Whales, orcas, black-and-white dolphins, sea lions, guanacos and penguins. Those are just a few examples of the fauna you can see in Peninsula Valdés, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage. The best time to visit the area is between June and December as during this time the majority of animals are present there.
Our first encounter with the wild nature was when we saw the Magellanic Penguins. Their largest colony in the world is in Punta Tombo. Close to a million birds spend there their breeding season on building nests in the ground, hatching the eggs and teaching the young ones how to swim. Interesting is that they mate for life meaning that the same pair of birds returns to the same nest year after year. You can watch the Magellanic Penguins from up close as they are used to the presence of people. Yet, it doesn’t mean that they are tamed. Not at all! Penguins’ eyes are placed at the side of their heads so that they can easily hunt fish passing by in the water. Therefore, when a penguin watches you by turning its head from one side to another in a funny way, you better watch out as this might be a warning!
Other species you can see from up close in Peninsula Valdés are different kinds of seals. We were lucky to see a colony of sea lions laying lazily on a beach and warming their huge bodies in the sun. They looked a bit like sardines packed in a small tin, crowded one next to the other. They look so clumsy and innocent, but it is very misleading. As soon as one of the males comes too close to the family of another male a fight with a lot of roaring begins.
If you are lucky you will also see the black-and-white Commerson’s Dolphins, guanacos, armadillos, grey foxes, hares and lots of birds. Some of them are so fast that taking pictures is mission impossible. We managed to catch just some of them.
