Peninsula Valdés Self-Drive Safari

Day 1: Drive from Trelew Aiport to Puerto Madryn; Hotel Peninsula

Upon arrival at Trelew Airport you'll pick up your rental car and drive towards Peninsula Valdés. This route takes you through the dry, desert-like scrubland of the Patagonian plains and on to Peninsula Valdés National Reserve which juts out into the Atlantic Ocean.

You'll stay in Puerto Madryn – a pretty town which is both the gateway to Peninsula Valdés and a wildlife destination in its own right. There will be the opportunity to see penguins and whales with a walk along the long sandy coast, and experience the welcoming atmosphere at the port by evening. You'll also be able to watch the sun set over the bay from your comfort of your hotel.

Accommodation: Hotel Peninsula, Puerto Madryn

Day 2: Explore Peninsula Valdes; Hotel Del Nomade

Start the day by exploring the north of the peninsula, with visits to San Lorenzo and Punta Norte. There's a trail at San Lorenzo which gives you plenty of opportunities to watch the prancing, chatter and disputes of the penguins in this, the largest Magellanic penguin colony in the area. You'll also see guanacos (grazing animals similar to llama), maras (Patagonian hares) and rheas.

Continue along the coast to the Punta Norte Wildlife Reserve which is famous as the site where orca and killer whales have developed a unique hunting technique for ambushing sea lion pups at high tide, momentarily beaching themselves in the process.

Into the afternoon, you'll drive south along the coast past Caleta Valdés to see more wildlife, finishing at Punta Delgada, on the Golfo Nuevo and home to the largest colony of elephant seals on the peninsula.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel Del Nomade, Puerto Pirámides

Day 3: Marine life/seal colony in Punta Delgada; Hotel Del Nomade

Punta Delgada is home an elephant seal colony which is not to be missed if you're staying between late June and September. Spend the morning close to these giants of the sea, and take the time to watch the abundant marine life to be discovered year-round on the beaches of Punta Delgada.

In the afternoon, you can take an optional excursion from Punta Delgada. You'll be able to arrange this with the hotel guides beforehand and there will be options such as guided treks and horse riding through the cliffs.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel Del Nomade, Puerto Pirámides

Day 4: Southern right whale watching; Hotel Peninsula

The day starts in Puerto Pirámides for a whale-watching boat trip into the Puerto Pirámides Bay. This sheltered bay provides protection for the female southern right whales during the breeding season (June to December). At this time there are dozens of whales around the bay and these huge, incredible creatures come very close to the boat, so you really do get to understand their sheer size.

In the afternoon, head to Puerto Madryn to see yet more southern right whales from the southern coastline at El Doradillo beach where you'll literally have them basking right in front of you. You might want to head to Puerto Loma, a little further on, to see sea lions in their natural habitat.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel Peninsula, Puerto Madryn

Day 5: Drive to Trelew Airport

Today you drive back 1hr to Trelew Airport to drop off your rental car and catch your onward flight. If you have time in the morning you may be able to fit in a visit to the MEF Dinosaur Museum, relating the tale of the world's largest dinosaurs that used to inhabit Patagonia.

Meals: Breakfast