SOUTHERN RIGHT WHALES
MoreA trip like no other. The Patagonian Sea is one of the richest marine areas on Earth, harbouring populations of southern right whales, elephant seals, sea lions, orcas, penguins, birds, mammals and fish. Peninsula Valdes is one of the few remaining ramparts of Earth’s wilderness, a UNESCO heritage site, a site of global significance for the conservation of marine mammals.
Its calm gulfs, sheltered from the rough South Atlantic Ocean, are key breeding, calving and nursing areas of the Southern Right Whale, Southern Elephant Seal, Southern Sea Lion and Orca.
There are important breeding colonies of shorebirds and tens of thousands of nesting Magellanic Penguin.
The land ecosystem is dominated by Patagonian Desert Steppe. Terrestrial wildlife includes Guanacos, one of South America’s native camelid species, and the Patagonian Mara, a rodent endemic to Argentina.
181 bird species have been recorded, including the Lesser Rhea, the White-headed Steamer Duck, endemic to Argentina, and the migratory Snowy Sheathbill
Teeming with marine life, the peninsula is one of the most interesting and diverse ecosystems in the world. About the Southern Right Whale, it is a migratory species which annually covers distances of thousands of kilometres between its feeding and breeding / calf-rearing grounds. Between May and October, the Peninsula Valdes is one of the most important nursing and calving ground for these whales.
Southern Right Whales are very sociable and curious mammals, especially the calves, followed by their extremely patient and careful mothers. They often swim directly at the boat and photographers. Their playfulness is amazing and unbelievable.
This particular trip is not for everybody, no tourists or travellers. It is only available for professional and serious amateur photographers who can fulfil the mandatory prerequisites to obtain rare government photography and videography permits.
The group size is limited to max 4 photographers plus the guides.
Tour 2025
09 – 18 August
three spaces
Tour 2026
Dated to be Announced
ins and outs
Your journey
Expect to be overwhelmed by tenderness while snorkelling with extremely playful whale calves, monitored by the mothers at a short distance. Though they might be shy at first moments, their natural curiosity will break all waffles and you will have active unexpected buddies looking for interactions and cares, followed by their protective mother. Southern right whales spend a lot of time at the surface.
Expect cold water temperature (about 10° C) and shallow water. Activities at sea will not be allowed in case of strong winds and rough sea, if the authorities will close the harbour to prevent accidents.
In details
Classic tour. 10 days, 09 nights :
7 full days sea activities;
1 day rest and preparing equipment; 9 nights’ accommodation in a hotel or private house in Puerto Piramides;
services bed and continental breakfast;
shared transfer return trip;
chartered private large inflatable boat;
mandatory Government permits;
park ranger and local guide on board
outward and return domestic flights at Trelew airport (REL);
max four photographers onboard, plus tour leaders;
only two photographers per jump in the water.
Is this trip right for you ?
Expect an active journey.
This trip is perfect for people who are trained and have good strength, who have already experienced close encounters with large pelagic marine mammals, who want to share their emotions with highly sensitive whales and who have already been for several consecutive hours per day on an inflatable confortable boat.
The park ranger who will be with us is an extremely polite man, having more than 30 years of experience with the right whales.
For fellows who are not addicted on schedules, as the programme might change without prior warning in order to grasp the better opportunities.