Walking among penguins makes Punta Tombo the most chosen excursion by nature lovers.
Natural Protected Area Punta Tombo
Leaving Puerto Madryn to the south along National Highway Number 3, and after having travelled 112 km after Trelew city, you’ll reach the intersection with Provincial Highway Number 75. After that, you get the access to Provincial Highway Number 1 (gravel road). Then, 38km away, you’ll reach Natural Protected Area Punta Tombo, where the largest colony of Magellanic Penguins, whose population reaches over 400.000 adult specimens. You’ll have to pay an entrance fee in order to access the area, which has a café and restrooms.
Coming back along the same road and after you have taken National Highway Number 25, you’ll reach the access to Rawson city, capital city of the province, where you may see and visit public buildings and museums. If you continue that road, you may visit a port used by the “yellow fleet”. You may also take a nautical tour to watch two-toned Commerson’s Dolphins.
Another option is to continue by National Highway Number 25 to Trelew city, where you may visit “Museo Paleontológico Egidio Feruglio” MEF (Palaeontology Museum Egidio Feruglio) and “Museo Histórico Pueblo de Luis” (Historical Museum People of Louis).
Driving to the west along the same highway, you’ll reach Gaiman, and old Welsh town that keeps its traditions and has interesting attractions such as its museum, historical buildings and typical tea houses. The way back to Trelew along the valley is very picturesque and you may see many ranches, some Welsh chapels and rural-touristic stores.