The most common question before booking is: “What will I see if I travel in…?”. This is the table we use to answer it. ● means the species is usually present; dates can shift by a couple of weeks from year to year.
| Species | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern right whale | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | |||||
| Magellanic penguin | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ||||
| Elephant seal (breeding) | ● | ● | ● | ● | ||||||||
| Elephant seal (moult) | ● | ● | ● | ● | ||||||||
| Sea lion | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
| Orca (Punta Norte) | ● | ● | ● | ● | ||||||||
| Dusky dolphin | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | |||||
| Commerson’s dolphin | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ||||||
| Guanaco, mara, rhea | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
Which tours to do in each season
| If you travel in… | Recommended tours |
|---|---|
| June – August | Whale watching, El Doradillo, Valdes Peninsula |
| September – November | The best season: whales + penguins + elephant seals. Valdes Peninsula, Punta Tombo and whale watching |
| December – February | Punta Tombo with chicks, snorkeling with sea lions, beaches, Welsh valley |
| March – April | Orcas at Punta Norte, Punta Tombo until migration, diving |
| May | Low season: sea lions, steppe wildlife, city tour and Welsh valley |
Local tip: if you can choose, the second half of October is the only window when whales, penguins, elephant seal pups and some orcas all overlap.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best month to visit Puerto Madryn?
October. You can see southern right whales, Magellanic penguins and elephant seals with pups on the same trip, with spring temperatures around 20 °C (68 °F).
When can I see orcas in Valdes Peninsula?
March and April are the main season at Punta Norte, with a second, smaller window in October and November.
Is Puerto Madryn worth visiting in winter?
Yes, for whales: June to August has fewer tourists and whales are already in the gulfs.
Tell us your month, we plan your trip
We reply on WhatsApp the same day, in English. Tell us your dates, group size and, if you arrive by cruise, the ship name.