If you're a history buff, especially if you're a paleontology buff, you'll get a kick out of the fossil-rich soils near Puerto Madryn, the popular whale watching and scuba diving destination in Argentina. The area, which is technically in Southern Patagonia, is chock-full of fossils from animals eons past. There is also unique wildlife, rarely found anywhere else in the world. And the small villages, towns, and cities around the Valdez peninsula are also chock-full of history, as this region was colonized by Welsh pioneers early in the 1900s.
All of this history and culture are visible today. You can take a kayaking, scuba diving, or whale watching tour to see the wildlife. Or you can take an all-wheel off-roading excursion to see the sea lion, sea elephant, Magellan penguin, and cormorant colonies throughout the Valdez Peninsula. You can choose from a number of easy to moderate level treks along the beautiful coastline. And you can visit farms and villages where the people are more than happy to tell you their version of their history.
If you're craving something adventurous, a 4x4 excursion around the Valdez Peninsula might be just the ticket. This three hour excursion is also a great way to start your exploration of the Valdez Peninsula area, as you get to take a trip back in time to eons past, when carnivorous dolphins and other ancestors of the wildlife of the Valdez Peninsula were present. During this three hour all-terrain adventure, you'll journey along the fossil-rich soils of the coastline, stopping to inspect the most interesting sights. You can also see the sea lion and cormorant colonies along Punta Loma.
An even more in-depth historical and cultural tour is the half day paleontological tour in Gaiman and Trelew. In Trelew is the Egidio Feruglio Paleontological Museum (MEF), a paleontologist's dream come true. The MEF is the best of its kind in South America, showcasing all the best fossils from around the continent. After that, the next stop is the Bryn Gwyn Paleontological Park near Gaiman. This is a paleontologist's playground. There are 120 or so acres in this geopark, mostly consisting of sand dunes, scattered with fossils of ancient sharks, penguins, and whales found there, and many acres of the park are still under archeological excavation.
The half day Chubut river valley tour, also known as the Welsh Settlers Path, is an excellent way to get out of Puerto Madryn and discover its cultural and historical roots. Starting your tour in Puerto Madryn, you begin the day with a visit to the impressive Florentino Ameguino Dam, which produces most of the energy for the Chubut river valley. Then you will check out the village of Dolavon, which was the location of the Welsh colony's first flour mill. There are ostrich and sheep farms all over the Chubut River Valley, and many churches. You will get to see Saint David Anglican church, a Welsh chapel that is well-preserved. Friendly farmers will divulge their family histories, and anything else you'd like to know about their farms, country, and way of life, with minimal prodding. You'll get to spend the afternoon on a walking tour of Gaiman, a Welsh town that is famous for its traditional Welsh tea houses. In the evening you will head back to Puerto Madryn.
All of this history and culture are visible today. You can take a kayaking, scuba diving, or whale watching tour to see the wildlife. Or you can take an all-wheel off-roading excursion to see the sea lion, sea elephant, Magellan penguin, and cormorant colonies throughout the Valdez Peninsula. You can choose from a number of easy to moderate level treks along the beautiful coastline. And you can visit farms and villages where the people are more than happy to tell you their version of their history.
If you're craving something adventurous, a 4x4 excursion around the Valdez Peninsula might be just the ticket. This three hour excursion is also a great way to start your exploration of the Valdez Peninsula area, as you get to take a trip back in time to eons past, when carnivorous dolphins and other ancestors of the wildlife of the Valdez Peninsula were present. During this three hour all-terrain adventure, you'll journey along the fossil-rich soils of the coastline, stopping to inspect the most interesting sights. You can also see the sea lion and cormorant colonies along Punta Loma.
An even more in-depth historical and cultural tour is the half day paleontological tour in Gaiman and Trelew. In Trelew is the Egidio Feruglio Paleontological Museum (MEF), a paleontologist's dream come true. The MEF is the best of its kind in South America, showcasing all the best fossils from around the continent. After that, the next stop is the Bryn Gwyn Paleontological Park near Gaiman. This is a paleontologist's playground. There are 120 or so acres in this geopark, mostly consisting of sand dunes, scattered with fossils of ancient sharks, penguins, and whales found there, and many acres of the park are still under archeological excavation.
The half day Chubut river valley tour, also known as the Welsh Settlers Path, is an excellent way to get out of Puerto Madryn and discover its cultural and historical roots. Starting your tour in Puerto Madryn, you begin the day with a visit to the impressive Florentino Ameguino Dam, which produces most of the energy for the Chubut river valley. Then you will check out the village of Dolavon, which was the location of the Welsh colony's first flour mill. There are ostrich and sheep farms all over the Chubut River Valley, and many churches. You will get to see Saint David Anglican church, a Welsh chapel that is well-preserved. Friendly farmers will divulge their family histories, and anything else you'd like to know about their farms, country, and way of life, with minimal prodding. You'll get to spend the afternoon on a walking tour of Gaiman, a Welsh town that is famous for its traditional Welsh tea houses. In the evening you will head back to Puerto Madryn.
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