Patagonic Sea

Viedma and Las Grutas
These are the two doorways to begin your trip along the coast of Río Negro and enjoy the cliffs, the wide sandy beaches of Bahía Creek, and the San Matías Gulf, offering the warmest waters in Patagonia. The city of Viedma has an airport.

Puerto Madryn and Trelew
Since both cities have an airport and good accommodation infrastructure, they can be the starting point to explore the coast of Chubut. You can see the Southern right whale, swim with sea lions, discover the most important colony of Magellanic penguins in Punta Tombo, and visit the beaches and cliffs in the Valdés Peninsula.

Comodoro Rivadavia
If you are planning to tour around the south of Chubut, from Bahía Bustamante to the Dos Bahías Cape, and the north coast, from Santa Cruz to Puerto Deseado and Pingüino Island, Comodoro Rivadavia is the best option to start your road trip to observe birds and enjoy quiet beaches (it has an airport and all the services).

Río Gallegos
This city has an airport; from here to the north, you can explore the coast of the province of Santa Cruz, passing by the Monte León National Park until reaching Puerto San Julián, where its rich nature and long-standing history meet.

How to get there and move around

There are regular flights to Viedma, Trelew, Comodoro Rivadavia, Puerto Madryn and Río Gallegos. In general, there are car rental agencies in the airports. There are also daily bus services departing from different cities.

The main road connecting the cities is National Route 3, which is completely paved. You can travel by car, hire transfer services, tours or regular transport services.

All the main routes in the region are paved. In general, secondary gravel roads are in good condition and you can circulate with any type of vehicle.

Where to stay

The main tourist destinations and most important cities, such as Viedma, Comodoro Rivadavia, Río Gallegos, Las Grutas, Madryn and Puerto Deseado have good accommodation options.

In smaller towns, such as Pirámides, Camarones and Puerto San Julián, the accommodation options are fewer, and it is best to book your stay in advance if you are travelling in high season. If you want a quieter experience and wish to get connected with the sea, there are alternative accommodation options that are more isolated in bays, capes or small coves. The options are varied: refuges, camping sites, dome tents and lodges for all budgets and tastes.

When to go

If you want to observe the sea fauna, it is important to check the calendar of the region. Some species can be found all year round; others only appear during certain months.

To enjoy the beach, go from November through March.

If you want to go diving, from April through September, there is good visibility, but from October through March the water temperature is warmer and the fauna is more varied.

More information: Link to CLIMOGRAPH AND NATURE'S CALENDAR.

Remember

Given the current health context, it is recommended to find out beforehand what are the entry requirements of the province you are visiting. Some attractions may have capacity limits and require prior reservation.

When planning your trip, check the fauna calendar.

If you are travelling by car, always respect the speed limits to avoid accidents, safeguard the fauna and avoid damaging the vehicle on gravel roads.

Distances are long and there are few petrol stations. It is always advisable to fill your fuel tank before hitting the road.

In many areas there is no cell phone or Wi-Fi signal.

To enjoy the beach or observe the fauna, check the road condition and the tide times.