We leave the City of Puerto Madryn heading south taking National Route No. 3 (almost 190km of asphalt) towards the Punta Tombo Nature Reserve, the most important penguin colony in the American continent. The penguins arrive annually at this place to nest, mate, have their young and mutate and then start the return trip to the northeast of South America and cyclically return the following year. Punta Tombo is a rocky strip 3.5 km long by 600 m wide that extends into the sea. It has beaches that have a gentle decline that the penguins take advantage of to rebuild and create their nests.
Upon arrival we will pay the entrance fee to the reserve and enter the interpretation center where we will be able to observe all the fauna of the place and learn what is necessary to enter the reserve and understand the actions of the penguins. At the exit of the interpretation center a minibus will take us to the beginning of the trails where our walk of approximately 1.5 to 2 km will begin. Walking along the perfectly marked paths, we can surprise ourselves observing the feverish activity that dominates the colony. Depending on the season, you can see some penguins digging their caves, fighting for territory, moving in search of their nests, mating or feeding their chicks. At the same time, the continuous noise of braying - the vocalization of adult penguins that they use to ward off strangers and attract a mate - dominates the atmosphere. The penguins coexist with other seabirds that have chosen this site to nest, such as the gray or southern cook gulls, the skuas or robbers, two species of cormorants -the royal and the black-necked or rock-, the steamer duck, Antarctic pigeons, and various species of terns and giant petrels. Given the extension of the area we can also get to observe guanacos, piches, maras, rheas, foxes, guinea pigs and martinetas.
At the end of the tour we can have lunch at the reserve cafeteria and then we return to the city making a stop at the City of Gaiman, a town located on the banks of the Chubut River. It is an old Welsh colony framed in a particular landscape of wooded plots, wild fences and cliffs tattooed by erosion. It was the first municipality of Chubut and curiously, the origin of its name is not Welsh but Tehuelche and means: "Sharpening Stone" or "Stone Point". To learn about the Welsh culture and the history of this small town, we walk through its streets, the former railway station and it contains relics of colonization, we visit the first Gaiman house built in 1874, the tunnel through which the old railway passed and the old chapels -true spiritual support of those settlers-. As an optional activity, we can enjoy a delicious "Welsh tea", prepared according to ancient customs, which give it a unique flavor and perfume, tasting all kinds of homemade regional cakes, breads and sweets. Then we return to the city of Puerto Madryn . *Includes the time needed to drink tea in Gaiman.
We will make a stop in Trelew, where those who wish can enter the Egidio Feruglio Museum, the Paleontological Museum, which has large and important pieces of dinosaurs found near our city. At the end of the tour we return to Madryn.
Itinerary
Tombo Point
-7:30 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. pick up at hotels
-We depart from Puerto Madryn to Punta Tombo
-We will enter the largest Magellanic penguin reserve in South America.
-Lunch in the reserve (restaurant options)
-Visit the city of Gaiman to enjoy traditional Welsh tea.
-Return to Puerto Madryn. End of the excursion.
Season: from mid-September to mid-April
Departures: regular
Duration: full day
departure times: 07:30/08h
Return times: approximately 6:00 p.m.
Minimum of passengers: 2 people
It includes
Transfers: Search for the passengers where they are staying.
Guides: Spanish/English. (Ask for other languages in regular or private service).
does not include
Entrance to the reserve or museums
foods
optional
Personal expenses
Optional
see related services
Observations: From 09/01 to 09/20 inclusive, the sighting of penguins is not guaranteed as it is subject to the arrival of the mimes.
-This excursion can be provided with Pick up at the Trelew Airport or drop off at the Trelew airport or city, it does not imply that the luggage takes place, consult in that case how to transfer it.
-Minors policy: (0-2) baby, does not pay for excursion, (3-11) minor, (12-99) adult.
Suggested equipment: Comfortable shoes, warm clothes, photography equipment, sunscreen and hat.
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