Puerto Madryn (Argentina)

Puerto Madryn is a port city in the province of Chubut (Argentina, Patagonia). It's the capital of Biedma Department, and has about 94,000 inhabitants according to the last census in 2010. The town is protected by Golfo Nuevo, which is formed by Península Valdés and Punta Ninfas. It's an important centre for tourists who want to visit the natural attractions of Península Valdes and the coast.

Puerto Madryn (port locode ARPMY) is one of Argentina's all 4 cruise terminals with capacity to handle Transatlantic passenger liners - together with Buenos Aires, Mar del Plata (approx 390 km / 240 mi south of Buenos Aires) and Ushuaia.

A large number of shore excursions/bus tours are offered for the arriving passengers, with most booked being land tours themed on nature as Puerto Madryn is at the gateway to the Valdes Peninsula (sized ~3625 km2 / 1400 mi2 / 896000 acres) - a Patagonian nature reserve declared a UNESCO site in 1999. Wildlife seeing tours are also themed on marine fauna, penguins, sea lions, elephant and fur seals, orcas/killer whales, dolphins, birds (181 species, including 66 migratory). During winter (between May and December each year), the most popular attraction are the southern right whales (found in the protected waters of Golfo Nuevo and Golfo San Jose) as the Valdes Peninsula is the most important breeding ground for these baleen whales.

The new shopping mall (Portal de Madryn) in downtown also significantly helps tourism, making Puerto Madryn more attractive for both international and domestic tourists who visit Patagonia.

Puerto Madryn cruise terminal