Exploring Peninsula Valdés Day Trip: Boat Tour, Penguins, Elephant Seals & Patagonian Flavors 🦭🐧🍲🚤🚐

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For our last day on the Valdes Peninsula, we joined an excursion to visit Caleta Valdes and Punta Delgada, two destinations which are said to be great for wildlife spotting! First up, we kicked off the day with a boat tour to the loberia, which is a rocky outcrop where you can see sea lions. Because we visited in February, there were lots of newborn pups playing and clumsily climbing around the larger sea lions; it was so fun to just sit back and watch them be. We also saw the alpha male strutting on his flippers, body arched upwards, observing his harem and eventually approaching a female. It was quite the scene and camera shutters were going off like crazy!

From there, we continued to Caleta Valdes, which is often referred to as a 'geographic accident'; it’s basically a long and narrow body of water that’s been naturally closed off by a strip of land, with only a small opening connecting it to the sea. We got to see Magellanic penguins here, who had built their nests on a rather steep hill!

We then continued to Punta Delgada Lightouse, a former post office and military building turned sheep farm, countryside hotel and restaurant. We had some empanadas and lamb stew for lunch (all very tasty!), before continuing on to a beach location where we watched as elephant seals made their way back to sea.

This was our final tour with Argentina Vision () and then it was back to Puerto Madryn!

Exploring Peninsula Valdés: Boat Tour, Penguins, Elephant Seals & Patagonian Flavors 🦭🐧🍲 | Day Trip Recap

🚐 Departure & Day’s Itinerary

Our final day on Peninsula Valdés kicks off with anticipation and excitement. We set out for Punta Delgada, ready to soak up more nature and wildlife. The plan: visit a lighthouse, have lunch at a historic estancia, and—highlight of the day—head out on a boat tour for close encounters with local fauna. Optional boat excursions are available, and we decide to seize the opportunity!

🚤 Zodiac Boat Tour: Up Close with Wildlife

Lifejackets on! Safety first as we board zodiacs to get a closer look at the sea lions.

Sea Lion Colony: The excursion allows for much closer views than from the standard viewing platforms.

Wildlife Encounters: Not only do we spot numerous sea lions, but we also see baby penguins, cormorants by the hundreds, and even swim past a “marine fossil” cave—remnants of ancient Atlantic Ocean seabed.

Tour Tip: At 750 pesos (about $20 USD), the boat tour is a highly recommended add-on for immersive wildlife viewing. The clear weather made for stunning coastal views.

🏞️ Caleta Valdés: Penguins & (Few) Elephant Seals

After the boat tour, we continue to Caleta Valdés, sometimes called a “geographic accident.”

Scenic Geography: It’s a narrow, naturally enclosed bay with a tiny opening to the sea.

Wildlife: Usually a hotspot for elephant seals, but with the season ending, only a few remain.

Penguin Colony: Still, plenty of Magellanic penguins are present, smaller in number than San Lorenzo but lively and curious, delighting visitors as they waddle along the sand.

🥩 Faro Punta Delgada: Lunch at the Lighthouse

Historic Stop: We head to Estancia Punta Delgada—a site with a rich past as post office, military outpost, hotel, and now a restaurant.

Lunch Highlights:

Homemade artisanal bread with garlic mayo

Classic Argentine beef empanadas (stuffed to perfection)

Patagonian lamb stew (a hearty mix of lamb, onions, carrots, and rice—simple yet delicious, melt-in-your-mouth meat)

Flan for dessert, a crowd favorite

Atmosphere: Hearty food and local sparkling water revive us for the afternoon’s adventures.

🥾 Hiking the Cliffs to See Elephant Seals

Ilidan L: The next stop involves hiking halfway down a cliff for an up-close look at the remaining elephant seals.

Windy Coast: The trek is challenging, with sandy paths and strong winds, but the payoff is worth it.

Seal Sighting: Despite it being the end of the season, we witness several elephant seals—some basking, others dragging themselves to the water for a feeding expedition. Their laziness is endearing—much like us after a big lunch!

🗺️ Reflections on Peninsula Valdés

Hidden Corners: The island’s nooks and crannies, from sea caves to secret beaches, reveal the diversity of its wildlife and landscapes.

Tour Recap: This second day of exploring emphasizes how every corner of the peninsula offers something unique and memorable.

🍕 Evening in Puerto Madryn: Seafood Pizza

Return to Puerto Madryn: After the day’s adventures, we crave a repeat of an earlier meal—seafood pizza from “Shona” (recommended for anyone in town).

Generous Portions: Loaded with seafood and cheese, it’s a meal we’d been fantasizing about since our first taste.

Spotting SEA LIONS in Peninsula Valdes on a Boat Tour | Chubut, Argentina:

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