The Valdez Peninsula

Puerto Madryn, Argentina

This morning we get up early and pile back onto Doris to do the Valdez Peninsula tour. The

The Group with Doris. Try and pick out which one is my Dad.

Valdez Peninsula is famous for its marine wildlife. It’s a breeding ground for elephant seals, sea lions and penguins. If you come at the right time a year it’s also a great place for whale watching. The first time I came here we had a southern right whale and its calf swim right under our boat. Unfortunately, it’s not the right time of year, so there are no whales or boats.

Except for the wildlife, the island is pretty boring and we spend a long time in Doris. The one thing that makes this tour is the local tour guide, Maria. She’s traveled the world, talked her way on to archeology sites, is married to a paleontologist, knows absolutely everything about the peninsula and is a hero to every girl that’s ever taken her tour. She has a non-stop patter that weaves in and out of her own life and interesting things about the peninsula. The pax come away feeling like they just had a long conversation with somebody interesting and eventually realize that they’ve learned a lot along the way.

Fun fact: An elephant seal can dive down 1500 meters. That’s 1 and a half kilometers and over a mile down.

That night, yet again we play some pool and yet again I lose.