Welsh Patagonia

We hired a couple of bikes and cycled along the coast to an interesting little museum that traces the history of the Welsh settlers in Patagonia which makes for one of the most impressive tales of early pioneers in Argentina. 165 Welsh people arrived in 1865 and landed here in Puerto Madryn where they found arable land and created a network of irrigation channels. The Welsh colony was successful selling wool and meat from the sheep they brought over. The language is still alive in a couple of places and they're feted for their excellent Welsh tearooms. (But Anita was peeved as she couldn't find anywhere to watch the England/Wales rugby match.)

Lunch in Puerto Piramides

As the midday sun took a hold, we interrupted our wildlife safari for lunch on this lovely beach - more fresh fish and ice cold cerveza - YUM!

Penguin Colony

The Valdes Peninsula has a wonderful array of marine life, birds and a profusion of Patagonian wildlife of which this penguin colony is a major attraction. They come here to breed and then swim north to Brazil, one of the few penguin colonies that don't return to the Antarctic.

Dinner at Patagonia Restaurant

Ate a delicious fish dinner in this stylish and beauifully lit restaurant. The fish was called "merluza negra" (black hake) and apparently is a monster, caught only below about 600 ft. It wasn't on the menu but the waiter recommended it as the special catch of the day.




The ceiling portrays a colourful map of the region as well as beautiful paintings of the local oceanic wildlife. A very cool spot!

Puerto Madryn

This is Patagonia's diving capital and a beautiful coastal town famous for whale-spotting, snorkelng with seals and colonies of penguins (as well as dusky young lads playing beach volleyball). There are great seafood bars on the beach and we stopped at this one for a cold beer.