choique

The Choique is a Patagonian symbol. Source of inspiration for stories and legends, the rhea is so present in folklore as in all the paths in Patagonia. It is a large , herbivorous, flightless bird. They use their soft wings as stabilizers, and are fast runners. It is one of the two “American ostriches”, but unlike its African relative has three toes instead of two. Females lay 8-10 eggs which are incubated by the male. He also assumes parental responsibility for the “charitos”, who follow him for most of the summer. In winter they form mixed groups of males, females and juveniles. The harem is composed of one male and one to fifteen females. This varies by region and is very much dependent on the availability of food. The male measures 1.50 meters and weigh up to 30 kilos; the female is smaller in height. It feeds on grasses, lowering it’s head and long neck. The Choique also eat grains, bread, flies and insects which are trapped in the air. Choique have also been known to eat metal items, coins and small stones.

Their relationship with the man:

The rhea has been one of the species most utilised by Man in Argentina. For Patagonian natives, it was a favourite food, along with the guanaco, and they full took advantage of all of it: the meat, cartilage and fat were consumed for food; feathers as ornamental, fans and whisks; the leg tendons were used in making ropes for bolas, bones for musical instruments; leather for tobacco pouches and saddlebags; and the eggshell and feathers were used as medicines. It is also found of countless legends, as in the following story, which tells how a rhea was the origin of the Southern Cross constellation.

Leyend of the Mocovies tribe and the southern cross

“The old chief recalled that his father had told him that Manic, the rhea, was the animal with the most beautiful feathers. The chief sent for the best hunter in the tribe: Nemec, an agile and faithful youth. The boy looked his best weapons. He has never seen a rhea – this mysterious bird was unknown in the hinterland. Nemec asked the elders of the tribe to give him advice. He was told that Manic was very fast and it was impossible to find him without his noticing. He had to find a footprint similar to a bird, but much larger, and that the key was to follow the South path. Grateful Nemec left with the honour and responsibility of such a goal. He walked for days until one afternoon, when he found tracks: they were heading south, and he followed them. Walking under the first light of the next day, he noticed something strange. He looked up and there it was. It was the rhea, with its long, slender legs, with its beautiful plumage shaken by the wind, trembling his little head supported by a long neck, and looking at who knows what… But what struck him most were his feathers and he knew why the chief wanted to have them. Nemec remembered his duty. He crept. He almost threw the spear when the rhea escaped at full speed, leaving just an astonished hunter. The next day, Nemec followed the tracks and again found his target. But the rhea escaped again. The same thing happened again and again. Nemec began to doubt if he really would get to hunt it. Then he found it at sunset. There it was, and the opportunity could not be wasted. Man and animal froze. Suddenly, Nemec ran with all his might. The rhea ran also. Nemec flexed his arm and released the weapon. And, according to Mocovi legend, Manic spread his wings and soared. And continued rising until he reach the sky, and in the dim light of dusk, was lost to view. Suddenly, in the same place where the rhea had disappeared, four stars emerged in a cross: one took Choique’s chick or “charito”. the place of the head; two marked the tips of its wings and the last, the end of its legs.Nemec spent the night watching the sky and recalling images of the rhea he could never catch. The next day, he started back to his home. He arrived back at the tribe with empty hands but with a twinkle in his eye. That night, when everyone sat around the campfire, Nemec told of his strange adventure. Then, they saw the new stars that the sky was wearing, indicating forever the direction in which Manic had escaped: south.”

Variable Hawk

Also known as “Ñanco”, it can be seen throughout the Valdes Peninsula. The males measure up to 48 cm and the female is slightly larger, reaching 52 cm. The plumage is grey on the back, with a white underside in adults. Its’ most distinctive feature is a black stripe down the tail. Juveniles keep their brownish striped and spotted plumage and yellow legs for two years. It feeds on small mammals, nothing bigger than the hare and also varying species of birds. Some reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates are also included in the diet. The method of hunting is to fly in a circular motion over an area and plunge at an angle, striking the prey on the back with it’s powerful talons.
Nests are built by both members of the pair. The Variable Hawk likes thorny trees, in this region, preferring to nest in Molles The bird will also nest lamp posts. The nest is large, about three feet in diameter and is made of sticks. The male feeds the female during incubation. After the chicks hatch (in December), she will be responsible for them. Folk tales say that if, when travelling, a hawk crosses your path in front of you, your trip will go well. If, however, it crosses your path behind you, you should take great care until you reach your destination.

Black Chested Buzzard Eagle

The Black Chested Buzzard Eagle (Geranoaetus Melanoleucus) is a fast hunter that occupies most of the South American Continent from Venezuela to The land of Fire and the Beagle Channel. This is a diurnal bird that occupies, in relatively small numbers, the Valdes Peninsula.Their nests are found on outcroppings of cliffs with extremely difficult access and their nests are large platforms of sticks and branches. A female will lay 2 eggs in October and the chicks will hatch around the end of November beginning of December.  By February the chicks are large enough and have enough experience to leave the nest.A large part of their diet is made up of rodents and small mammals, though they do also hunt and eat other small birds, as seen in the above image. On this occasion I observed it carrying its prey to the nest to feed the anxiously awaiting chicks. This banquet ensures continued growth, maintaining a species that enriches our planets biodiversity.

