Patagonian Wildlife Calendar
Best time to spot species in Península Valdés and surroundings

Check month by month which marine mammals, birds and land mammals you can see in Puerto Madryn and Península Valdés. Choose the ideal dates for your trip or plan our nature tours.

Illustrated calendar of seventeen animals of Puerto Madryn and the surrounding region. Whales, penguins, elephant seals, sea lions, orcas and dolphins by month, with ten terrestrial residents. A text version follows below.

Read the seasons in text

Marine wildlife: presence and observation windows
Species	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Southern right whale	Outside the usual period	Outside the usual period	Outside the usual period	Outside the usual period	Variable presence, operation or transition	Usual period	Usual period	Usual period	Usual period	Usual period	Usual period	Variable presence, operation or transition
Magellanic penguin	Usual period	Usual period	Usual period	Variable presence, operation or transition	Outside the usual period	Outside the usual period	Outside the usual period	Outside the usual period	Variable presence, operation or transition	Usual period	Usual period	Usual period
Southern elephant seal	Usual period	Usual period	Usual period	Usual period	Variable presence, operation or transition	Variable presence, operation or transition	Variable presence, operation or transition	Variable presence, operation or transition	Usual period	Usual period	Usual period	Usual period
South American sea lion	Usual period	Usual period	Usual period	Usual period	Usual period	Usual period	Usual period	Usual period	Usual period	Usual period	Usual period	Usual period
Orca	Variable presence, operation or transition	Highlighted coastal window	Highlighted coastal window	Highlighted coastal window	Highlighted coastal window	Variable presence, operation or transition	Variable presence, operation or transition	Variable presence, operation or transition	Transition into the coastal window	Highlighted coastal window	Highlighted coastal window	Variable presence, operation or transition
Dusky dolphin	Usual period	Usual period	Usual period	Usual period	Variable presence, operation or transition	Variable presence, operation or transition	Variable presence, operation or transition	Variable presence, operation or transition	Variable presence, operation or transition	Variable presence, operation or transition	Variable presence, operation or transition	Usual period
Commerson’s dolphin	Usual period	Usual period	Usual period	Usual period	Variable presence, operation or transition	Variable presence, operation or transition	Usual period	Usual period	Usual period	Usual period	Usual period	Usual period

— Outside the usual period ○ Variable presence, operation or transition ● Usual period ◆ Highlighted coastal window ◇ Transition into the coastal window

Southern right whale: Jun-Nov; May and December are transitional.
Magellanic penguin: Oct-Mar; September and April are transitional.
Southern elephant seal: Peak breeding: Sep-Oct. Lower numbers in winter.
South American sea lion: Year-round. Breeding: Dec-Feb.
Orca: Key periods: Feb-May and Oct-Nov.
Dusky dolphin: Present year-round; usual boat season: Dec-Apr.
Commerson’s dolphin: Present year-round; departures vary in May-Jun.

Year-round terrestrial residents

Guanaco, Lesser Rhea, Patagonian Mara, gray fox, Elegant Crested-Tinamou, Pampas Cat, Big Hairy Armadillo, pichi, hog-nosed skunk and Southern Mountain Cavy. Regional presence does not mean that all are equally easy to see: an encounter with a Pampas Cat is exceptional.

Dates are indicative. Wildlife sightings are not guaranteed. Orcas are also recorded outside the highlighted coastal windows. Check sea conditions, tides and reserve access before each outing.