Patagonia Atlantic Road Trip. Trelew to Trelew

DAY 1: WELCOME TO WELSH PATAGONIA.

As you arrive at the Trelew airport, you will pick up your vehicle and head to Gaiman, the most famous welsh colony in South America. We will spend the day at Gaiman to explore this cute, photogenic town and its small tea-houses, bakeries and farms. 

It’s a good plan to head to the local markets and load up with some roadtrip gear, like fruit, tea bags, sunscreen and all those primary goods that are needed during long roadtrips

DAY 2: GAIMAN

If floating down Chubut River, performing a bird watching activity might be of your interest, that can also be a fun outdoors activity and a way to see the Patagonian Steppe from a different perspective.

Trelew is the bigger city to Gaiman also with more museums and monuments that reflect the welsh inmigration and influence in the area. Trelew Paleontological Museum is a must if you wish to see evidence on some of the recent discoveries on dinosaurs in Patagonia.

DAY 3: ROAD TRIP TO BAHÍA BUSTAMANTE

Today we get back into our car and drive south 250km mostly on National Road 3, a road that follows all of the Atlantic coast of Argentina from Buenos Aires to the Strait of Magaellan, all paved and we will leave it to get closer to the coast by Provincial Road 28. The landscape has dramatically changed, we are now in the Patagonian Steppe, semi deserted with low vegetation and small land mammals, except for the Guanacos (relative of the LLama) that can be seen frequently crossing the road, as they are wild and can jump over fences. 

The New York Times has called our destination lodge “Argentina’s secret answer to the Galapagos”, a farm the size of Hawain Kauai Island, over 200,000 acres of what at first seems like a lot of nothing and as you get closer with patience you will discover the rich fauna that surrounds it, the fantastic history and even more, fascinating petrified forest with stunning views over the Atlantic Ocean.

DAY 4: PATAGONIA WILDLIFE

Birdwatching paradise, hundreds of species can be spotted in the vicinity of the Lodge, among different colonies of cormorants, penguins and seasonal sea and land birds. Also recommended a good patagonian horse riding excursion across the ranch would give another perspective on Patagonia’’ vastness.

DAY 5: PENGUIN HEAVEN

As Patagonia has gotten bigger with the days, the long distance drives have become part of our scenery. Hundreds of kilometers separate any human settlement from another, and today is no exception. Our drive is meant to be 260km although if you want to get off the beaten path and take Provincial road number 1, thru Camarones and Coastal Austral Patagonia National Park, one of the latest created protected areas of Argentina. This involves a detour of about 30km less although the trade off will involve 50km of gravel.

Our destination is Punta Tombo, known also as “Penguin paradise”, with over 1 million Magaellanic Penguins present at this, the largest colony in Argentina. After you have taken all your photos, heard all of what the bird experts shared you will drive for just a few minutes until reaching the nearby Patagonian ranch, La Antonienta where we will spend two nights. 

DAY 6: PATAGONIA RANCH

Backhorse riding, hiking, wildlife watching are among the many activities that can be done whilst just being at a Patagonia working ranch is already a unique opportunity. Mingle thru the Merino Sheep, see the dogs hurdle them, while sipping a cup of tea may already be a tour itself. Or just staying at a more than 100 year old house with much history to heard from the owners with a simple yet cozy ambience.

DAY 7: PENINSULA DE VALDES RESERVE

We will hit the road again, this time to get closer to the largest mammal on earth and one of the most important highlights of Argentina, Valdes Peninsula. We will drive for 275km before reaching Puerto Piramides, the entrance gate town into this UNESCO World Heritage site, home to much of the mammals, birds and other protected species of Patagonia.

Another overnight at a Patagonian old ranch house to keep the accommodation out of town.

DAY 8: FULL ON PATAGONIA WILDLIFE

The invitation today is to drive a circle around this wildlife lover’s paradise and get up close to the Southern Elephant Seals, Sea Lions, Southern Right Whales, Dusky Dolphins and if lucky, even Orcas. After this road trip classic safari style on a gravel road, you will be ready to hit the bar at the ranch, get a good warm shower and start saying goodbye to this far away land, where sheep overpopulate man and where marine mammals come to give birth to their cubs.

DAY 9: GOODBYE PATAGONIA

Today we drive back to Puerto Madryn, a small city about 150km away from our ranch where we will return our car and catch an afternoon flight to Buenos Aires.