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Baleen Whales on Argentina and Uruguay Tours

Of the several baleen species that travel north to the Atlantic Ocean during their winter migration, it is the southern right whale that visitors on Argentina tours or who travel to Uruguay are most likely to see.

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Argentina Tours

Southern right whales start arriving at the Valdes Peninsula in July and stay until mid-December. Between 450 and 600 pairs arrive here in the in the coastal Chubut Province at the northern edge of Southern Patagonia to mate and give birth. The peak calving month is August. These whales are most likely to be found in the Nuevo and San Jose gulfs that bracket the peninsula where the shallow waters provide some protection from the orcas that prey on them in the region. Most of the whale watching here occurs on Doradillo Beach and the village of Puerto Piramides in the Nuevo Gulf. Puerto Piramides holds a National Day of the Southern Right Whale celebration in September. A variety of dolphins inhabit these waters too.

The Valdes Peninsula is a day-trip from the city of Puerto Madryn though there is plenty of wildlife to see if visitors wish to stay longer during their Patagonia tours. Two of Southern Explorations trips, the ten-day Patagonia Highlights and thirteen-day Best of Argentina, visit the Valdes Peninsula. We also offer a three-day tour extension to the Valdes Peninsula that visits Punta Tombo as well where visitors may walk among Magellanic penguins during their Argentina travel. In 1999, UNESCO designated the Valdes Peninsula a World Heritage Site in part because of its importance as habitat for marine mammals including a breeding area for the southern right whale.

Uruguay Tours

The professionally-guided whale watching eco-business only got underway in Uruguay in 2000. Called Uruguay’s Riviera, Punta del Este on the southern coast has become a popular summer playground for the glamour set. Come winter, it is high season for whales. From mid-July to at least mid-October, southern right whales may be seen at various locations along the coast. These include Punta Ballena and the towns of Piriapolis, Maldonado and La Paloma that dot the coast. A regional week-long whale festival takes place here in late September. The first Friday of October is designated National Day of Protection for the Southern Right Whale in Uruguay.

Whale watching in Uruguay is a great reason to schedule extra time here during your Argentina tours if you are traveling between July and October. Southern Explorations offers a three or four-day Argentina tour extension to Punta del Este from Buenos Aires.

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