Peninsula Valdes tour: Whales, penguins & elephant seals

Whales, penguins, elephant seals and sea lions in a single day across Peninsula Valdes

A full-day Peninsula Valdes tour from Puerto Madryn takes you across a protected natural area to watch southern right whales (June to December), Magellan penguins, elephant seals and sea lions. The tour includes hotel pickup, an English-speaking guide, air-conditioned transport and a 1.5-hour whale-watching boat ride at Puerto Piramides. You'll stop at five key sites: the visitor center overlooking two gulfs, Puerto Piramides for the boat, Caleta Valdes for penguins and elephant seals, Punta Norte for sea lions and occasional orcas, and Los Pajaros Island for seabirds. The tour runs June through March and takes 11 to 12 hours.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Peninsula Valdes wildlife

• Pickup from Puerto Madryn
• Visit El Desempeño access point
• Arrive at Puerto Piramides
• Whale watching boat ride (June-Dec)
• Head to Caleta Valdes for seals and penguins
• Visit Punta Norte for sea lions and orcas
• Stop at Los Pajaros Island bird sanctuary
• Visit Peninsula Valdes visitor center
• Return to Puerto Madryn

The experience

The tour starts with pickup at your Puerto Madryn hotel or accommodation, then heads 35 miles south to El Desempeño, the main entrance to Peninsula Valdes. From there, the route covers roughly 100 miles across the protected area, stopping at five distinct wildlife zones. The visitor center sits at a viewpoint overlooking Golfo Nuevo and Golfo San Jose at the same time, giving you a sense of the peninsula's scale and geography before you head deeper in.

Puerto Piramides is the hub for the whale-watching boat ride, included in your tour price. Between June and December, the boat takes you out for 1.5 hours to watch southern right whales in their breeding and calving grounds. Outside those months, the boat trip shifts to sea lion viewing and coastal scenery. From there, Caleta Valdes sits 47 miles away and holds two separate colonies: Magellan penguins (September to April) nest in burrows, while a large group of elephant seals occupies the area about a mile away, with males fighting for territory and females tending their young.

Punta Norte, the peninsula's northernmost point, is where you may spot orcas hunting sea lions and sea elephants, though sightings depend on the season. The final stop is Los Pajaros Island, a seabird colony visible from the shore. Your guide speaks English and covers the wildlife behavior, cultural heritage of the region and the local economy as you travel. The air-conditioned vehicle keeps you comfortable across the long day, and you're dropped off at your original Puerto Madryn location when the tour ends.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned vehicle with English-speaking guide.
• pickup and drop-off at your Puerto Madryn location.
• whale-watching boat ride at Puerto Piramides (1.5 hours, included June to December).
• access to five wildlife viewing sites across Peninsula Valdes.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 07:30 and 08:00Last departure this season: 31 Dec

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (12 to 90 years) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 16

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 37 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 36

Prices and times updated 15 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcome

Operated by Sentir Patagonia Travel

Is this one for you?This is a shared-group tour, so you'll travel with other visitors in an air-conditioned vehicle with a single guide. It suits travelers who want to see multiple wildlife species in one long day without arranging their own transport or navigating the peninsula's remote roads.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

When can I see southern right whales on the Peninsula Valdes tour?

Southern right whales are visible from June through December, when the boat ride at Puerto Piramides is included in your tour. Outside those months, the boat trip focuses on sea lion viewing instead.

What wildlife will I actually see on this tour?

The tour visits five sites across Peninsula Valdes where you'll encounter southern right whales (seasonal), Magellan penguins (September to April), elephant seals, sea lions, and occasionally orcas at Punta Norte. Los Pajaros Island holds a variety of seabirds. What you see depends on the season and wildlife movement.

How long is the whale-watching boat ride included in the tour?

The boat ride at Puerto Piramides lasts 1.5 hours and is included in your tour price when you visit between June and December for whale watching.

Does the tour include lunch or meals?

Lunch is not included in the tour price, so you'll want to bring food or plan to eat at Puerto Piramides, where there are local options available during the stop.

What's the pickup and drop-off arrangement?

The tour includes pickup at any location around Puerto Madryn and drop-off at the same spot when the tour ends, so you don't need to arrange separate transport to and from your hotel.