Patagonian Sea: a Paradise for Marine Life in Argentina

?THE PATAGONIAN SEA COVERS ALMOST 1500 KILOMETRES ALONG THE PROVINCES OF RÍO NEGRO, CHUBUT AND SANTA CRUZ, ON THE ATLANTIC OCEAN COAST, AND STANDS OUT FOR BEING ONE OF THE BEST PLACES IN THE WORLD TO FIND SEA WILDLIFE. HERE IS A SELECTION OF THE MOST ICONIC SPECIES AND WHERE TO FIND THEM.

Elephant Seals

The world's largest seals can be seen in Patagonia from July to April, but the best time is late September and October, when males weighing up to 5 tonnes fight over females. Península Valdés and Isla Escondida (Chubut) are ideal places to see them.

Whales

In June, the right whales, known for the calluses on their heads, arrive at the coasts of Chubut where they will remain until the end of the year to reproduce, give birth and nurse their calves. Península Valdés and Puerto Madryn are the ideal places to see them, either on a boat trip from Puerto Pirámides or from the shore at El Doradillo beach at high tide.

In addition, from October to March, other species are added: humpback whales—famous for singing songs of up to twenty minutes —, minke and sei whales. They arrive at the coasts of Las Grutas (Río Negro), Punta Marqués (Chubut) and the Beagle Channel (Tierra del Fuego), where there are excursions and viewpoints to go and spot them.

Orcas 

During October and November, orcas visit the Caleta Valdés coasts, but you need luck and patience to see them. 

?Between March and May they can be seen hunting sea lions in the area of Punta Norte, with a very particular technique known as intentional stranding: they come almost completely out of the water to catch their prey, offering a unique spectacle in the world. It always occurs at high tide, so it is advisable to go a couple of hours before high tide and stay there for a while afterwards.

Penguins

Four species of penguins are found on the shores of the Patagonian Sea: the Magellanic penguin, the yellow-plumed penguin, the gentoo penguin and the king penguin. You can see them all between September and March, and in December they are also with their offspring.

Magellanic penguins are probably the most emblematic of Patagonia, and can be found in many places from Río Negro to Ushuaia. In the Province of Chubut, Punta Tombo protects one of the most important continental colonies of Magellanic penguins. You can also visit the penguin colonies of Península Valdés (the Estancia San Lorenzo is home to one of the largest colonies in the world) and Cabo Dos Bahías. In the Province of Santa Cruz, they can be found on Isla Pingüino and Monte León National Park, while in the Province of Tierra del Fuego penguins inhabit Isla Martillo, one of the few places in Argentina where you can also see a small breeding colony of gentoo penguins and, sometimes, king penguins.

?The yellow-plumed penguin, on the other hand, can be seen on Isla Pingüino in Puerto Deseado (Santa Cruz), where the only breeding colony close to the mainland is located, and which you can visit on boat excursions.

Commerson’s Dolphins (tonina overa) 

This beautiful little black and white dolphin can be seen in very few places, making it an icon in the region. You can go on boat excursions to meet them, as they are curious and friendly, they come close to the boats, allowing you to see them at close quarters.

There are boat trips to see the toninas in several places in Patagonia: Puerto Deseado and Puerto San Julian, in the Province of Santa Cruz, and Rawson, in the Province of Chubut, are ideal places.

Sea Lions

In Argentina, there are two sea lion species: the Patagonian sea lion and the South American fur seal, both of which can be seen all year round. The former is easy to find all along the Atlantic coast, while the two-hair fur seal settles in more specific locations. A good place to see them is the Beagle Channel, in Tierra del Fuego.

Credit: Visit Argentina