Península Valdés

🇦🇷 Argentina

🐋 Right Whale and Sea Lion Coast
🌍 #97 Global · 4.1 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #14 in South America #43 in Savanna & Grassland
Patagonia, Argentina 353 spp. recorded

Valdés is a treeless peninsula where the wildlife concentrates on the shoreline, so most of it is watched from land. Southern elephant seals hold the beaches, South American sea lions the rocky points, and southern right whales come into the two gulfs — recorded on nine visits in ten at their September peak.

-42.252° S   63.848° W

Wildlife

SIGHTING PROBABILITY Share of citizen-science records from the park that report this species
<5%
Rare5–20%
With luck20–40%
Possible40–70%
Likely>70%
Very likely
ACTIVITY PATTERN
☀️ Diurnal 🌙 Nocturnal 🌅 Crepuscular ☀️🌙 Day & Night

⭐ Iconic Species

Southern Right Whale ★
LC

Southern Right Whale

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Eubalaena australis

70–80% · Very likely
Southern Elephant Seal ★
LC

Southern Elephant Seal

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Mirounga leonina

80–90% · Very likely
Southern Sea Lion ★
LC

Southern Sea Lion

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Otaria byronia

80–90% · Very likely
Patagonian Cavy ★
NT Endemic

Patagonian Cavy

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Dolichotis patagonum

60–70% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Dominican Gull
LC

Dominican Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Larus dominicanus

90–100% · Very likely
Large Hairy Armadillo
LC

Large Hairy Armadillo

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Chaetophractus villosus

80–90% · Very likely
Guanaco
LC

Guanaco

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Lama guanicoe

80–90% · Very likely
American Oystercatcher
LC Endemic

American Oystercatcher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Haematopus palliatus

70–80% · Very likely
Patagonian Mockingbird
LC

Patagonian Mockingbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Mimus patagonicus

70–80% · Very likely
Bigua cormorant

Bigua cormorant

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Phalacrocorax brasilianus

70–80% · Very likely
Turkey Vulture
LC

Turkey Vulture

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cathartes aura

70–80% · Very likely
Southern Giant Petrel
LC

Southern Giant Petrel

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Macronectes giganteus

70–80% · Very likely
Rufous-collared Sparrow
LC Endemic

Rufous-collared Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Zonotrichia capensis

70–80% · Very likely
Mourning Sierra-Finch
LC

Mourning Sierra-Finch

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Rhopospina fruticeti

70–80% · Very likely
Magellanic Penguin
LC

Magellanic Penguin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Spheniscus magellanicus

60–70% · Likely
Imperial Shag
LC Endemic

Imperial Shag

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Leucocarbo atriceps

60–70% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Southern Right Whale ★
LC

Southern Right Whale

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Eubalaena australis

70–80% · Very likely
Southern Elephant Seal ★
LC

Southern Elephant Seal

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Mirounga leonina

80–90% · Very likely
Southern Sea Lion ★
LC

Southern Sea Lion

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Otaria byronia

80–90% · Very likely
Patagonian Cavy ★
NT Endemic

Patagonian Cavy

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Dolichotis patagonum

60–70% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Large Hairy Armadillo
LC

Large Hairy Armadillo

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Chaetophractus villosus

80–90% · Very likely
Guanaco
LC

Guanaco

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Lama guanicoe

80–90% · Very likely
Killer Whale

Killer Whale

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Orcinus orca

60–70% · Likely
Southern Mountain Cavy
LC

Southern Mountain Cavy

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Microcavia australis

50–60% · Likely
Pampas Fox
LC

Pampas Fox

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Lycalopex gymnocercus

30–40% · Possible
Brown Hare
LC

Brown Hare

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Lepus europaeus

30–40% · Possible
Humboldt's Hog-nosed Skunk
LC

Humboldt's Hog-nosed Skunk

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Conepatus chinga

20–30% · Possible
Geoffroy's Cat
LC

Geoffroy's Cat

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Leopardus geoffroyi

10–20% · With luck
Pichi
NT

Pichi

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Zaedyus pichiy

Insufficient data
Bottlenose Dolphin
LC

Bottlenose Dolphin

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Tursiops truncatus

Insufficient data
Humpback Whale
LC

Humpback Whale

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Megaptera novaeangliae

Insufficient data
🐒 No photo available
LC

gray leaf-eared mouse

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Graomys griseoflavus

Insufficient data

📊 Most Spotted

Dominican Gull
LC

Dominican Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Larus dominicanus

90–100% · Very likely
American Oystercatcher
LC Endemic

American Oystercatcher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Haematopus palliatus

