Besides Southern Right Whales, orcas, dolphins and penguins which can only be observed at certain times of the year, Peninsula Valdes is rich in permanent colonies of birds, sea lions and the larger-than-life elephant seal. The Isla de los Pajaros is five kilometres from the Interpretation Centre on the northern side of the Amghino Isthmus in the Golfo Jose. Birds can be viewed through fixed telescopes.

Sometimes you can spot the Southern Right Whale following the coast line from Punta Pardelas, which also overlooks the Golfo Nuevo, just south of Puerto Piramides. Punta Delgada is some 70 km farther on, past the Salina Grande and the Salina Chica to the southeast of the peninsula. The Faro Punta Delgarda hotel (tel: +54 [0] 2965 471910) is a lovely place to stay or enjoy lunch. Just beyond the hotel and lighthouse is a path leading down the cliffside to where sea lions and elephant seals can be observed spread out on the beach.

North from Punta Delgada the road follows the coastline to Punta Candor. Here there is a colony of elephant seals. In September and October you can witness the bulls fighting over the females in a remarkable bloody and blubbery display of "machoness" from paths which lead you to great viewing areas just above the colony. It’s now prohibited to go down on to the beach.

A few kilometres farther north is Caleta Valdes. It is here from September to November where orcas can be spotted entering the bay behind the spit. Farther north again is a Magellanic penguin colony. At Punta Norte, the northerly tip, is where orcas perform the curious habit known as stranding where they hurl themselves up on to the shingle beach in pursuit of sea lion pups. This phenomenon can be observed in January and February but they only strand themselves in calmer waters before and after high tide when they patrol the beach for the unwary and inexperienced. Not all their attempts are successful.