Enjoy marine wildlife at Bahia Bustamante

Welcome!

Upon arrival you will be greeted at Trelew (250kms) or Comodoro Rivadavia (180kms) airports and take yout transfer to Bahia Bustamante. Today, you will tour through the seaweed village: the church, the old school, the square, etc. You will enjoy lunch at the old grocery store. In the afternoon, you will visit Gravina Peninsula -by bike or Jeep- with its beaches and archaeological sites. you will walk along the beaches “Toboganes” and “Playa del Amor”, identify different types of algae, and visit Baliza Ulloa, the highest peak in the peninsula, from where you can get a good look at the region’s topography. After that, you will make a  brief stop at the small village museum so that you can get acquainted with the history of the region: Malaspina Expedition, the arrival of Lorenzo Soriano, the early years of algae industry and the flora and fauna of the area.  

After the tour ends, you will be transfered back to your Hotel where you will rest and enjoy a delicious dinner. 

MALASPINA COVE & PENGUIN ISLAND

After a tasty breakfast, you will go on a tour –by bike or jeep- to Penguin’s Island where land access is only possible during low tide.  You will explore the different islands to watch and take pictures of the beautiful penguins in their nests.  After lunch, and after the tide has risen, you will set off to the estuary, for the exclusive sailing tour around Malaspina Cove, also visiting Vernacci Island, one of the richest areas in marine fauna biodiversity in the entire Patagonian coast. There you  can find approximately 100.000 penguins, 4000 sea-lions, and 13 of the 16 different kinds of marine bird species that nest on the argentine coast. During summer, with the arrival of the migratory species, bird population is almost of 1.000.000. Among these species, two of them can only be found in this area: the Olrog Seagull, and the non-flying Vapour Duck. 

After the tour, you will be transfered back to your Hotel to rest and enjoy dinner. 

VISIT TO PETRIFIED FOREST AND PATAGONIAN RANCH

After breakfast you will visit of the petrified forest, located 30 km away from the village in the middle of the Patagonian steppe.  The huge tree trunks are now petrified, with the characteristic glow of opal, which has replaced the tree’s original organic matter. You will  walk to “La Pirámide” to listen and enjoy the Patagonian silence. Depending on the weather conditions and the group preferences, you will visit the forest in a combination of jeep and bikes. Llater on, enjoy lunch at Las Mercedes Ranch. After some traditional “mates” you will walk to the water spring that feeds the village. Ye will visit the orchard where the man in charge will show you the different local fruits and vegetables and tell you some tales and anecdotes about the place. 

After the tour, you will be transfered back to the hotel to rest and enjoy dinner. 

HISTORIC TOUR & SEAWEED INDUSTRY

In the morning, you will visit the working place where the seaweed harvest is carried out. There you will get to know a varied number of species being marketed by our company, their processes and uses. Later, you will walk around the Lodge to learn about its history, its founder, inhabitants, the buildings, everything!

After this visit, you will be transfered to Trelew or Comodoro Rivadavia Airport to continue your journey.

We hope to see you back soon!