The Kingdom of Whales

The main attraction in Peninsula de Valdés is undoubtedly Southern Right Whale Watching. Between May and December, over 1,100 cetaceans find a home in Golfo San José and Golfo Nuevo. They arrive to the shores of the province of Chubut to mate and give birth.

The highest gathering of these mammals is during July and August - up to 600 whales may concentrate in the area on a busy day. Every year the number of whales grows at a rate of 6.8%.

Given that it is not an endangered species, tourism activities are permitted. In fact, it is the only place in the world where it is possible to practice professional whale watching. There are only six tourism companies enabled for such purposes. Private vessels are not allowed to approach due to regulations guarding the protection of the cetaceans, which were declared a Natural Monument in 1984.

Whale watch boats depart from Puerto Pirámides, a town 80 km (50 mi) from Puerto Madryn, the region’s main tourist center. They sail along the shore and then into the ocean. At a certain moment, the boat stops, waiting for the mammals to show up. The first signs that alert us about the presence of this marvel are the sharper and sharper and more and more penetrating guttural and cavernous sounds. You needn’t be afraid since the Southern Right Whale is a highly pacific and friendly animal.

The cetaceans have already noticed the presence of visitors. Far from considering them as intruders, they feel flattered; the contact is like recognition to the sovereignty exercised by the whales over those waters. They are the kings of the ocean welcoming their guests of honor. They then show their fins to the audience and they raise their tail to dive. This way, whales display their emblems, and proudly present us with the splendor of their kingdom.

At this point of the adventure, enjoyment has fully met the tourists’ expectations. However, when a whale swims below the ship, the excitement reaches exorbitant levels. After a while, when the whales rehearse their flips and turns, they perform amazing jumps and they release their classic water jet from their hole called spiracle, it is time to return to firm ground. The total time of the excursion is approximately one hour and fifteen minutes.

Even though the season starts in May, the reader needs to be reminded that it is highly recommended to make reservations with time, since both hotel capacity and tour availability in Puerto Madryn and Puerto Pirámide are limited, and international demand is higher every year.