Great Egret

This long legged Patagonian Resident is also seen regularly in the Valdes Peninsula. Teetering on the edge of extinction in the early 1900s due to women’s fashion, this elegant bird has survived and although still somewhat scarce, each year can be observed in greater numbers. They were killed for the male’s long dorsal feathers used in the birds courting behavior.These feathers were used in hairstyles and hats and were acquired at a high price, creating an uncontrolled extermination with no respect for the bird’s reproduction. The creation and application of legislation together with changing styles helped reverse the situation. During reproductive season they will nest together in colonies as large as 20 individuals.

This species is easily recognized in flight due to its long legs stretched out in back and its long neck pulled inward in an “S” shape and the perfect form it takes while majestically gliding through the air.

Reproduction

For the building of their nest a pair of Great Egrets will look for an area with trees and easy access to large quantities of dead branches, willows, grasses or dry leaves. Together with these materials they will construct a large platform in which six to eight light-blue eggs will be laid.

Turkey Vulture

The turkey vulture is a bird of the vulture family , which can be found all across the Americas. In the different countries of the continent, it has different names, such as buzzard, aura, or just vulture. In Valdes Peninsula, it is one of the largest of the vultures, with a red head, blackish plumage, more brown on the upper surface of the wings. The underside of the flight feathers are grey, creating a sharp contrast. The head is small in proportion to the body and has no feathers – in adults it is reddish and in juveniles, it is black. It weighs between 1.4 and 2.7 kg, measures 60-76 cm in length and has a wingspan of up to 2 meters. It glides with wings in a “V” shape and often sways in a way that gives the impression that it is drunk. It’s typically seen in Puerto Piramides, flying around the valley, and taking advantage of thermal wind generated by the hills that protect the town from east to west, on the north side. The turkey vulture is a scavenger, ranging over large distances and finding carrion with a keen sense of smell. Typically, it will feed on the carcasses of sea lions, guanaco, hares and rabbits. If it finds a large piece of carrion, such as a calf, it will circle over it, to let other vultures know where the carcass is.

Burrowing Parrot

They are usually seen on Valdes Peninsula during spring and summer months. It mates for life and nests in cliffs. They dig a deep burrow in which 2 to 5 eggs are laid. The eggs hatch in late December. The Burrowing Parrot is very colourful and has seven colours in its plumage. On Valdes Peninsula, they are usually seen in flocks of 10- 20 individuals and are very noisy, constantly chattering. Their diet is based on shoots and fruits of shrubs, and they also travel great distances to feed in other regions, attracted by planted fields. This frequently leads to conflict with farmers, because they eat the seed and damage crops. We would to recommend a unique place for travellers, birdwatchers and those who are attracted by birds and nature. 550 km north of Valdes Peninsula, there is a town called El Condor, the Viedma’s beach, capital of Rio Negro province.There is one of the largest parrot colonies in the world, comprising over 100,000 Burrowing Parrots in 9 km of cliff, something which cannot be seen anywhere else on the Planet. We were surprised when we saw this incredible cliff, another natural wonder of Patagonia Argentina, which we had never heard of before. If you decide to go spend a few nights at this resort we recommend the Apart Hotel Costa del Faro, located on the coast, just meters from the cliff.

Long-tailed meadowlark

The long-tailed meadowlark (Sturnella loyca), lives in open places in Valdes Peninsula. In spring and summer breeding season, they live in pairs nest in the ground and the female lays 3 to 4 eggs. Here in Puerto Piramides, usually they perch on bushes behind the dunes of Del Nomade Eco – Hotel. They feed on fruit, insects and seeds, these birds will consider it a good omen.

Red Knot

Along their amazing migratory route of unimaginable proportions which begins in the Northern Autumn in the Canadian Arctic and takes them to the Southern extremes, only to then be repeated 4 months later as they return north with their offspring, the Red Knot (Calidris Canutus) and other migratory birds deviate from a straight line to “re-fuel” at 2 specific beaches of the Valdes Peninsula, fundamental for their survival. In their return journey north, a feeding stop is made at the Fracasso and Colombo beaches. The attached video, produced by the Wild-Life Foundation (Fundacion Vida Silvestre), describes the special characteristics found at these two places and explains why they do not stop on the way South. Also illustrated in this documentary is the important roll these humid, marine-coastal zones of the Valdes Peninsula play is sustaining the population of certain species of migratory birds.

Great Grebe

The Great Grebe (Podicephorus major) is coastal bird that is frequently seen in the Valdes Peninsula. Rarely seen in groups or on dry land, they are generally found swimming in shallow water close to the shore, alone or as a pair. The plumage is primarily rust colored around the neck with a black head and white chest. Resident to Patagonia this is not a migratory bird and can be observed fishing or hunting crabs along the shallow waters of both the Golfo Nuevo and Golfo San Jose.

Southern Giant Petrel

This special bird has an incredibly aerodynamic shape. The distance between the tips of the extended wings reaches 2m. An adult male can weigh up to 5 kg. The family feature is the nostril, located in the upper beak in the form of a single nasal tube, but internally divided in two by a central partition. Monitoring these birds has shown that they have incredible flying skills and stamina.

