Drive from Puerto Madryn over to the Valdés peninsula
Visited the sea lion colony at Punta Norte
Further seen armadillos, guanacos and maras
Almost stepped on poisonous vipers
With the luggage on our backs, as agreed, we go to the car rental company, where we have ours Take over rental car can. The first thing we do is drive to the bus station to buy a bus ticket for our onward journey to Buenos Aires. Not for the first time none of our cards want to work with one of the providers, luckily it works with the second.
After Grocery shopping for the next few days it can finally start. We drive over the narrow strip of land from the mainland to the Peninsula Valdés. The peninsula is protected as a nature reserve, but is simultaneously used by several farms Sheep farming and tourism used. However, an entrance fee of 180 pesos is due. The first stop is the interesting one Visitor center where we also eat our lunch snack. After we in Puerto Piramides, the only place on the peninsula, immediately found a great room for one night, we drive north.
A well-maintained one runs right across the peninsula Dirt road up to Punta Norte. After a 1.5 hour drive through the dry steppe with sighting of some Guanacos we achieve our goal. A curious one is walking in front of the parking lot armadillo around.
From the lookout point we look down on the Sea lion colony. It currently has over 1200 animals, with the numerous young animals making up almost two thirds. There is also one among them rare albino young animal.
The sea lions lie lazy in the blazing sun. But it is by no means quiet here, some specimens have just come back from fishing, dominant males watch loudly over their territory and young animals measure and train their strength. It is happening right now ebb and the sea has withdrawn far. However, this beach is famous for two other animal species that are currently not seen: elephant seals and orcas. The unique pictures of a stranded orca hunting seal pups are part of many animal documentaries. But being able to observe one of these rare attacks requires one a good helping of luck. In fact, orcas are said to have appeared today at the high tide at noon.
After a walk along the viewpoints, we make our way back. On the way we meet more guanacos, two of them are hopping Pampas rabbits (also called Mara). When I want to take a picture of these, I discover a less harmless animal right in front of my feet. One lies in the sandy ground well camouflaged viper. Fortunately for me, I stop at the last moment so as not to step on the small venomous snake and take some pictures after the first shock.
Back in the manageable Puerto Piramides we simply eat and soon after this eventful day we go to bed.
