13 Boat Tours in Puerto Madryn Worth Booking

1.Cruise Shore Excursion Peninsula Valdes – Pto Madryn – Patagonia – Argentina

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 111 reviews · 7 hours (approx.) · from $95Our pick

From Puerto Madryn, you’ll cross the scrubby Patagonian steppe to Peninsula Valdes with an English-speaking guide such as Nora, Mary, Carolina, or Santiago. Expect guanacos, maras, penguins, elephant seals, and possible sea lions, plus a box lunch. The ride is long, roads can be rough, and animal sightings change with season and luck.

“First thing you need to know is that the peninsula is BIG, really big. And covered with nothing but scrub and guanacos, so not too much to look at. It is a long drive to get anywhere, and you will spend most of this tour in a vehicle. That said, we got great views of penguins, seals and sea lions (didn't see anything else but that was just unlucky). Our guide Fernando was very helpful and accommodating and we had a nice day.”

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2.Cruise Shore Excursion Punta Tombo with Boxlunch from Pto Madryn

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 79 reviews · 7 hours (approx.) · from $120Top rated

Ride from Puerto Madryn to Punta Tombo, then walk a 1.5-kilometer trail among Magellanic penguins, guanacos, rheas, and other wildlife. Guides such as Mariana, Roy, Pitu, and Marcela add local insight. Allow for a long drive, uneven paths, and an entrance fee of about $20.

“Many beautiful penguins in their natural environment. Also, a brief history lesson of the local area.”

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3.Shore Excursion Punta Tombo cruise passengers Puerto Madryn

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 51 reviews · 7 hours (approx.) · from $125

Ride from Puerto Madryn to Punta Tombo in an air-conditioned vehicle with an English and Spanish-speaking guide. Walk among Magellanic penguins, watch guanacos and Patagonian hares, and enjoy a boxed lunch. The trip lasts about seven hours, with optional dinosaur and city stops if your cruise schedule allows.

“Super fun day! The van was nice and air conditioned, we got there before everyone else and spent time on the path without a lot of people around. Maria was awesome and told us about the area on the long drives. There were so many penguins!!”

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4.Cruise Shore Excursion Ea San Lorenzo Peninsula Valdes – Patagonia – Argentina

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 43 reviews · 7 hours (approx.) · from $159

From Puerto Madryn, you travel into Peninsula Valdés with a small group of up to 17 people. Visit the huge Magellanic penguin rookery at Estancia San Lorenzo, spot sea lions and elephant seals at Punta Norte, and enjoy a Patagonian lunch. Guides such as Beto, Martin, Fernando, and Mary are praised for clear wildlife insight.

“Our guide, Santiago, was very knowledgeable about the area and the wildlife and provided interesting commentary. However, the vehicle provided for transport, a small Ford pickup truck, was unsuitable for our 5 person tour group which included 2 couples and the tour guide. Enroute roundtrip from Puerto Madryn to the San Lorenzo Peninsula, we spent 5 hours in this truck in very cramped conditions, shoulder to shoulder with knees touching the seats and dashboard. Also, the air conditioning did not adequately reach the 3 back seat passengers. We expected the trip for the wildlife viewing would be long, but, if we had known this undersized vehicle would be used, we…”

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5.Punta Tombo Shore Excursion for Cruise Guests

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 25 reviews · 6 hours · from $90Best value

From Piedrabuena Pier, you’ll ride 180 km south to Punta Tombo, where a bilingual English and Spanish guide leads a 1.5-hour walk among wild Magellanic penguins. The six-hour cruise excursion includes air-conditioned transport and pier pickup, but reserve entry, meals, and tips cost extra.

“We had a great time in Punto Tombo, it was really nice to see the Magellanic penguins in their natural habitat! Our guide/driver was also very good. The only downside was the car itself; four adults spent four hours in a Dacia Duster, which was really uncomfortable. Otherwise, it was a great day.”

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6.Punta Tombo Cruise Shore Excursion – Walk among penguins

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 24 reviews · 6 hours · from $120

Travel 170 km from Puerto Madryn to Punta Tombo with an English-speaking guide such as Mariana or Maria, then follow a 1.5-kilometer trail among Magellanic penguins, nests, gulls, guanacos, and choiques. The six-hour cruise excursion includes port transfers, lunch, water, and a planned return before ship departure.

“Our guide Mariana Z and driver Roy were both superb. Mariana is an expert on everything for Patagonia, it's history, culture and the wildlife. She provided one of the best commentaries during the travel that I've ever heard from any guide in the world. Wonderful personality and excellent English. Roy's driving was perfect. He was very kind to the other guests. A truly great day!”