Feeding

They have an excellent sense of smell which helps them find food on the coast. It does not only feed on carrion, such as dead penguins, sea lions and elephant seals, it will also eat penguin or other birds chicks, eggs and sometimes hunts penguins and other seabirds as prey. In the sea they feed on refuse dumped by hundreds of fishing boats which jettison fish unwanted for human consumption, that is to say that tons of dead fish daily discarded at sea. Human predation is causing birds like Giant Petrel have more food as a result of which, their lifespan and reproducion rate are increasing. Consequently birds currently appear in disproportionate numbers, compared to previous years.

Reproduction

In the colonies of northern Patagonia, the laying date (for a single egg) begins during the last week of October and is relatively synchronous. The first chicks hatch during the last week of December. Adults remain in the nest with the chick for nearly two weeks, after which time, the chicks are left alone in the colony while parents feed at sea, returning to regurgitate food for them. In Patagonia, the chicks become independent around the second week of March and early April. En consecuencia son aves que en la actualidad se ve en número desproporcionado a años anteriores. El monitoreo de ejemplares demostró que vuelan distancias increibles.Un ejemplar anillado en Nueva Zelanda se vió una semana después en las costas patagónicas, lo que implica que volaron mas de 5000 km en menos de 7 días, sobre el agua!!!

Burrowing Owl

The Latin name of this species “cunicularia” means “digging mines or tunnels”, reflecting how this owl builds its nest: in underground tunnels. The owl typically nests in open areas, under the protection of a tree or shrub. It chooses sloping ground, which prevents rainwater from entering the tunnel and flooding it. It is not averse to making use of the abandoned nesting tunnels of other birds and animals.

The Burrowing Owl commonly excavates a burrow at the side of fields or by roadsides. Should the entrance become blocked for whatever reason, it will excavate another burrow at the edge of the field. The nesting season runs from October to December. The chicks hatch in 28 days. During hot spells, they can be seen rubbing their beaks or cuddling each other. The owl is not afraid man, on the contrary, it easily adapts to his presence. It lives in open grasslands and can be found in the Caleta Valdes and Punta Delgada. Feeding Burrowing Owls have been subject to persecution by Man, due to irrational superstitions. As a result of this, in addition to placing the Burrowing Owl in danger of extinction, this persecution has altered the environmental balance. This is because, as well as birds, scorpions, insects and other small mammals, which, if allowed to multiply unchecked, would have an adverse effect upon agriculture, they eat rodents which are known carriers of Haemorrhagic Fever, or O’Higgins Disease, which is endemic in Argentina.Many times the man usually irrationality attacks the owls especially because superstitions. The Burrowing Owl has a refined sense of hearing. They can hear sounds of low intensity that allow them to detect the presence of small prey. The thick layer of feathers covering its flat face, operates as a kind of receiver screen that helps to focus sounds on the ears. Their natural predators are ferrets, weasels, cats and foxes, besides man. Whilst out and about, you are sure to see Burrowing Owls and, through binoculars, you will be able to see the deep and direct gaze of their large eyes. The owl’s eyes, like ours are front facing, resulting in binocular vision which allows refined perception of distance. The eyes have many photosensitive cells and large pupils, which permit the bird to distinguish objects clearly in low light.

Southern Martin

Southern Martin (Progne modesta) is a migratory bird that reaches the Valdes Peninsula in spring accompanied by its enjoyable song and normally observed in groups. This species can be observed in many areas throughout the American Continent with a migratory route that extends over thousands of kilometers. It is a bird that calls little attention to itself being small and relatively uniform in color it is often “lost” amongst the many other small birds, but to the trained eye this incredible and unique species will announce its arrival to Puerto Piramides in spring. The migratory route of this species whether coming or going from the reproductive zone or its wintering area can comprise a distance of as much as 12,000 kilometers. Those of the Valdes Peninsula, in general, migrate to Peru at a rate of some 200km per day. They feed almost exclusively on insects and feed during daylight hours.

Carbonated Sierra-Finch

The Carbonated Sierra-Finch (Phrygilus carbonarius), to the untrained eye, is easily confused with a House Sparrow or Rufous-collared Sparrow. During courting behavior the male’s plumage will darken, differentiating it from the female. With their nest close by, we have observed a darker male in the sand dunes behind Del Nomade, flying from bush to bush with its mate. This tiny bird can be found throughout the Peninsula and easily observed in Punta Norte, if quiet, it is curious and not easily frightened.

Yellow-billed Pintail

The Yellow-billed Pintail (Anas georgica) is a bird of South America. Lives from southern Brazil to southern Patagonia. He looks in freshwater lakes and occasionally frequents marine coast. It has a significant extent in terms of habitat preference. They can be seen on the sea coast of Patagonia or greater heights of 4,000 m. These birds nest near water and bowl-shaped nests are shallow and sheathes of down. Flocks can be found in the lakes that form after heavy rains.

Shoveler

The Shoveler (Anas platalea) you can see it in Valdes Peninsula. While lives from Tierra del Fuego to the Mesopotamian region (Entre Rios and Corrientes) is not easy to find in this area. It is found in fresh or brackish water and can be seen occasionally on the sea coast.

The male has a particularly clear eye, not the female. It is valued by ornithologists bird, as are all the birds that visit the Natural Paradise Valdes Peninsula.