70–80% · Very likely
Patagonian Mockingbird
LC

Patagonian Mockingbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Mimus patagonicus

70–80% · Very likely
Bigua cormorant

Bigua cormorant

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Phalacrocorax brasilianus

70–80% · Very likely
Turkey Vulture
LC

Turkey Vulture

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cathartes aura

70–80% · Very likely
Southern Giant Petrel
LC

Southern Giant Petrel

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Macronectes giganteus

70–80% · Very likely
Rufous-collared Sparrow
LC Endemic

Rufous-collared Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Zonotrichia capensis

70–80% · Very likely
Mourning Sierra-Finch
LC

Mourning Sierra-Finch

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Rhopospina fruticeti

70–80% · Very likely
Magellanic Penguin
LC

Magellanic Penguin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Spheniscus magellanicus

60–70% · Likely
Imperial Shag
LC Endemic

Imperial Shag

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Leucocarbo atriceps

60–70% · Likely
Elegant Crested Tinamou
LC

Elegant Crested Tinamou

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Eudromia elegans

60–70% · Likely
Great Grebe
LC

Great Grebe

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Podiceps major

50–60% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Black-faced Smooth-throated Lizard
LC Endemic

Black-faced Smooth-throated Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Liolaemus melanops

60–70% · Likely
Patagonia Lancehead
LC

Patagonia Lancehead

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Bothrops ammodytoides

40–50% · Likely
🦎 No photo available
LC Endemic

Bahia Blanca Smooth-throated Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Liolaemus darwinii

30–40% · Possible
Graceful Tree Iguana
LC Endemic

Graceful Tree Iguana

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Liolaemus gracilis

30–40% · Possible
Mousehole Snake
LC Endemic

Mousehole Snake

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Philodryas trilineata

20–30% · Possible
Darwin's Marked Gecko
LC Endemic

Darwin's Marked Gecko

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Homonota darwinii

20–30% · Possible
Bell's Anole
LC Endemic

Bell's Anole

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Leiosaurus bellii

Insufficient data
Brown Musurana
LC

Brown Musurana

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Paraphimophis rusticus

Insufficient data
Patagonian Racer
LC

Patagonian Racer

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Philodryas patagoniensis

Insufficient data

📊 Most Spotted

Animal Events

🐋

Southern Right Whales in the Gulfs

AugSepOct

Southern right whales calve in the sheltered gulfs and are recorded on nine visits in ten, their highest of the year.

Southern Right Whale
LC

Southern Right Whale

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Eubalaena australis

70–80% · Very likely
🦭

Sea Lions and Guanacos in Late

JulAugSep

South American sea lions gather on the rocky points while guanaco herds move across the steppe behind them.

Guanaco
LC

Guanaco

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Lama guanicoe

80–90% · Very likely
Southern Sea Lion
LC

Southern Sea Lion

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Otaria byronia

80–90% · Very likely
🦎

Elephant Seals and Lizards in

JanFeb

Southern elephant seals moult on the beaches and Liolaemus lizards bask across the open ground.

