Península Valdés and Atlantic Coast

Península Valdés extends into the Atlantic east of Puerto Madryn and has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1999. Between June and December, Southern Right Whales arrive in the sheltered bays of Golfo Nuevo and Golfo San José to give birth and nurse their young; the best way to see them is from boats departing from Puerto Pirámides, the peninsula's only town. No whale watching boats operate between April and mid-June.A round trip on the peninsula's gravel roads leads to Punta Delgada, Caleta Valdés, and Punta Norte, home to colonies of elephant seals and sea lions. Magellanic penguins are present from September to April. Punta Norte is famous for orcas that intentionally strand themselves on the beach while hunting young sea lions; this rare behavior can, with luck, be observed especially in late summer and autumn. At the entrance, the Carlos Ameghino Visitor Center provides information on nature and history; an entrance fee is charged for the protected area.

Puerto Madryn is sheltered by Golfo Nuevo and serves as the main gateway to Península Valdés. On July 28, 1865, approximately 150 Welsh immigrants landed here aboard the sailing ship Mimosa; their legacy endures in street names and the Welsh tea houses of nearby Gaiman. Today, Madryn is a coastal city with a long waterfront promenade.On the headland above the city, the Ecocentro features exhibitions about the Patagonian sea. About two hours' drive south lies Punta Tombo, home to one of the largest colonies of Magellan penguins. Puerto Pirámides, on the peninsula, is about an hour and a half away by bus. Most travelers fly into Trelew, approximately 50 kilometers south.

Bariloche is located on the southern shore of Lago Nahuel Huapi, a glacial lake at approximately 700 meters above sea level, and is completely surrounded by Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi. The park, founded in 1922 and re-established in 1934, is Argentina's oldest. With its alpine-style timber and stone buildings, chocolate shops, and surrounding mountains, the city is considered the gateway to Patagonia and the country's chocolate capital.Its focal point is the Centro Cívico, built of stone and wood and inaugurated in 1940, offering views of the lake. The classic excursion is the Circuito Chico, a roughly 60-kilometer scenic drive around the Llao Llao peninsula, featuring viewpoints over the lakes. Along the way, a chairlift ascends Cerro Campanario, whose panorama is considered one of the most beautiful in the region. In winter, Cerro Catedral is one of South America's largest ski resorts; to the north, the Ruta de los Siete Lagos covers approximately 120 kilometers from Villa La Angostura to San Martín de los Andes.

In northern Patagonia, glacial lakes, forests, and snow-capped peaks line up at the foot of the Andes. The heart of the region is Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi, Argentina's oldest national park, with the city of San Carlos de Bariloche on its namesake lake. In summer, hiking trails, boat trips, and scenic routes like the Ruta de los Siete Lagos beckon; in winter, the ski resorts.

Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park is Chile's oldest, stretching from Osorno Volcano to the Argentine border. Most visitors come for the Saltos del Petrohué and the turquoise-green Lago Todos los Santos, plus hiking trails through rainforest and lava fields.