Common Oyster Catcher

The Common Oyster Catcher (Haemantopus palliatus) is a bird that basks in the solitude of the Patagonian Coast living in a life-long mating pair, these birds are bothered by human presence. With a dark brown back, yellow eye and bright red ocular ring and a long red beak, they can reach a size of more than 40cm. and 700gr. They will build a camouflaged nest just meters from the high tide line.
The wings of the Oyster Catcher are dark brown on top but while in flight the plumage below their wings is White. A guaranteed sighting of this species will be found walking towards the caves, a 2,5km coastal walk from Puerto Piramides. When approaching, these birds will begin with their unique sounds, alerting other birds in the area.

South American Tern

The South American Tern is one of the 3 species of terns that nest on the coast of Argentina and is found inValdes Peninsula. It is rather more difficult to observe that the kelp gull, because it has a small population size. The breeding season begins in December and you will be able to see them flying over the ledges and cliffs. After nesting, from March onwards they are no longer predictable. Terns nest every year, but not in the same places, often choosing quiet coastal places in very exposed sites but are very sensitive to disturbance. Their diet is based on fish; their fishing technique is to plunge into the sea s to capture their prey.

Imperial Cormorant

Along the entire coast of continental Patagonia, the imperial cormorant is a species almost piscivorous but also feeds on marine invertebrates such as cephalopods, crustaceans and polychaetes. The Imperial Cormorant consumes a large proportion of pelagic and demersal fishes such as anchovy, hake and some species of mackerel and uses a broad range of depths throughout the water column. Recent studies showed that the Imperial Cormorant feeds both in shallow coastal waters as well as deep waters (about 70m) and offshore (more than 8 km). The imperial cormorant is the leading producer of guano in Patagonia. Currently, the guano is mined in only a few colonies of Chubut and Santa Cruz. The guano exploitation is still carried out in a similar way to that of a few decades ago, and its extraction is carried out manually and sporadically.

Rock Cormorants

Rock Cormorants (Phalacrocorax magellanicus) are maritime birds that rook on rocky cliffs, and thus their name. They are extremely well adapted birds both in flight and below the water. Underwater they advanced using their webbed feet. This species exists only in the Patagonian region of Argentina and Chile. The Rock Cormorant colony at Punta Loma in one of the largest, with approximately 280 mating pairs and other, smaller rookeries exist along the coast of Golfo Nuevo. They will remain in the same colony throughout the year while adapting their behavior in accordance to the changing seasons. From March through September they are primarily found feeding and spend very little time on the nest. From October through February their behavior changes dramatically as they dedicate most of their time to mating, incubating and raising their chicks. The chicks will hatch 30 days after the female lays her eggs, usually just 2 eggs that will be mutually incubated by the pair. For two months the pair will take turns protecting the nest and chicks while the other heads out to sea in search of food. These Cormorants are frequently observed flying a precise straight line just above the surface of the ocean and, from time to time, lightly touching the surface with the tip of their wings. This species almost exclusively feeds on fish and in contrast to other cormorants, observations suggest that it mostly feeds on species of schooling fish. In a maritime environment the Neo-Tropic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax olivaceus) has be observed feeding alone as well as in groups and almost exclusively in shallow coastal waters less than 1.3km from the shore and in no more than 10mt depth. After diving, they are commonly observed standing with their wings spread out in order to dry. Their nests are built with twigs cemented together with their own guano.

Neotropic cormorant

It is frequently seen flying swiftly the Neotropic cormorant (Phalacrocorax olivaceus), almost touching the water with a straight and accurate flight; and occasionally they touch the surface with the wingtips. This species is basically piscivorous. However, the same observations suggest that, unlike the cormorant black neck and imperial cormorant , the diet of this species consists of a high proportion of fish that move in schools and near the surface such as mackerel and bottom fish like sea bass. In marine environments, it has been observed feeding  both individually and in flocks. primarily (under 1.3 km and no more than 10 m deep) It feeds in coastal waters and shallow. After his dives in search of food, it is commonly seen with outspread wings toward the sun on some safe pathways to get rid of moisture. They build nests with branches cemented his own guano.

Brown Hooded Gull

The Brown Hooded Gull (Larus maculipennis) gets its name for an obvious reason. Standing at approximately 35cm this bird has a distinct dark-brown head, combined with white and grey plumage over the rest of its body and dark plumage on the tips of its wings and tail feathers. Its beak, feet and legs are red. According to the Coastal Patagonia Bird and Mammal guide, written by Guillermo Harris, the Brown Hooded Gull can be found year round thourghout the Valdes Peninsula. Courting and mating behavior begins in October, the chicks will hatch in November and will abandon their nest in February.  They are easily observed along the coast of Puerto Madryn and El Doradillo.

Seagull

It is the most abundant species on our coastline, with a huge population and many subspecies. It is considered one of the most important components in the dynamics of many towns on the Patagonian coast. It can measure up to 60 centimeters in length, the body is white and the wings black. Gulls are present all over Patagonia, extending to Tierra del Fuego and beyond, as far south as the Falkland Islands, South Atlantic Islands and Antarctica. They lay up to three eggs, nest and return to the same area every year. They feed naturally on intertidal resources, although their behaviour is very opportunistic and has been modified by the food supply generated by humans. Because of this, the growth of populations of gulls has grown-up considerably. They feed in open dumps, eat carrion, insects, grains, small fishes and …whales! The behaviour of gulls feeding off whales is, we believe, unique to our region.

