Right Whale Calving — Península Valdés

About this spectacle

The sheltered bays of Península Valdés — Golfo San José and Golfo Nuevo — become nurseries each austral spring as southern right whale mothers bring their calves into the calm, warm waters close to shore. From cliff-top viewpoints and low rocky headlands, visitors watch these enormous animals rolling, tail-slapping, and spy-hopping mere metres away, often accompanied by playful calves learning to breach. The sound of their exhalations carries across the water. Whale watching boats venture out for close-up encounters, but the land-based viewing — one of the very few places on Earth where you can watch right whales for hours without ever leaving dry land — is what makes Valdés extraordinary. The setting is austere Patagonian steppe meeting deep-blue gulf, and on a calm day the whales are so numerous and so close that the spectacle feels almost unreal. This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site recognised for its exceptional marine wildlife.

When to go

Jan — Dec, peak Jul — Nov

Getting there

Nearest airport: PMY. Nearest city: Puerto Madryn.

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