Bahia Bustamante and Trelew

 

Trelew is a small city in Northern Patagonia most known for being close to the location where the fossil for the biggest dinosaur on earth (an herbivore) has been found. Accordingly, we went to the paleontology museum to learn about the evolution of geography and animals in the region. The area is also known for the large number of Welsh settlers so we made sure to enjoy a traditional tea service while in towns as well.

The highlight however was Bahia Bustamante, a small camp on the ocean with acres and acres of Patagonian steppe as the backyard. Touted as the Galapagos of Argentina, it was chalk full of land and sea creatures. Highlights included an Peludo (hairy armadillo) we nicknamed Amaretto, lots of leaping guanacos and running rheas, bouncing maras, sunning sea lions and others. 

The most spectacular however were the Magellenic penguins who were nesting on a nearby island. Due to the low tourist traffic we were able to get really close (while maintaining a respectful distance) to the penguins and even look into their nests where chicks were squeaking to be fed. It was amazing to experience these creatures on land and sea and always cute to watch them waddle around.

In addition to the animal watching, we learned a lot about the geography and ecosystems of northern Patagonia. The camp does its best to keep nature as pristine as possible so walking around the complex we saw skeletons of several sea and land creatures, including an impressive sperm whale that had died of natural causes. It really put into perspective the size of the ocean creatures and why the animals move the way they do. It was a peaceful place and the excellent food didn’t hurt, a big recommendation for this special place even if it’s a bit off the beaten path.