Attacks to whales

In the last decade whales have been affected by attacks by gulls, who have developed a liking for the proteins in the skin and blubber of whales. Over the years, the technique that had developed by only a few gulls, has been passed on to other birds and new generations, making the attacks happen more frequently and altering the behaviour of these giant cetaceans. Moreover, fish discards and waste dumps, and mainly the landfill at Puerto Madryn, have led to a huge increase in the numbers of seagulls, which have food guaranteed all year, thus increasing their birth rate. As a result, the number of individuals is grows-ing exponentially in Valdes Peninsula.In order to escape the unwelcome and possibly painful attention of the gulls, whales have taken to adopting the “galleon” position, in which only the animal’s head and tail are exposed above water, the rest of the body being submerged. The also try to outwit the gulls by remaining submerged totally for longer periods, swimming and breaching. These techniques involve the whales expending a great deal more energy and, as the Valdes Peninsula is primarily a mating and breeding area, where food is not common, could have an adverse effect on the population.

Case Study

In 2005, a study group led by Ms. Anne Fazio, Biological Sciences graduate, and Dr. Marcelo Bertellotti, planned a study with three years’ duration, in which the first thing they wanted to know was, if the whales skin and fat feeding behaviour was or was not widespread throughout the population of gulls. They wanted to ring them, so as to identify them when they were attacking. This task took place at Punta Piramides platform, where there is a nesting colony of gulls. They captured the gulls by means of a cannon- net. The gulls were then ringed with individually coded rings and samples of blood and feathers etc were taken, to ascertain the overall health of the gull population. Despite the great effort and hours of work of the whole group, it became increasingly difficult to capture gulls, because they learned very fast and avoid the traps. In the event, ringing was achieved only in 20% of the population. In addition there are seagulls from different areas feeding on whales. Ana says that “(…) for these two reasons, the brand was very dilute, we had only 2% of cases where we saw a branded seagull attacking. Also, with so many hours and days of observation in the water, you could see that even not all the seagulls attacked, it was not a small group, and the worst of all: they were more and more!.We also have an overall record of the attack rate during the three seasons of whales watching, knowing the peaks of the curves (times of increased number of attacks per unit time). This information is very useful, since at the time of taking up the study comparisons can be made with other years to see if the attack rate has increased or decreased. In addition, samples were analyzed to search for pathogens with which the gulls can infect whales; we’ve found some and it is something that really concerns us. It is likely that, by moving from whale to whale, the gulls will not only infect the whales with pathogens which they carry, but could also transmit as carriers, pathogens and infections which are carried by the whales. AsValdes Peninsula is an area with a high transient population of whales, including calves, this is a matter of real concern and could have a greater effect on the whales than a mere change in behaviour. “ One of the most important conclusions, agreed by a majority, was to close the open dump in Puerto Madryn. We know that populations of gulls increased for many years, until ‘97 and then remained constant. The main causes were fishing discards and waste dumps. That’s why the plan launched by the Province to eradicate open dumps around Chubut is an incrediblebreakthrough on minimizing environmental impact, and may the get the rate of reproduction of the gulls back into balance.

The wildlife that can be observed from Puerto Piramides is varied and numerous, each species with its own attractive attributes and season. This genetic reservoir, that has survived incalculable massacres resulting in the near extinction of many species, is on the rebound. Since the protection of this unique wildlife sanctuary began, each season that passes becomes even wilder. With each passing year the numbers do nothing but grow with respect to Whales, Sea Lions, Elephant Seals and other species. For this reason alone, the Valdes Peninsula invites you to visit over and over again. Its geography is a living natural laboratory. A painting in constant motion and a world built for Man to do nothing more than contemplate. A place that allows for the power of understanding and invigorating observation of the life cycle of the oceans giants, as well as dozens of other species, at any time of the year.The annual migrations that many of these animals follow are truly admirable. Pushed on by instinct, at some calculated time each year, they will pass through the Valdes Peninsula. A perfect example, outside from the classic migrations of the Southern Right Whale or other marine giants, are two species of swallows that will travel between March and April, when cold weather begins to arrive, to Perú and Ecuador, returning once again to Patagonia in spring with longer days and warmer weather. These incredible peregrines of the natural kingdom, the Black Swallow and the Blue and White Swallow, are far from calling the attention of most tourists who arrive for whale watching tours. These small birds will migrate annually over tens of thousands of kilometers and, if for nothing else, deserve to be mentioned here.Very different from the major attractions of Whale watching tours or Orca season in the Valdes Peninsula, are some of the land animals, mammals, rodents and others, each with their own particular beauty, that share the same neighborhood as the famous cetaceans. In this article you will see some wild animals and others not so wild, all sharing secondary roles to the maritime scheme, and always present for the patient visitor who takes his time while traveling the gravel roads of the Valdes Peninsula.

