With the arrival of the southern winter, the southern right whales begin to populate the waters of Chubut and Río Negro. Mothers with calves, groups of adults, and spouts on the horizon announce the start of a new whale watching season, a natural spectacle that attracts thousands of visitors every year.
In Puerto Madryn, the first whales have already entered the Golfo Nuevo, while the official season for boat-based whale watching will begin on June 10 in Puerto Pirámides, the only authorized point within Península Valdés.
El Doradillo: coastal encounter
The El Doradillo Protected Natural Area offers a unique experience: between June and September, the whales come within a few meters of the shore.
The pebble beaches and nearby depth allow mothers with calves to swim along the coast, seeking shelter from the courtship of males. There, just standing still by the sea provides an unforgettable encounter.
Patagonian whale watching technique
Behind the tourist scene, there is a regulated and respectful model. Since 2005, the so-called “Patagonian technique” establishes:
- Minimum approach distances.
- Limited stay times.
- Maximum number of boats near the animals.
The activity is controlled by rangers and the Naval Prefecture, making Patagonian whale watching one of the most responsible in the world.
Whale watching in Río Negro
Further north, in Las Grutas and the Golfo San Matías, the season usually starts later, between August and October. However, this year the sightings began earlier. Researcher Magdalena “Malala” Arias (CIMAS-CONICET) reported that in May, groups of four or five whales were observed almost daily, including mothers with calves from last year.
Nautical excursions in the area also allow for the observation of sea lions, dolphins, penguins, and coastal birds, in one of the clearest settings of the Patagonian coast.
Promotion of the season
- The government of Chubut will present the season in Buenos Aires on June 2 at the Immersive Audiovisual Center.
- The province of Río Negro will do the same on June 3 at Estudio U. House, alongside the launch of the winter season.
A spectacle that stops time
The sea slowly fills with spouts in El Doradillo, Puerto Pirámides, and Las Grutas. Patagonia once again becomes one of the few places in the world where it is possible to look a whale in the eye from the coast and feel that, for a moment, time stands still.
