Punta Delgada (Argentina)

Two hours drive fromPuerto Madryn isPunta Delgada, paradise for marine life lovers.  As soon as we arrived, the strong odour of fish coming off the beaches told us that there were elephant seals and sea lions around. It is here that the pinnipeds protect their young.

I saw the elephant seals first and I was impressed by their...ugliness! They owe their name to the short trunk which forms their nose. Our guide, Mariano, explained that the males can weigh up to 6 tonnes. Which made it easier to understand the problems they have moving...

Then we went to another beach where the guide pointed out a colony of sea lions. These malicious animals are related to seals and are more graceful than their elephantine cousins. The male sea lions smelled we were there and started to "roar". Mariano told us that each male has a harem of 20 females. "What every Argentinian man dreams of" he told us with a laugh!

If you want to have a memorably close encounter with Patagonian's marine life then go to Punta Delgada; visit the Valdés Peninsula Nature Reserve to see the Magellan penguins, and Puerto Piramides to watch the Right whales.