Puerto Madryn Travel Forum

Hi all,

Planning to drive around Peninsula Valdes from Puerto Madryn. How much time do I need to see the whole area and do you recommend a 4WD to drive on the gravel roads there? Also, can you tell me which rental firms are best to hire cars from?

Many thanks

I can tell you what we did in one day (of course your mileage may vary depending on how fast/slow you drive, how long you dawdle at any one place, etc). We arrived in Trelew very early in the morning by overnight bus from Bariloche. The rental car people, although from Pto. Madryn, brought the car out to us and met us at the bus station- very good service-if you want the name and phone number send me a VT mail.
We drove out to Punta Tombo and saw the penguins, drove back to Trelew in time to eat at the Viejo Molino, took a detour out to Gaiman and had afternoon Tea, then headed out to Pto. Madryn where we spent the night. Next morning we drove out to Pto. Piramides and spent 2 nights there seeing the whales and doing a tour of the penninsula. We drove to the airport at Trelew for a flight back to Bs.As. where the rental car people met us to take the car back and off we went. Whew!
Most of what I've described is on my VT pages in more detail, if that helps.

I forgot to mention that 4WD really is not necessary, unless maybe you want to go off-road. Even though the roads are gravel you can easily drive them with a regular sedan. You just have to remember that in places the layer of gravel can be thick and then it's like driving on ice- sudden turns of the wheel can make you go swerving off the road.

If you have two or more people the car rental is cheaper than taking the tours. We rented for two days and saw Punta Tombo to the south and spent a full day on Valdes. It is a significant amount of driving time but the landscape is beautiful in a crazy, barren kind of way. No need for the 4WD - in fact driving a VW Golf on the deep gravel roads is fantastic fun. We rented from Madryn Rent a Car at 642 Roca in Puerto Madryn and had an all-around good experience with them. Just make sure that you do all the usuals - check for air in the spare tire, list all dings in the car, etc. Cheapest in town when we were there and the woman working the office was really helpful. Another great trip we did was by bike out to Playa Canteras just north of town. You could easily go there by car on your way home from Valdez. If you are there during Southern Right Whale season you will likely have them swimming just twenty or thirty feet off shore from you! The best whale watching we had in our entire time down south. Wanted to just jump in and swim with them! Take care and good luck.

Scott