Introduction:

Puerto Madryn is located in the province of Chubut, 1470 kilometres away from Buenos Aires. The city was founded in 1865, when the first Welsh settlers arrived – It extends over the coast and it counts with two docks: the longest one, called “Almirante Storni”, which has restricted access because it belongs to a company called Aluar; and a second dock called “Luis Piedrabuena”, which is used by fishing boats and big cruises.

Puerto Madryn has a small but lovely city center, with a lot of shops and a beautiful seafront. The city is considered the National Capital of Diving and it was recognized as World Heritage by UNESCO in 1999.

¿What to visit?

Beaches: Southern beaches show a desert landscape with cliffs and an open sea characterised by strong waves and high winds. Playa Unión was named after the Unión Fragate, that once wrecked the zone – It is 6 kilometres away from Rawson and is a wild, wide beach, quiet and with strong waves since it’s an open sea beach (great for surfers from February to April); it’s a beach without algae and gentle wind.

Puerto Pirámides – Whale watching: The town of Puerto Pirámides has its own beach, surrounded by sand dunes; this is the place where nautical activities, such as whale watching, start – Puerto Pirámides is the only place in Argentina authorized for this. Whale watching is one of the most espectacular experiences ever – You can watch whales from a distance of less than 2 metres. The same thing happens when watching penguins or sea lions.

The Caves: This beach has lots of caves originated by sea erosion. From here you can appreciate beautiful sunsets.

Florentino Ameghino Dike: The Florentino Ameghino Complex is a hydroelectric exploitation located over the Chubut River, with the purpose of controlling the overflows, providing water to an irrigation system and generating electric power. This dike is a marvellous construction surrounded by mountains.

The weather and when to travel: 

Puerto Madryn has a semi-desert and tempered climate, characterised by the lack of rain and the difference of temperatures between seasons: hot summers and cold winters with high winds.

May to December is one of the best seasons to visit Puerto Madryn – This is when you can enjoy whale watching. Besides, you can watch:

• Elephant seals: the whole year – Breeding season from December to March.
• Sea lions: the whole year – Breeding season from December to March.
• Penguins: October to March – Breeding season since September.

¿How to get there?

By plane: Flights from Buenos Aires to Trelew – This city is 60 kilometres away from Puerto Madryn. Aerolíneas Argentinas and another airlines such as Flybondi cover this flight path.

By car: From Buenos Aires, along the National Route 3.

By bus: From Buenos Aires, travelling for 17 hours approximately.

¿Where to sleep?

Puerto Madryn is a small destination – Therefore, the best option is to lodge in the city center; many of the hotels are located in front of the sea. If your accommodation is far from the city center, you would probably have to move by car or by taxi.

Gastronomy and nightlife:

When you visit Puerto Madryn there are some regional products you can’t miss: Pata gonian lamb, homemade cheese, fine fruit, mushrooms, and homemade jam and liqueur. You can also savour traditional European dishes such as cheese fondue and “curanto”, a mix of meat and vegetables which is cooked over hot stones in the bottom of a hole made in the ground. At Gaiman, a town near Puerto Madryn, you can enjoy Welsh specialties like tea with scones, sweets and traditional pastries.

¿How to move?

There’s public transport that operates infrequently, so I don’t recommend it. To move faster, the best option is to take a taxi or an Uber.

Personal review:

I found Puerto Madryn really beautiful. The city center is small but lovely; besides, this destination counts with beaches, variety of gastronomic options and direct touch with nature and wildlife. However, it’s not a destination for everyone: some tours require a good physical condition. Is Puerto Madryn worth visiting? Of course, without any doubt!

Consultor Paola Mier