Guanaco

Guanacos (Lama guanicoe) , mammals related to Llamas and pertaining to the order of Camelidos, carry with humble dignity the title of being Patagonia’s largest land dwelling vertebrate. Before the arrival of Europeans, this beautiful species was a fundamental ally in the survival of Patagonia´s indigenous inhabitants, providing meat for food and hides for warmth. The Valdes Peninsula is a Provincial Nature Reserve but it is not entirely intangible. For this reason commercial activities are still carried out by the 56 Estancias (Ranches) that are primarily dedicated to sheep herding and wool production. This industry has its beginnings in the Valdes Peninsula at the beginning of 1900.

Sheep

With colonization and non-indigenous development in the area, domestic animals arrived and one in particular dramatically changed the Patagonian Steppe. To raise and commercialize sheep and its subsequent byproducts certain inventions where applied in the region, like barbed wire fencing, private property and the division of land. Guanacos, displaced by the wool industry, were considerably reduced in numbers. Two fundamental characteristics of Guanacos are that they live together in large herds and are grazing herbivores.  The Valdes Peninsula is a unique wildlife reserve where hunting is strictly prohibited and over the course of time, thanks to the application of this law, the number of Guanacos is now greatly superior in the peninsula when compared to the rest of Patagonia.

Patagonian Hare

Often referred to as the Patagonian hare (Dolichotis patagonum), the Mara is a large rodent that exists only in Patagonia, can reach up to 70cm and is easily distinguished from the European Hare by the White marking near the tail and its small ears. They are monogamous and often several pairs will raise and protect their young together in the same burrow.  Mating begins in June and July and with a 3 month gestation period the offspring can usually be seen in late September or October in Valdes Peninsula. Once pregnant the female will begin the construction of a tunnel of 1-2mt in length that ends in a large, irregular chamber. Once finished, she will no longer enter the chamber, reserved for her offspring who begin grazing 6 weeks after birth. A beautiful species, unique to Patagonia that will live close to 15 years. This irreplaceable World Heritage Site is home to many incredible animals because there is still enough space for them to thrive. Examples of other curious species that are willing to carry out their business in the presence of man are also present. Such is the case with the Patagonian Grey Fox, Patagonian Skunk and Dwarf Armadillo. Here I have attached a video that illustrates clearly the habits of the Patagonian Mara, a species emblematic to Patagonia.

Patagonian Skunk

There is an abundant population of Patagonian Skunks (Conepatus humboldtii) in the Valdes Peninsula and often they will be seen in areas of human activity. Such is the case in the area around Punta Delgada where they are easily observed. This species of skunk is not as social as others and is usually seen alone and will almost exclusively occupy its den alone. The female has a 42 day gestation period and will give birth to 2-5 offspring. The babies will nurse on the three pairs of teats the mother offers and after just three months of nursing, will feed on their own.

Dwarf Armadillo

The Dwarf Armadillo(Zaedyus pichiy), from the same family as the Mulita and Hairy Armadillo (Xenarthra), spends most of its time with its nose to the ground searching for food. It has short hair and seven articulated bands to its protective shell that are mostly grey with slightly curved, beige edges. It has much less hair on its shell than the Mulita or Hairy Armadillo and the bottom edge is serrated.

Southern Dwarf Cavy

The Southern Dwarf Cavy or Brazilian Guinea Pig (Microcavia australis), is a mammal that feeds on sprouts of many plants and often climbs bushes and small trees to eat soft leaves. An enjoyable species to observe while the whales and Orcas remain below the surface. The female will go into heat for a period of approximately 5 hours, during which time she will be pursued and eventually mated by various males. The gestation period of these small animals is just under 2 months. Their behavior is often humorous to observe and, although not very sociable with humans, they can easily be seen while visiting the different tourist attractions in the area. A perfect example would be while sitting on the coast of el Doradillo waiting for a whale to breach, the Guinea Pig will most likely be close by in the bushes next to where you are sitting. If not for the subtle connections made by the observant visitor to this natural paradise, they would carry out their attractive lifestyle in complete anonymity.

Patagonian Grey Fox

The Grey Fox (Pseudalopex griseus), for the most part, lives a solitary and primarily nocturnal lifestyle. For refuge and for raising its pups it will occupy a cave built earlier by a Hairy Armadillo (Xenarthra) or other burrowing animal or in the hollow of a tree if found. They are territorial animals and will mark their area with urine or feces. They have a wide diet and are opportunistic feeders, taking advantage of the situations that may arise they will eat mammals, birds, eggs, reptiles, insects and a good portion of fruit and vegetable matter.

At the end of each day with the suns last rays concentrating all its power in this ultimate magical instant, Punta Piramide is illuminated, creating a privileged maritime landscape and one of the few places in Argentina where the sunset can be observed dipping below and disappearing behind the sea.During whale season this is an ideal location for spotting whales, where, from high on the cliffs, the characteristic spouting of these animals can be seen in numbers. In summer a privileged perspective of the largest reproductive sea lion colony in Valdes Peninsula allows you to hear and observe thousands of individuals from close range.All of these conditions and many more have converted Punta Piramide into a truly unique natural space. The point thrusts itself out into the sea in the shape of a pyramid creating an iconic image of the area and symbol of a coast eroded by the passing of time and distinct geological eras. The entire area is made up of old ocean floor, clay and marine fossils with millions of years of history exposed. Not long ago the tip of this mythical natural pyramid was crowned with two rocks that decorated photographs taken by tourists for decades. These two giant boulders rested precariously on the edge of the cliff and it was only a matter of time before wind and waves won the battle and sent them tumbling into the sea.

