Argentina

Rincón Chico - Valdés Peninsula - Patagonia

Estancia Rincon Chico belongs to one of the pioneer families of the region who colonized the Valdés Peninsula in 1880 to raise sheep. Augustin Ayuzo and his partner Maria, who will host you here, epitomize their ancestors' strong spirit of endurance, while sharing their home-made specialties, deliciously barbecued Patagonian lamb, and excellent wines.

This estancia has the most privileged location - right in the heart of the National Park. It is the ideal place from which to enjoy the vastness and mystique of this flat Patagonian countryside and its amazing wealth of wildlife. Rincon Chico has over 10 km of private Atlantic coastline with wild stretches of beaches upon which hundreds of elephant seals and sea-lions breed each year.

You wake up to the song of the larks, immerse yourself in the fascinating scenery of the steppes, ocean and wildlife, enjoy sun-downers with the soothing views of stretching shadows and red skies, the longest rainbows you can imagine, and the most incredible starry skies.

The Peninsula's diverse wildlife is spectacular: lesser rheas (South American ostrich), maras (Patagonian hare), foxes, guanacos, armadillos, skunks, owls, petrels, oyster-catchers, and even marine fossils such as sand dollars and oysters. The Patagonian steppes are covered with shrubs of quilimbay, molle, jume, coirón (stipa, poa and festuca tussock grasses) that lead the way to gorges, lagoons, salt pits, sand dunes and endless pebbled-beaches of the wide-open South Atlantic ocean. Southern elephant seals, southern sea-lions, and seasonally penguins, killer-whales and Southern Right Whales complete this remarkable panoply of wildlife while on daytrips around the peninsula.

Four-wheel drives to the Pedregullo beach allow you to watch, study and chuckle over the male dominated antics of the elephant seals, or walk along sand dunes searching for marine fossils.

Drive or hike to the tajamar lagoon, a 9.8 km round trip to see a wide diversity birds, depending on the time of the year, or to watch the elephant seal harems from the cliffs above.

This diversity of fauna and flora will define your stay here as you enjoy hikes, photo-safaris, and bike rides. However a cultural element to be added to your experience at Rincon Chico is watching and sharing in the daily chores of sheep handling and shearing typical of the rural life of a sheep station.

Driving off the farm, there are are many fascinating day trips. You can visit the penguin rookery by Caleta Valdés or Punta Tombo, enjoy the excitement of a whale-watching boat ride or dive from Punta Pirámide.

Rincon Chico has eight bedrooms, each with ensuite bathrooms, well adapted to the climatic rigors, yet open to the Patagonian vastness. There is a cozy living-room with a fireplace where you will chat to your hosts and meet the other guests, a small dining-room and a wide verandah.

Located south of Punta Delgada on the sea side of the Valdés Peninsula, Rincon Chico is reached by daily two-hour flights from Buenos Aires to Puerto Madryn and Trelew. Then you can either self drive or be be driven 165 km from Puerto Madryn.

The season is year-round, and there is wonderful wildlife to be seen at all times; however, one should note:

Southern Right Whales come to breed from June to December, with spectacular viewing.
Orcas (killer whales) come into Punta Del Norte from December to April, and practice their unique and startling beaching to kill the sea lions.
Magellan penguins come to breed from September to April.