Punta Loma Provincial Reserve

Explore a Spanish shipwreck on Parana beach and spot penguins, whales, dolphins, and more in the Punta Loma Natural Reserve before jumping in the water to interact with the sea lions in their natural habitat. These curious animals are not trained nor fed, yet are friendly and used to humans. With the help of an experienced guide, you will learn more about these playful animals in this unique and unforgettable experience.  Choose between hotel pickup and drop-off in Puerto Madryn or come directly to the meeting point where you will be fitted with a neoprene suit before heading down to the water to hop on the boat. After snorkeling and touring, the group will return to the dive center for hot drinks.

Start your tour with a pickup at Piedrabuena Pier in Puerto Madryn. Enjoy a short city tour, visiting some of the highlights of the city and stopping to take in panoramic coastal views. Next, head to the Punta Loma Provincial Reserve to explore some of the trails. One of them is about 500 meters long and invites you to discover the nature reserve's endemic flora on the way to an impressive viewpoint. The other trail leads us to the main panoramic point, where you can observe the sea lion colony up close. Observe the sea lions, see their playful cubs, and watch local sea birds flying over the coastline and settling in their clifftop nests. Get dropped off back in Puerto Madryn at the end of your tour.

These excursions have a duration of 3 hours. The level of difficulty of this excursion is minimal. The only requirement for the passenger will be to have the necessary mobility to climb into the 4 x 4 vehicle, which is a little higher than a conventional vehicle. Then, if the passenger needs it, he/she will be able to stay inside the vehicle during the excursion, or else descend in the panoramic points to recognize the place, take pictures and enjoy the scenery. The intention of this tour is to offer tourists the possibility to live a completely different experience, very personalized and with the purpose of allowing them to know some beaches and areas of Puerto Madryn, which only we who live here know, but tourists do not have the possibility to access. We will look for the passengers by their lodging. Then we started to walk along the waterfront of the city, touring the area of spas and making emphasis on explaining to passengers the tourist seasons of the city and telling them how the spas work with all the options of activities they offer. Then, we start touring the area of Punta Cuevas or Curva del Indio, where there is a brief explanation of the arrival of the Welsh settlers to the area. Continuing with the excursion, we will take the Inter seaside route that leads us to the Punta Loma Reserve, making 3 fundamental stops so that the passengers can enjoy a unique view, and can take pictures and appreciate the variety of landscapes. The first stop we will make will be in the surroundings of the dunes, to be able to appreciate the area. After this, we will visit the area of Punta Este, making two strategic stops so that people can enjoy one of the most beautiful landscapes of the tour. They will be able to observe the view of hidden beaches, translucent waters and recognize much of the intertidal zone in order to explain the main characteristics of these intertidal ecosystems. Continuing with the tour, we will stop next to the beacon of Paraná beach, to enjoy the view of the sunken ship Folias, and the Paraná beach sector, making a stop so that tourists can recognize the area. Then we will enter the Punta Loma Reserve, so that passengers can take a walk on the Flora Trail and then observe the sea lions. Finally, we will arrive at the area of Cerro Avanzado, where we will approach the middle area of the hill, to observe the sedimentation layers where we will give a talk about the specific geology of the area. To finish the excursion we will go to the beach of Cerro Avanzado, where we will give the passengers an infusion, in our reusable plastic cups, with a message referring to the theme that says "one less glass in the oceans", along with a snack to eat.

Snorkeling with single-fured sea lions at the Natural Reserve of Punta Loma, Puerto Madryn, is a MUST DO if you visit our city. An stable population of around 600 single-fured sea lions live at Punta Loma all year long. We will reach the place after a 25 minutes very interesting boat trip enjoying the particular patagonic landscapes. Be prepared to live an unique experience. We will be snorkeling along 40 minutes waiting for an approachment of the animals. This activity is carried out all year long as the sea lions colony is stable. The highlight of this excursion is that the interaction that can be achieved here is unique and this is given for three facts: single-fured sea lions are the most friendly among all sub-species of sea lions, they live permanently at the Natural Reserve which gives the animals a familiarity with human beings, there are no predators in the area which increases their confidence in water. The most important and beuatiful fact is that these animals are absolutely free and they don´t suffer any manipulation from our side. The full diving gear is included in our excursions or courses prices. We provide you with 7mm neoprene wetsuits, gloves, hoods, masks, snorkel and fins. The activity is 100% supervised by our instructors. Small groups, maximum 9 people. Minimum age 6. Maximum age 60. The activity starts in our diving center located in the most accesible beach from our city. You will be prepared with all the snorkeling equipment by our profesional staff and our boat will pick you up to take you to the Natural Reserve of Punta Loma. You will be back again into our diving center where again, you will be asisted to get undressed. The whole tour will take you between 2 and 2.5hs