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7.Cruise Shore Excursion Peninsula Valdes – Box Lunch Included

★★★★★★★★★★3.7 · 14 reviews · 7 hours · from $105

Travel from Puerto Madryn to Peninsula Valdes in a small group of up to 15. Your English-speaking guide leads you to the interpretation center, Caleta Valdes, elephant seals, penguins, and possible sea lions or orcas. Guides Yanet and driver Nelson have earned praise for clear commentary and punctual returns. A box lunch is included, but park entry costs extra.

“very pleasant guide and driver. much cheaper than cruise price. it would have been a higher score if they had provided a veggie option for packed lunch”

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8.Peninsula Valdes: Shore excursion for cruise passengers

★★★★★★★★★★3.6 · 8 reviews · 6 hours · from $150

From Piedrabuena Pier, you’ll ride by air-conditioned van to Peninsula Valdes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The six-hour trip includes the Ameghino Isthmus visitor center, then Caleta Valdes for elephant seals, sea lions, and Magellanic penguins. Guide Daniel has earned praise for adding stops, but much of the day is spent on the road.

“Über 2,5 Stunden fahrt zur Hälfte Über Schotter Straßen für 10 min Pinguin gucken aus 200m Entfernung und danach 40 min seeelefanten auch aus sehr weiter Entfernung, danach das ganze wieder zurück... nervig”

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9.Whale Watching Boat

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 7 reviews · 1h 30m · from $150

From Puerto Pirámides, you spend 90 minutes at sea looking for Southern Right Whales between mid-June and December. An authorized boat carries 50 to 70 passengers, with a licensed guide speaking Spanish or English. Transport to Puerto Pirámides is not included, so plan that part yourself.

“Musste wegen zu viel Wind und hohem Wellengang abgebrochen werden. Warten noch immer auf den Refund!”

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10.Peninsula Valdes Shore Tour for Cruise Passengers + City

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · 6 hours · from $105

From the cruise pier, a bilingual guide takes you across Peninsula Valdes to the Visitor Center, Caleta Valdes, Puerto Piramides, and Punta Piramides. Expect a long day in a small vehicle, with southern elephant seals, sea lions, and possible sightings of maras, guanacos, and rheas. A Puerto Madryn city tour may be added if time allows.

“The tour was great, we loved it. The tour guide was knowledgeable and fun, she knew when to give us time for photos or a nap in the van. The day was a long day but the things we saw were amazing. We would recommend the tour”

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11.Punta Loma + Ranch Shore Excursion for cruise passengers

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · 4 hours · from $150

Meet your bilingual guide outside Piedrabuena Pier for a four-hour trip to Punta Loma and San Guillermo Ranch. Look for sea lions and cormorants from the reserve viewpoint, then enjoy tortas fritas, mate, a sheep-shearing demonstration, and a regional lamb lunch. Ferdinand is one guide named in a recent booking.

“Ferdinand met us arranged, took us around Puerto Madryn before seeing Sea lions the to ranch. Excellent tour.”

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12.Punta Tombo Shore Excursion for Cruise Passengers + City

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · 6 hours · from $105

Travel from Puerto Madryn’s cruise pier to Punta Tombo with an English or Spanish guide, then walk among Magellanic penguins, guanacos, and Patagonian hares. The six-hour outing uses air-conditioned vehicles and may include a Puerto Madryn city tour. Karen and Hernán are praised for attentive guiding and driving.

“Excursión buenísima, gracias a Karen, la guía y a Hernán, el chofer. Los dos muy atentos. Karen con mucho conocimiento del área y explica muy bien. Punta Tombo, creo que es único lugar dónde se puede "caminar entre los pingüinos". No compramos el almuerzo, pues compramos un par de empanadas y un café en la parada del baño y gasolina, y nos fué bien. Tuvimos tiempo de ir a ver estatua del dinosaurio "Patagotita" y a tirarnos fotos. Y como era un tour de crucero, tuvimos suficiente tiempo de llegar al puerto y dar una vuelta por el área antes de entrar al barco. Recomiendo 100% a Sussanich Turismo.”

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13.Shore Tours Peninsula Valdes Puerto Madryn Cruise Passengers

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 4 reviews · 7 hours · from $120

Meet your guide at the Puerto Madryn cruise pier for a seven-hour small-group trip across Peninsula Valdés. Visit Caleta Valdés, Punta Cantor, Puerto Pirámides, and key viewpoints while looking for sea lions, elephant seals, guanacos, rheas, penguins, and seasonal whales. Guides speak Spanish and English, and the outing includes transport, lunch, and water.

“Your company really earned your name, Animal Travel! The guide, Verena, is super knowledgeable about biology of each of these animals on land and in water. Driver, Nabal is an excellent safe driver. All of the staff waiting for us at the port were very friendly and helpful. The tour was for 12 of us in a 15 passenger van, very comfortable. Verena was able to pay for our entrance tickets in a few minutes so we could spend more time touring - ran very efficiently. With the limited time, we were still able to visit Punta Pyramida at the end of the tour. Lunch box is a good way…”

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