On the 3rd of February 2013 Punta Piramide lost its iconic point and for this reason I have included images from before and after in this article. Just 5km from Puerto Piramides this is one of the most visited protected areas from our town. Most of the other bays, cliffs and beaches are inaccessible due to either natural isolation or private property. For this reason, tourists, visitors and neighbors all take advantage of the easy access to this marvelous site to share a mate and contemplate the infinite.In 2008 a series of stamps were released from the Argentine National Postal Service representing and celebrating different national tourist attractions. Included in this homage is the nature reserve at Punta Piramde.
With a surface área of 132 acres, the reserve at Punta Piramide was created in February 1974. Comprised of a winding wall of cliffs, some as high as 70mt, a natural barrier is created, only occasionally interrupted by small gravel beaches with short scattered bushes, like the rest of the Patagonian steppe.One of the park rangers who lives in Puerto Piramides and has worked at this reserve for years is Marcelo Franco, Marcelo is comfortable in his attention to visitors and explanations about the local geography and its wildlife while dedicated to the protection and maintenance of this intangible nature reserve.The density of the reproductive population at this reserve is truly impressive. Combined with the deep guttural noises emitted by the males and the continuous cries of the pups bouncing off the high cliffs, a natural amphitheater is created where the concentrated eco is accompanied by a chorus of Kelp-Gulls.
There are 4 different ways to reach this nature reserve. The easiest and most comfortable way, and obviously the least adventurous, is in your own vehicle.The second option is by foot. Following a path from Puerto Piramides represents an enjoyable and healthy option that takes approximately one hour in each direction while allowing time to appreciate and photograph the flora, fauna and unique, beautiful and infinite landscapes seen along the way.The last two options for accessing Punta Piramide nature reserve are by sea. One is aboard a local nautical cruise offered by all of the six whale watching companies during summer. Several of these nautical tours include snorkeling, adding an additional dose of entertainment and adventure.The last, and by far most ecological and adventurous of the 4 options is a guided kayak tour. Gliding across the sea in silence, without the assistance of a motor, accompanied by professional guides and without altering the behavior of wildlife in total liberty makes for an incredible experience. The following video is a compilation filmed and edited by a tourist in just one day of excursions in Valdes Peninsula. Within the universe of fauna that was documented, the minutes spent at the sea lion colony at Punta Piramide stand out. Thanks to this edition it is easy to understand what I have been attempting to articulate in this article.

During the reproductive months at Punta Piramide two species of Cormorants as well as South American Terns can be observed sharing space in this priveleged corner of the world. On any of the nautical cruises you’ll pass very close to each of these species without altering their natural behavior. Professional photographers and tourists alike are amazed by the incredible surroundings and abundant fauna. Each and every angle serves as a new photographic composition of pristine nature.The kayaks used in these excursions have dry storage compartments and a dry storage bag is offered as well to safely carry your camera, a towel, sunscreen and any other object that needs to be kept dry.
An almost mystic sensation fills the air as the virgin landscape surrounding Puerto Piramides merges with the local marine bird and sea lion colonies. Our town functions in direct relation to the wildlife that surrounds us.Throughout the world, activities like this are hard to find. Probably the most exciting of excursions are those offered by Patagoina Explorers, a dedicated couple who run professional, guided kayak tours all year long. During the summer season they offer daily two hour tours. These excursions are usually accompanied by close encounters with the local fauna, amazing landscapes and a stop at an isolated, secluded beach for a refreshing swim to quench the intense heat of summer. The crystal clear waters of our bay allow for all sorts of adventure and direct contact with nature, a swim suit or shorts are a must bring.The kayaks used in these excursions have dry storage compartments and a dry storage bag is offered as well to safely carry your camera, a towel, sunscreen and any other object that needs to be kept dry.If the effort is made to reach Puerto Piramides, nature’s invitation for adventure will be waiting. Direct contact with the environment provides connections far removed from the craziness that we characterize as daily life.

The weeks before the beginning of the whale watching Season at Valdes Peninsula, the two gulfs that shape the peninsula become more populous with right whales. Each day, all along the shore from Puerto Madryn to Puerto Piramides, those species individuals grow in number.Fall roots itself more deeply, and whales comfortably find peace in this heavenly place on earth. While concentration of animals is overall intense, the highest density of whales per km2 is observed, no chance of doubt, at Protected Natural Area El Doradillo, which takes the major award worldwide in whale population between May and July.
This place, this time of year, a few meters from where the sea washes the sand, a unique concentration of right whales can be appreciated – all of them mothers with their calves.
To the human eye experiencing such sight, either for the first or for the millionth time, it is a magnificent show hard to compare, captivating the most sensitive observer and leaving them at a loss for words.During one of the most significant and magical cycles of their existence, these marine giants approach solid ground. Accessible to those who come to El Doradillo and witness the moment, a flask, a mate, and rolls in hand, sitting on the beach, every day, these are masterly classes of living in harmony.

Daily lessons on bringing up their calves with motherly love and infinite patience, nursing them and helping them perfect their air-breathing maneuver, among other basic survival skills, are deeply touching. These are customs and practices right whales pass on from generation to generation, from The Beginning of Times.

