ECO-TOURISM

From the port of Rawson, at 25 km from Trelew, boat excursions leave to see the Golden-colored Dolphins [Toninas Overas], which generally may be seen in groups of ten, offering an excellent show for the observer (a half-day excursion, with prior reservations).
From Trelew, and between June and December, excursions are made to the Valdés Peninsula, where one may observe the ‘Ballenas Francas del Sur’ (Southern Whales) [Eubalaena australis], on an excursion by boat from Puerto Pirámides – located at 170 km from Trelew – this tour lasts approximately one and a half hours.  Also from Trelew, and touring the Valdés Peninsula, one may see elephant seals and sea lions, all year round.  Between August and November, the Elephant Seals are in their breeding season.  During summer, young or adult female animals may be seen changing their skins, rarely large male elephant seals are seen during this time of the year (full-day excursion).
Another ‘must’, is the tour of the penguin colony at Punta Tombo.  This the most important continental reserve in the world, and the most accessible.  Very close to Trelew, this area may be visited between September and April (half-day excursion).

Southern Whales (Eubalaena australis)
These whales have an average length of 12 meters, being that the females of the species are longer than the males.  An adult weighs up to 35 tons.  They do not have teeth, but baleen, (a tooth-combed structure), to filter their food, mainly plankton.  They breathe through the two blow-holes on the upper part of their head.  The whales are black in color, with white spots on their bellies.  They have callouses on their heads. 

Puerto Pirámides [Port of Pyramids]
This is the town of the Valdés Peninsula, which is found on the Golfo Nuevo, [New Gulf] protected by the steep coastline, providing basic services to attend visitors.  From June to mid- December, one may enjoy the possibility of taking a boat excursion to meet the Southern Whales.

Protected Municipal Area of ‘El Doradillo’
Located at only 15 km from the city of Puerto Madryn, a special place of relaxation, recreation and contemplation exists, as it is visited each year between June and November by the Southern Whales (eubalaena australis) when they arrive to reproduce and feed their young, and may be observed from the shore.

The Valdés Peninsula is the only continental colony of elephant seals in the south.  There are also sea lions, which are visible all year round.

Migrations
The colonies that may be visited are found at the Valdés Peninsula.  There, single-hair sea lions and elephant seals share the beach.  The sea lions have a short migration period between rookeries.  During the reproductive period, they are at Punta Pirámide and in Punta Norte to form their harems. Outside the breeding season, animals may be observed in other rookeries, such as the sea lion reserve at Punta Loma, a protected area, 84 km from Trelew.  In this colony non-reproductive pre-adult animals are found all year round, and as from April, the animals migrate from Punta Pirámide.  Outside the Valdés Peninsula area, one may observe two-hair sea lions, at the natural protected area of Dos Bahías Cape, 275 km from Trelew.

Southern Sea Elephant
Between August and March, more than 20,000 sea elephants arrive to reproduce and change their skins.   Their front flippers face backwards, and on land they can only crawl, and they nurse during approximately 3 weeks.  They are polygamous, and the first males arrive at the beginning of August, to form their harems.

Single-Hair Sea Lions
The singled-haired sea lion is able to move on land, using both his front and back flippers.  They reach a length of 2.5 meters, and can weigh up to 350 kilos.  The females are only 1.8 meters long and weigh around 100 kilos.  The breeding season is from the end of December, to the beginning of March. 

During the entire year, by boat excursions from the Port of Rawson, it is possible to see the golden dolphins;  this ‘Comersoni’ dolphin is exclusive of the Southern Atlantic Ocean.  White and black, with an approximate length of one and half meters, they move in groups of 2 to 10 animals.  Fast swimmers, they may be spotted jumping just a few meters from the boat, and surfing on the wake left by the boat, or on the waves close to the shore.