Magellan penguins, sea elephants and blue-whales in Porto Madryn

Picture: Magellan penguins on Peninsula Valdes in Patagonia. 

Peninsula Valdes in Patagonia is a UNESCO certified wildlife reserve that offers close range access to all sorts of wild animals. A day trip of 400kms takes you for example to a big Magellan penguin colony where I saw penguins attending to their chicks in little holes underneath thorny bushes. At an extensive beach numerous sea elephants and sea lions rested peacefully under the sun, soaking up the warmth. I also saw some small wild ostriches running fast in a herd as well as wild guanacos, a type of Lama. But the highlight of Peninsula Valdes is whale-watching. Boats leave from Porto Pyramides and take you out to sea where you can sea massive blue-whales and orcas (unfortunately I was one week too late and the baleen whales had already left).

PS: I can highly recommend one to eat at the estancia, or farm, called San Lorenzo where you not only see the penguins but also can sample some barbecued tender and juicy lamb meat, savory beef sausages and over-sized empanadas, a sort of filled dough-bread.