Southern Elephant Seal
LC

Southern Elephant Seal

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Mirounga leonina

80–90% · Very likely
Black-faced Smooth-throated Lizard
LC Endemic

Black-faced Smooth-throated Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Liolaemus melanops

60–70% · Likely

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Species Total
70–80
70–80
70–80
60–70
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
Southern Right Whale
10–20
20–30
30–40
20–30
40–50
40–50
80–90
80–90
90–100
80–90
80–90
40–50
Southern Elephant Seal
90–100
70–80
70–80
60–70
70–80
80–90
60–70
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
Southern Sea Lion
90–100
70–80
50–60
70–80
70–80
70–80
80–90
90–100
80–90
80–90
70–80
80–90
Patagonian Cavy
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
40–50
60–70
30–40
70–80
60–70
70–80
60–70
70–80
Dominican Gull
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
80–90
90–100
90–100
90–100
Large Hairy Armadillo
80–90
90–100
80–90
70–80
70–80
70–80
40–50
80–90
60–70
70–80
70–80
80–90
Guanaco
80–90
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
50–60
60–70
80–90
80–90
70–80
80–90
80–90
American Oystercatcher
70–80
70–80
70–80
80–90
80–90
70–80
70–80
70–80
60–70
70–80
80–90
70–80
Patagonian Mockingbird
90–100
70–80
80–90
60–70
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
80–90
70–80
80–90
60–70
Bigua cormorant
80–90
70–80
70–80
80–90
80–90
70–80
70–80
60–70
70–80
60–70
80–90
70–80
Turkey Vulture
80–90
70–80
80–90
70–80
60–70
70–80
70–80
50–60
70–80
60–70
80–90
70–80
Southern Giant Petrel
80–90
60–70
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
60–70
70–80
80–90
Rufous-collared Sparrow
70–80
70–80
50–60
40–50
60–70
70–80
60–70
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
Mourning Sierra-Finch
70–80
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
70–80
60–70
60–70
50–60
70–80
70–80
70–80
Magellanic Penguin
70–80
80–90
70–80
60–70
50–60
60–70
60–70
40–50
60–70
50–60
60–70
50–60
Imperial Shag
60–70
60–70
70–80
80–90
70–80
60–70
60–70
60–70
70–80
40–50
70–80
60–70
Animal Events
🐋 Southern Right Whales in the Gulfs
🦭 Sea Lions and Guanacos in Late
🦎 Elephant Seals and Lizards in

Sighting Zones

Warm areas are where all species together are recorded most, so they track where people go as much as where animals are. For one species, see the map on its own page.

0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ Excellent
🐋 Right Whale and Sea Lion Coast

Where Wildlife Score

How good is this park for seeing wildlife?
🦜

Biodiversity

Good

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg
3.9 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Species by taxon
🦅 Birds
251
🐒 Mammals
77
🦎 Reptiles
22
🐸 Amphibians
3
353 Total Species
850 Global average across 296 parks
26 Threatened 32 Endemic
🔭

Sighting

Excellent

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg
4.3 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
🎯
Top-12 Avg Probability
62% Global avg
79%
📊
Coverage (104 species at ≥5% of 353 in the inventory)
24% Global avg
29%
🔀
Taxon variety in top 12 (7 bird, 5 mammal)
46% Global avg
65%
🔭
Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)
134 Global avg
73
🌟
Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)
15 Global avg
11
⭐
High-prob species (>40%)
27 Global avg
30

Quick answers

What animals can you see in Península Valdés?

The most likely sightings are Dominican Gull (seen by 90–100% of wildlife watchers), Southern Elephant Seal (seen by 80–90% of wildlife watchers), Southern Sea Lion (seen by 80–90% of wildlife watchers), Large Hairy Armadillo (seen by 80–90% of wildlife watchers), Guanaco (seen by 80–90% of wildlife watchers) — among 353 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.

When is the best time to visit Península Valdés for wildlife?

November has the highest combined sighting rate for the park's top species in our month-by-month GBIF data. The full sighting calendar on this page shows each species' best months.

Can you see Southern Right Whale in Península Valdés?

Yes — about 74% of wildlife watchers report a Southern Right Whale sighting in Península Valdés, based on 96 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Southern Elephant Seal in Península Valdés?

Yes — about 83% of wildlife watchers report a Southern Elephant Seal sighting in Península Valdés, based on 146 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Southern Sea Lion in Península Valdés?

Yes — about 82% of wildlife watchers report a Southern Sea Lion sighting in Península Valdés, based on 137 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Patagonian Cavy in Península Valdés?

Yes — about 68% of wildlife watchers report a Patagonian Cavy sighting in Península Valdés, based on 75 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

⚖️

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