The 9 Best Puerto Madryn Tours & Wildlife Trips

1.Cruise Shore Excursion Península Valdés – Pto Madryn – Patagonia – Argentina

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 111 reviews · 7 hours (approx.) · from $95Our pick

Travel from Puerto Madryn’s pier into Peninsula Valdes with an English-speaking guide, stopping at the interpretation center, Caleta Valdes, elephant seal colonies, penguins, and possible sea lions. Guides such as Mary, Carolina, Santiago, and Nora add wildlife expertise. Expect a long ride, variable sightings, and a boxed lunch.

“Our guide on this tour, Carolina, is extremely knowledgeable and professional. She competently explained, in both English and Spanish what to look for and provided a great description of the background and a little history of the places we visited. She made the tour most enjoyable.”

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2.Valdes Peninsula: Full Day with Whale Watching

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 98 reviews · from $298

Travel from Puerto Madryn into Valdés Peninsula Protected Natural Area with an English- or Spanish-speaking guide and a small group of up to 10. Cruise from Puerto Pirámides for southern right whales from mid-June to November, or see sea lions and cormorants from December to March. Expect long drives, wild scenery, and excellent chances for wildlife.

“Very nice trip. We got to see a lot of whales. The guide on the boat knows where he is talking about and can answer all of your questions. As a bonus we saw the pinguins. sealions and sea elephants. Also we saw a lot of Guanacos and a Mara.”

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3.Snorkeling Trip with Sea Lions

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 81 reviews · 2h 30m · from $150

Set out from Madryn Buceo in Puerto Madryn for a 150-minute boat trip to Punta Loma Nature Reserve. You’ll pass Paraná Beach and its Spanish shipwreck, watch for whales, dolphins and penguins, then spend about 40 minutes snorkeling beside wild sea lions. Guides speak Spanish, English and Italian, and names such as Mauro, Lucio, Saira, Julian and Marcelo appear among the experienced team.

“Overall, this was a great tour experience. We loved the family environment and how helpful they were in getting our family ready. The weather was great and guides were very informative - and included photos! It would have been great if there were souvenirs that we could have purchased from this tour. The port didn’t have a lot of options and it would be a great option.”

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4.Cruise Shore Excursion Punta Tombo with Boxlunch from Pto Madryn

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 79 reviews · 7 hours (approx.) · from $120Top rated

Travel from Puerto Madryn’s cruise pier to Punta Tombo, South America’s largest Magellanic penguin reserve. You’ll have about two hours to walk the 1.5-kilometer trail, see nests and coastal penguins, and spot guanacos or rheas. A box lunch, air-conditioned transport, and port return are included, but the entrance fee costs about $20.

“It was nice to start the trip early in the morning. We were the first group of visitors to reach Punta Tombo that day. It was great when the light was good, the beach less crowded, and penguins more active. We still were able to see plenty of penguins in the end of March, which was a major concern for us and even the tour guide. The bus had plenty of leg room and the seat was comfortable, which was important for a 2.5 hour ride. The lunch box had good portion size and the taste was Ok.”

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5.3 hour 4×4 tour around Puerto Madryn

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 75 reviews · 3 to 4 hours (approx.) · from $100

Join a small-group 4x4 outing from Puerto Madryn with guides such as Eduardo, Ed, Augusto, or Cynthia. You’ll cross beaches, dunes, rocky tracks, and Cerro Avanzado, visit Punta Loma’s sea lion colony, and stop for coffee or tea by the shore. The ride is exciting but rough, and the Punta Loma entry fee costs ARS 15,000 extra.

“Eduardo was fantastic. Very knowledgeable. The trip was fun and such good value . He took us to some lovely places with views and to see the sea lions. He never rushed us but also kept us to the schedule. His English was really good and he really showed us the beautiful area around Puerto Madryn”

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6.Península Valdés Tour with Optional Whale Watching

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 73 reviews · 12 hours (approx.) · from $157

Spend about 12 hours exploring UNESCO-listed Peninsula Valdes from Puerto Madryn with hotel pickup, an air-conditioned vehicle, and a bilingual guide such as Juan or Ignacio. See penguins, sea lions, elephant seals, guanacos, rheas, and maras. Add a two-hour whale-watching boat trip from Puerto Piramides, subject to weather and season.

“Magical chance to see these amazing creatures close up. Nothing is guaranteed - our guide couldn't find anywhere with orcas to view on our day despite his best efforts. But in addition to whale cows and their calves, we saw sea lions, elephant seals and Magellan penguins. Like so many expeditions in Patagonia, it's a long distance across bumpy roads and a long day - but it's one you'll never forget. Excellent driver and guide.”

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7.Shore Excursion Punta Tombo cruise passengers Puerto Madryn

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 51 reviews · 7 hours (approx.) · from $125

Travel from Puerto Madryn’s pier to Punta Tombo in an air-conditioned vehicle with an English and Spanish-speaking guide. Walk among Magellanic penguins, spot guanacos and Patagonian hares, and enjoy a boxed lunch. The day may also include a dinosaur replica and a short Puerto Madryn tour.

“Great experience with a great guide. So many penguins and lama like animals. Very good packed lunch and comfortable vehicle. Only downside is the drive is through some of the most boring landscapes I have ever seen. Highly recommended if you want to see the penguins.”

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8.Cruise Shore Excursion Ea San Lorenzo Península Valdés – Patagonia – Argentina

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 43 reviews · 7 hours (approx.) · from $159

From Puerto Madryn, you travel by air-conditioned vehicle across Peninsula Valdés to Estancia San Lorenzo, home to a huge Magellanic penguin rookery. You’ll also visit Punta Norte for sea lions and elephant seals, with occasional orca sightings. Guides such as Beto, Martin, Fernando, and Mary are known for wildlife insight, but expect long hours on the road and extra entrance fees.

“Excellent tour. Excellent tour guide. Excellent vehicle. Excellent penguins and sea lions and seals, looong ride 2 1/2 hours each way but worth it on paved and gravel roads 99% smooth, food mediocre at best—bring power bars, excellent toilets too. Just do it.”

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9.Best Tour to Península Valdés

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 5 reviews · 10 hours · from $150

From Puerto Madryn, you’ll spend a full day touring Peninsula Valdés in a small van, with stops at Puerto Pirámides, Punta Delgada, Punta Norte, and Caleta Valdés. Whale-watching by boat is included from June 15 to December 15. Guides speak Spanish, English, Italian, French, and Portuguese, and French guide Pierre is praised for his wildlife and plant knowledge.

“Guide français très sympa ( Pierre le rochelais) mais surtout très bonne connaissance de l'endroit de la faune et flore . Excellente journée. encore merci”

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