Rockhopper penguins standing on the rocks of the Patagonian coast, Argentina

Puerto Deseado Patagonia Bird Watching Tour

*Example by 4 travelers in 4★ accommodation, low season. Flights priced separately. Get a quote for 1 to 99+ below

Birdwatching on the Ría Deseado and Cabo Blanco - Puerto Deseado Patagonia Bird Watching Tour

Penguins, cormorants and petrified forest on Patagonia's coast — a tour extension

Five species of cormorant nest together on the Ría Deseado, the only place in Argentina where that happens. The ría is a drowned river mouth, and a full day out on it is the heart of this trip. From October to April the Magellanic penguins take over, with rookeries on Quiroga Island, Punta del Paso, Bird Island and Chaffers Island. Rockhopper penguins live in the area as well.

The trip starts with a stop at the Jaramillo petrified forest on the way from Comodoro Rivadavia airport: trees turned to stone by volcanic ash, on a plateau that was once palm country. Day three goes to Cabo Blanco, a rock headland with a sea lion rookery, penguins and other marine wildlife.

Wildlife does not read itineraries, and what shows up on a given morning is up to the birds. This is a tour extension, four days and three nights, meant to combine with a full package tour.

Highlights

  • Jaramillo petrified forest, once a palm-covered landscape
  • Ría Deseado: five cormorant species nesting side by side
  • Magellanic penguins from October to April, rockhoppers too
  • Cabo Blanco's rock headland and sea lion rookery

Included

  • All Hotels
  • All transfers & entrance fees
  • All breakfasts in hotels
  • All English-speaking tour guides

Not Included

  • Airfare within Argentina
  • Personal expenses and tips
  • Meals not mentioned in itinerary

Sample Itinerary

Large petrified logs rest on arid, rocky ground in the foreground, with Patagonia’s vast desert landscape and distant mountains under a blue sky—an inspiring scene near Puerto Deseado, perfect for nature lovers and bird watching enthusiasts.
Day 1

A guide welcomes you at Comodoro Rivadavia airport and escorts you on to Puerto Deseado, with a stop on the way at the Jaramillo petrified forest.

The ground looks bleak: a barren plateau. Millions of years ago it was palm country, until volcanic ash turned the trees to stone. What is left stands like rock statues, and the effects of the volcanic dust are still visible in them. Then continue to Puerto Deseado, check in at your hotel and relax for the rest of the evening.

Two old brick lighthouses stand on rocky terrain in Puerto Deseado, Patagonia, under a partly cloudy sky—a perfect spot for bird watching by the rugged coast.
Day 2

The whole day belongs to the Ría Deseado, a drowned river mouth shaped over hundreds of years by the sea and the river's changing course. Five species of cormorant nest together here, the only place in Argentina where that happens, so watch them feed, nest and fly high over the water.

From October to April the Magellanic penguin is the star. Rookeries sit on Quiroga Island, Punta del Paso, Bird Island and Chaffers Island, and rockhopper penguins live in the area as well. Penguins keep their own schedule, so take what the day gives you. Return to the hotel in the evening.

Three rockhopper penguins with distinctive yellow crests stand on a rocky surface near the bright blue ocean water of Patagonia, with blurred rocks and waves in the background—an ideal scene for bird watching.
Day 3

Cabo Blanco Natural Reserve is a rock headland and the main sea lion rookery. The sea lions come in droves, and penguins and other marine wildlife share the same stretch of coast.

After a full day on the ría, this one is gentler, and a good one to take slowly. Return to Puerto Deseado and your hotel in the evening, and unwind.

Two Magellanic penguins with black and white markings stand close together on grassy ground in Patagonia, facing each other, with some soil and plants in the background—a delightful sight for bird watching enthusiasts.
Day 4

The trip ends where it began. Say farewell to Puerto Deseado, the ría and the coast, then transfer to Comodoro Rivadavia airport for the flight to your next destination.

Airfare within Argentina is not included, so it is worth working out the timing of that flight with your Destination Consultant before anything is booked.

Puerto Deseado Patagonia Bird Watching Tour
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Estimated Tour Price Without Flights

Prices vary according to several factors including: season, number of people traveling, shared vs private excursions, when you book and rooming arrangements. These are from prices based on low season.

We can customize anything for any time of year! Contact us for an exact quote for your trip.

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Budget
From US
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Per Person
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Basic
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Superior 👍
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Deluxe
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Per Person

*Budget generally includes excursions in group, Superior & Deluxe private excursions, & Basic is a best mix (varies by itinerary & excurion)

Note: ALL itineraries are 100% customizable to create your perfect trip!

⭐⭐ - ⭐⭐⭐
Budget
From US
Call for Custom Pricing
Per Person
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Basic
From US
Call for Custom Pricing
Per Person
⭐⭐⭐⭐➕
Superior 👍
From US
Call for Custom Pricing
Per Person
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Deluxe
From US
Call for Custom Pricing
Per Person

*Budget generally includes excursions in group, Superior & Deluxe private excursions, & Basic is a best mix (varies by itinerary & excurion)

Note: ALL itineraries are 100% customizable to create your perfect trip!

⭐⭐ - ⭐⭐⭐
Budget
From US
Call for Custom Pricing
Per Person
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Basic
From US
Call for Custom Pricing
Per Person
⭐⭐⭐⭐➕
Superior 👍
From US
Call for Custom Pricing
Per Person
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Deluxe
From US
Call for Custom Pricing
Per Person

*Budget generally includes excursions in group, Superior & Deluxe private excursions, & Basic is a best mix (varies by itinerary & excurion)

Note: ALL itineraries are 100% customizable to create your perfect trip!

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