Introduction
Puerto Madryn and Peninsula Valdés fringe the Atlantic coast, in the northern reaches of Patagonia. The city of Puerto Madryn was founded by a group of Welsh immigrants in 1865 and has grown steadily ever since. It overlooks the sheltered waters of Golfo Nuevo and is one of the best places to see whales in Argentina - in particular, southern right whales, which visit the bay each year between June and December to breed.
To the east is Peninsula Valdés, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the world's best nature reserves. The peninsula is home to sea lion, elephant seal, Magellanic penguin, wild guanaco and pichi - a small armadillo - and as such is one of the best places to watch wildlife in Argentina. It's also the only place in the world where orcas intentionally beach themselves in order to catch prey, and seeing this dramatic spectacle is an unforgettable encounter.