Puerto Madryn

Puerto Madryn needs 2 days: an excursion to Península Valdés, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to see southern right whales from the shore or by boat, in a single day, with the second day free to explore the town and its beaches. June-December is whale-watching season, peaking between August and October. It's mid-to-upper priced, with the peninsula excursions as the trip's main expense. Península Valdés is one of the few places in the world where the southern right whale comes close enough to shore to be seen without boarding a boat, and it's also home to colonies of elephant seals, sea lions and Magellanic penguins.