Making the most of Puerto Madryn Patagonia
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
The Luis Piedrabuena Pier is used. The pier is nowadays less than 1,5 km from the city center. The pier is connected by a bridge to the gate. There are also free shuttles.
There are many guardians at the surroundings of the gate area, so it’s safe. It’s the beginning of the shopping area with plenty of shops and restaurants, and the tourist information center.
Printable map to take along.
Puerto Madryn: gateway to the whales, penguins, the Valdes Peninsula and Welsh traditions When arriving to Puerto Madryn, this city amazes the tourist right at the very first sight. Madryn is one of the fastest growing cities in Patagonia, with a beautiful coast avenue, the Almirante Brown Boulevard, the residential area where the houses have got an unbeatable view to the Atlantic Ocean within this huge natural amphitheater, constituted by the Nuevo Gulf.
Getting around
Puerto Madryn is the starting point in order to visit many interesting sites that are unique in the world, some of them declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO: First of all the Valdes Peninsula where you can join the boat excursions that enable whale watching. It is a privileged bird and sea fauna reservation, whose peak attraction is the Southern Whale that every year between May and December comes to these coasts in order to breed. And from July to September the whales are so close they can be viewed without taking a tour – either from the coast 20km north of town or the 500m pier in town.
Nearby places
There are so many choices for exploring the vast and varied wildlife that call this area home that it is virtually impossible to see or do it all in one port day. But, this port provides the easiest and best opportunity for viewing Magellanic penguins. Punta Tombo Penguin Reserve, a secluded desert about 2 ½ hours away, is the breeding ground for over ½ million Magellanic penguins. They are so comfortable around humans that you can easily wander around their burrows and walkways throughout the colony. Guanacos, a llama-like animal indigenous to this area, roam freely on the preserve.
Food and shopping
The three story shopping center located right downtown has some nice upscale shops. There are many specialty stores located in the city center.
Money
The Argentina Peso is volatile
Exchange tips for Agentina
Staying connected
Call centers and cafes which offer free WiFi for customers abound in the center.
Spanish