The protected area finds its starting point at the coastal geographic feature known asPunta Arco, located about 20 km from Puerto Madryn. It spreads through an area parallel to the coast covering 3 km wide and about 25 km long, including Punta Ameghino, the popular dwelling place for the southern sea lion, to Punta Prismático, where the coastal circuit of the Provincial Route 42 ends, reaching a total area of 7500 hectares. Access should be made by car, taxi, and organized tours – the adventure lovers in good fitness might also bicycle to get there. There is no bus service to reach those shores. Some adventure privileged arrive in motor homes.Naturally, ‘the whale’ is the greatest tourist attraction of this natural reservoir, but it is not the only one. The steppe is home to vital flora and fauna – plants nestled in an immense biodiversity barely noticed by who quickly passes through this desolate semi deserted area.  However, vegetation consisting mainly of low shrub-like plants, featuring more than 15 different species, predominates and embraces this saline ground to take root. Tens of bird species inhabit the region, as well as small mammals such as the skunk, the piche, and the southern mountain cavy. For further information, visit the Natural Heritage siteabout the history of the Protected Natural Area El Doradillo, and how it was originated.This video successfully reflects the reigning atmosphere of these beaches – some with sand, others with boulder geography, as well as all the energy of the boundless immensity offered by this corner of the  Patagonia Argentina.

Conservation at El Doradillo, María Cabrera Leading the Head

Since 2005, María Cabrera is the head of Conservation of the Protected Natural Area El Doradillo. During the shore whale watching season peak from these privileged beaches, we take the opportunity to have a conversation with her.What is theProtected Area El Doradillo all about?The aim of creating a protected natural area at El Doradillo is to achieve the preservation of a truly magical place in time, not only for us here and now, but for future generations. It is necessary to create these vast stretches of preserved areas to restrict the fierce depredation we human beings are inflicting on unprotected areas. his protected area was created by the Municipality of Puerto Madryn in 2001, and 2 years later, a management plan was drafted stating goals to carry out actions for preserving its biodiversity and natural resources, providing education, and offering services and equipment for visitors’ public use.
During the Whale Watching Season, we are continually visited by the local media, as well as by provincial and national media, where we have the great responsibility of spreading the news on this wonderful place in the most serious way. We are the ‘visible face’ from El Doradillo.She coordinates a team of local park rangers, who are in charge of carrying out field tasks, mainly controlling and supervising, educating on environmental basics, and informing visitors during the whole year.Recently, we are delighted to celebrate the 10 years of this program of environmental education with a photo contest. This sustained program is carried out by the Municipality of Puerto Madryn, and it is participative, as it includes voluntary students from high-school 728, who take part in recreational activities for children on the beach and are the tourist guides in charge of providing information during bus trips towards El Doradillo, and afterwards, of creating experiences with children for them to enjoy the wonderful behavior of whales in full reproductive period, and the environment in general. Each and every opportunity is taken.While the center of attention is the presence of whales, we take interpretative walks where we lecture about the flora, the birds, the southern mountain cavy, and we also share good environmental practices. We promote the importance of not leaving waste materials in the protected area, of not using local vegetation to make fire, and of taking care of dunes and beaches. We also underline the significance of respecting paths and of caring about a place as vulnerable as the Patagonic desert, where the human imprint immediately makes a mark. The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) selected El Doradillo as the venue for a specific workshop addressed to Latin American and Caribbean referents in protected areas. It was an intensive one-week workshop featuring very prominent lecturers where we all learned a lot and shared experiences. At the end, we worked in groups and drafted proposals for public use, which now have been adopted in El Doradillo with a view to improving services for visitors without negatively impacting on the conservation of the place.These days, we are working with the national system for tourist quality of theNational Ministry of Tourism to enhance quality in each and every process we implement in managing the protected area. We have already attained distinction in management guidelines, and we now head towards revalidating such guidelines and gaining the national award for quality. Receiving and assisting scientists who do research in El Doradillo is also part of our job. When I began to work, my office was the field itself. I spent my whole day collecting and sorting data, taking photos and talking to people, both in winter and in summer – either warmly equipped, or shrinking into the shadows. Always with the management plan in hand, looking for ways to fit the area out for visitors, while trying to minimize all impacts to the least. We also keep statistical records that serve us as input for planning.Creating environmental awareness in 4th grade children is the ultimate goal. During educational sessions at schools, we provide information on different topics, such as conservation and protected areas, tourism, steppe fauna and flora, biology of the southern right whale, and a specially dedicated approach on El Doradillo. With the intention of drawing the local community closer to the values El Doradillo holds as a protected area, since locals are the most frequent visitors to the different beaches, mainly in summer, we consider it significant to convey those values and to spread them among Puerto Madryn children.

 Ecological Concept

A great achievement is that the Puerto Piramide’s building code was modified based on sustainability parameters introduced by Del Nómade Eco Lodge. To achieve this goal, we first constructed a building of 400 m2, consisting of a ground floor, first floor and second floor with separate entrance for a private apartment. The heat balance optimization was the first step to prevent heat loss, which is why we started by building solid walls and large windows all sealed with double glazed (DVH) to avoid unnecessary heat loss and allow the entry of solar energy as light and heat. This is our renewable energy system applied in winter. The heating and hot water.