Puerto Madryn

Puerto Madryn is more a base for visiting nearby wildlife-watching sites like Península Valdés and Punta Tombo than a destination in its own right. The town's architecture is unremarkable, and beyond a walk along the coast, there isn't much to do. Indeed, even the few museums serve mainly to introduce you to the fauna you'll see elsewhere. The exception is the very beginning of whale season (May-July), when the huge animals cavort right in the bay before heading north—you can even walk out alongside them on the pier. During these months it's worth the extra expense for a room with a sea view.

The many tour agencies and rental car companies here make excursion-planning easy. Aim to spend most of your time here on one- or two-day trips exploring the surroundings. Note that competition is fierce between tourism operators in Puerto Madryn and other Patagonian destinations (including Puerto Pirámides on Península Valdés). Take information that tour operators and even the tourism office give you about these with a pinch of salt: they often exaggerate Madryn's virtues and other areas' flaws.