animals

About 20.000 elephant seals are estimated to live in the Valdes Peninsula Elephant Seal colonies . Due to the high sensitivity of this environment, access is only authorized to small groups escorted by park rangers and specialized guides . The elephant seal pups, born in the end of September beginning of October , have a short nursing period. The pups will nurse for approximately three weeks, to then be abandoned by the mother and begin their life entirely independent of their mother´s care. It was an unforgettable emotion to walk on this beautiful beach, so close to these pups(how many of them!) , the four of us and the guide, in silence.

HFF everybody!

The Magellanic penguin is a South American penguin, breeding in coastal Argentina and Chile . it was named after Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan, who spotted the birds in 1520.The male and female penguins take turns hatching, as they forage far away from their nests. Magellanic penguins mate with the same partner year after year. The male reclaims his burrow from the previous year and waits to reconnect with his female partner. The females are able to recognize their mates through their call alone.

We sailed around Isla de Los Lobos (Sea Lions Island) to observe quite closely these sea mammals.

When in El Calafate we visited the Laguna Nimez reserve, which concentrates a varied sample of local wildlife. This ecological environment lodges an educational circuit with trails and signposts laid up along over 2,500 meters. The reserve has good vantage points that enable visitors to watch flamingoes, geese, silvery grebes, black-necked swans, ibis, lapwings, ducks, coots, hawks and chimangos, among other 70 species.

When in El Calafate we visited the Laguna Nimez reserve, which concentrates a varied sample of local wildlife. This ecological environment lodges an educational circuit with trails and signposts laid up along over 2,500 meters. The reserve has good vantage points that enable visitors to watch the flamingoes, geese, silvery grebes, black-necked swans, ibis, lapwings, ducks, coots, hawks and chimangos, among other 70 species.