Sea Elephants of Patagonia

You might think elephant seals ( aka sea elephants ) get their name because of their enormous size,
but in fact it's because of their elongated trunk-like nose.

There are 2 species of elephant seals, northern and southern, which look very similar,
although northern elephant seal is smaller in size, while has a noticeably bigger spout.

The habitats of northern and southern elephant seals do not overlap:
Southern elephant seals live in sub-Antarctic and Antarctic waters,
northern elephant seals are native to the eastern Pacific.

Both northern and southern elephant seals spend months at sea,
only coming ashore to breed, give birth and molt.
Males arrive first to claim their territory, females return to a rookery later
already pregnant from the previous mating season. They give birth shortly after.

During the breeding season males face tough physical challenges.
First of all, being very elegant in the water, those giants are really clumsy while on land.Imagine them hauling their bodies weighing several tons  out of water onto the land. 

Secondly, a male elephant seal must stay on the land all the time protecting his harem.
Females, as always, come at a cost: males do not feed for months solely relying on their thick layer of blubber.

The images below feature a small colony of southern elephant seals, 
living on Atlantic coast near Dos Pozos ( Argentina ).
A private tour to the colony is offered for the guest of  
La Antonieta Estancia de Mar, which is run by a local family.
Guido, the owner of the estancia, will take you in his car to the shore,
where you can walk among the sea giants and enjoy the views of Atlantic Ocean.

Where you can see southern elephant seals
The only continental breeding area is on Peninsula Valdes ( Argentina )
and the adjacent coast. To see the animals book a guided tour in  
Punta Delgada or Punta Ninfas.

Georgia Island and Falkland Islands ( Malvinas ), which can be visited as a part of Antarctica cruises, are home to the biggest breeding colonies of southern elephant seals.

When to come
The mating season starts late August and ends early November.
A colony reaches highest numbers during the first decade of October.
The molting period lasts several weeks in January-February.

Personal experience
- Flight from Buenos Aires ( Aeroparque Internacional Jorge Newbery ) to Trelew ( Almirante Marcos A. Zar Airport )
with Aerolineas Argentinas ( US $100 +  / per person one way ) ;
- 4 days car rental from Rentar ( US $208 for SUV with an automatic gear  )  ;
- One night at La Antonieta Estancia del Mar  ( US $150 / per night excluding meals and $ 30+ excursion to the private beach with the sea elephants ).

 

To see more images follow the link to the Sea Elephants of Patagonia album

Penguins of Punta Tombo

Punta Tombo is the biggest penguin colony on the continental Patagonia.
Every Spring, - which in Southern Hemisphere starts in September, - thousands of Magellanic Penguins are coming ashore to mate.
The same couples return to Punta Tombo peninsula year after year to claim the nests they've built together some time before.
In Punta Tombo you can see the penguins up-close in their natural habitat.
They walk, nap, call for their mate,clean their feathers within a foot from you.
Penguins are not scared of people, however, do not chase or try to pet them: since they are unable to interpret your intent, birds will defend themselves, if feel threatened.
Strong beak and sharp teeth will fit the purpose.
You are inside a natural reserve: you are their guest, not the other way around.
Walk carefully and watch for the bird's burrows: they can be right on the walking trails.

When to visit Punta Tombo
Late September: Penguins start arriving ashore.
October: The best time to observe the courtship.
November: The first eggs begin to hatch.
December through February: Fluffy-feathered chicks are running the place.
April: Done and ready for migration.

How to get there
Punta Tombo is pretty much a remote place.
It will take over 2 hours drive from Trelew and almost 3 hours drive from Puerto Madryn to get the park entrance.
The last stretch is a gravel road, so drive slowly.
Make sure the tank is full, there are NO gas stations on the route past Trelew.

Punta Tombo hours & entrance fee
Visiting hours are between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. with the last entrance at 6 p.m
Entrance fee is $17 USD, cash only.
The restrooms and a restaurant ) are next to the ranger booth.
Spacious parking lot.

Personal experience
- Flight from Buenos Aires ( Aeroparque Internacional Jorge Newbery ) to Trelew ( Almirante Marcos A. Zar Airport )
with Aerolineas Argentinas ( US $100 +  / per person one way ) ;
- 4 days car rental from Rentar ( US $208 for SUV with an automatic gear  )  ;
- One night at the nearest to Punta Tombo lodging La Antonieta Estancia del Mar  ( US $150 / per night excluding meals and $ 30+ excursion to the private beach with the sea elephants ).

Visit or not
Going to Punta Tombo is both time & money consuming.
If renting a car is out of your budget, you can book an organized day trip from Puerto Madryn, Trelew or Rawson.
Another option is to book a day trip to Valdes Peninsula
and visit a much smaller penguin colony in Caleta Valdes
or walk with the penguins on a private beach of Estancia San Lorenzo.

To see more images follow the link Magellanic Pinguins photo album