The meeting point for this wonderful four-hour excursion will be at the exit of Piedrabuena Pier, where we will be waiting for you. We will head to Punta Loma to visit the sea lion colony and observe coastal birds too. After the visit, we will reach San Guillermo Ranch. Our adventure will begin with a warm welcome at the estancia, where delicious tortas fritas and mate await you—an authentic experience to immerse yourself in the local culture. Next, you will have the unique opportunity to witness a sheep shearing demonstration, a tradition deeply rooted in the ranch's history. Watch as the skilled shearers work to obtain the wool from our sheep. You can also purchase products made from this wool. After the demonstration, we will enjoy a countryside lunch featuring a regional dish: lamb empanada and lamb goulash, a delight that will tantalize your taste buds. The lunch includes a non-alcoholic beverage to complement this gastronomic experience. Join us on this unforgettable excursion that combines nature, culture, and gastronomy in one day! After lunch and some relaxing time, we will head back to the city to return to the Piedrabuena Pier.

We will be waiting for you at the access to the Luis Piedra Buena pier to begin our tour visiting the industrial sector, where the main economic pillars of the region are developed. Continuing through the downtown and commercial area, we will identify the representative buildings such as the central square, the municipal palace, the church, among others. Bordering the waterfront, we will take you to discover one of the most beautiful panoramic views of the city in the historical site Punta Cuevas. We will finish our circuit with a visit to the Punta Loma Natural Protected Area, pioneer in conservation in the Province of Chubut, where we will observe sea lions in their natural habitat, a space they share with different species of birds, such as cormorants, which choose this cliff area to form their nests. You will be dazzled by every corner of our mystic Patagonia, in a circuit that lasts approximately 3 hours, so you can maximize your time on land.

The adventure begins by searching for the passengers at the entrance to the port. We travel south through the Punta Cuevas area: a historical site where there are ruins from the first Welsh landing in the city. These historically recognized caves date back to 1865 and are considered the first homes in Puerto Madryn and some of the oldest in Patagonia. There is also the interpretive center where objects from the Welsh settlers are exhibited, as well as the history of two pioneer cultures: Native – Welsh. A few meters away we arrive at the viewpoint where the Tehuelche Indian monument is located, where we can enjoy a wide panoramic view of the city, beaches, industrial and fishing parks to the north. We can also appreciate the Ecocentro Pampa Azul museum: a scientific and cultural space dedicated to promoting and disseminating knowledge and protection of the sea in conjunction with different species of marine and terrestrial animals. We continue the tour along the coast and contemplating different beaches, in which Playa Paraná stands out, since there are remains of the sinking of the ship »Le Folies», a place chosen for diving practice and circuits, until we reach the Punta Loma Protected Area. . This Protected Area is the only permanent roost for sea lions, unlike the peninsula Valdés sea lion colonies that are breeding or wintering. We can also see medium-high cliffs that fall into the sea and extensive pebble beaches. From a ravine there is a viewpoint from which we can observe the activity that dominates the colony according to the time of year (formation of harems, mating and births). The breeding season begins in November, and that is when the males will fight to form their harem and mate. In the month of December and until the end of January, the babies are born. A colony of birds also lives in this nest, rock cormorants that form their nests on the clay walls as well as South American terns, among other sea and land birds. In the steppe part of the reserve you can also see typical animals such as guanacos, choiques, maras, foxes and piches. We will also tour the industrial and fishing park of the city and then we will take the truck back to the Port.

Enjoy the unique opportunity to observe sea lions, cormorants, and a variety of bird species in their natural habitat at Punta Loma, a stunning coastal reserve. Guided by experts, you’ll learn fascinating details about the behaviors and habitats of these incredible animals, making this a truly enriching wildlife experience. The tour also features a delightful city tour, where you’ll visit the most iconic landmarks and attractions. Explore Puerto Madryn's rich history, cultural heritage, and breathtaking coastal views on this unforgettable adventure.