Day 3 – Punto Tombo

Patagonia is immense. In the north, the Rio Colorado is the border, in the south Cape Horn. Patagonia accounts for one third of the total area of ​​Argentina. The Argentine portion of Patagonia consists of three parts: the coastal plain, high plateau and the Andes.

Today we leave Buenos Aires for Patagonia. Our first stop is Valdez Peninsula located in the northern part of Patagonia on the coast. The distance from the capital until there is about 1800 km. Because of his immeasurable largeness, the distances in Patagonia are not be underestimated. This means that in the coming weeks, we have several flights on the program. The first domestic flight today is to Trelew.

Patagonia is known for the many strong winds. There is a saying: In Patagonia the wind does not spare mother nor child. This also means that take off and landings are rather turbulent.

You feel indeed the strong winds across  the plane. 1h40 minutes after leaving Buenos Aires, we arrive at the airport of Trelew.

From here it goes directly to Punto Tombo. Punto Tombo is located next to the ocean in the Argentine steppe. The penguins come back on land at this time of the year to incubate their eggs. Only one particular species lives in the area here, the Magellanic penguin. This colony of Magellanic penguins is the largest in the world.

From mid-September to April you can find them around here. The remaining time of the year, they enjoy better places, such as the more northern and therefore warmer situated Brazil. Penguins love water. They can enjoy floating on the water while the sun caresses their belly. Occasionally they make a dive of 10 meters to catch some fish. These penguins are certainly not the biggest. They are about 60 cm tall and weigh about 4 kg as adults. The penguins make nests in the ground, preferably protected by a plant or shrub.

They decorate it with twigs or grass, whatever they can find. Usually there are two eggs which needs to be protected. The penguins live as a couple and also ensure together that the chick comes out of the egg. They stay together until the chick is about three months old. Then the children are on their own. The nests are well populated. Foxes, wild cats, birds, etc. all live here and all like a little snack. There will always be someone watching the eggs at home. We walk (and back too) about 1.5 km  on a path what is called the 'penguin highway’ . Sometimes we have to let a few passers-by. The penguin is of course at home. Penguins are swimmers, walking suits them less. After a couple of steps, they have to take a little rest. It takes them about an hour to cover a distance of 400 m.  It looks like a start to run or even better a start to walk. The water is not far, because  they have to eat of course. At the waterside, it looks like a summer scene. Penguins are playing in the surf of the water, like children on holiday at the seaside. They roll in the waves, splash that it is a real delight, dive under the waves. Cute to see.

After the rain in Buenos Aires,  the pleasant, sunny weather is a relief. The wind is a different story. He blow severe at times. The Patagonian wind does not spare anybody.