The were eagerly awaited. And the first one did not disappoint: it arrived with **a spectacular leap** that caught all the attention and applause from the coast. Last Sunday, around noon, the presence of **a southern right whale was confirmed in Las Grutas**, thus inaugurating **a new season of whale watching** in the San Matías Gulf, in **Río Negro**.
“It was noon and about 2,500 meters from the coast, in the La Rinconada area, I saw her,” recounted Agustín Baraschi, who was filming with his drone at the time.
According to the young man, he was on the phone when **he looked up and witnessed the black silhouette emerge from the water**. He quickly notified his colleagues Maxi Cartes Salas and Seba Leal, and together they managed to capture unique images of the animal.
Thanks to good visibility, they were able to identify the white calluses of the whale —those unique marks on the head of each individual that allow for their identification— and **confirmed that it was a new visitor**. According to previous catalogs, it does not correspond to any of the ones already known, and everything indicates that it is a solitary female.
## A transformative experience in the Patagonian sea
“May eleventh, first whale. Quite a novelty for a Sunday,” summarized Agustín, who wasted no time in returning to the place with his equipment in the hope of recording another encounter. From now on, and for several months, **Las Grutas and Puerto San Antonio Este become key points** to get up close to the ocean giants.
Whale watching not only includes whales. **It is also common to observe sea lions, dolphins, penguins, and a rich variety of birds** that inhabit the San Antonio Bay. The proximity to these animals, especially on boat excursions, turns the experience into something deeply intimate and emotional.
## The ideal season and how to enjoy it to the fullest
Although the first whales arrive in Río Negro in May, **the largest number of whales is concentrated between late July and September**, when the San Matías Gulf becomes a natural stage for courtship and mating. Excursions are carried out in semi-rigid boats with a capacity for ten people, a guide, and the captain, ensuring a personalized experience.
### Recommendations for whale watching in Las Grutas:
– Wear comfortable shoes, a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen.
– Bring water to stay hydrated, especially on sunny days.
– There are two main boarding points: the third descent of Las Grutas and the Northern Viewpoint of Puerto San Antonio Este.
– The companies that offer excursions are Atlántico Avistajes, Cota Cero, Mar Sub, Barracas Buceo, and Rupestre.
The season has just begun, and the arrival of this first whale has already marked an unforgettable moment. In the San Matías Gulf, **the sea comes back to life**, and with it, the natural magic that returns to thrill every year.
## **How to get to the San Matías Gulf?**
To get to the San Matías Gulf, **you can take National Route 3 or take a flight to the Gobernador Edgardo Castello Airport in Viedma**, which is 193 km from Las Grutas, a town within the gulf. The San Matías Gulf is located between Punta Bermeja in Río Negro and Punta Norte in the Valdés Peninsula, Chubut.
### **In detail:**
**By land:** take National Route 3, which runs along the coast of the San Matías Gulf.
**By air:** The Viedma Airport is the closest to Las Grutas, a town within the gulf. From there, you can take transportation to reach any destination in the gulf.
