El Doradillo

El Doradillo is an unremarkable stretch of gravel beach north of Puerto Madryn with one extraordinary property: the bottom shelves away sharply just offshore, so deep water sits close to land, and southern right whales bring their newborn calves into it. Mothers rest here while calves nurse and practise, and at high tide the animals can pass within twenty or thirty metres of people standing on the shingle, which makes this one of the few places in the world where right whales can be watched properly from land without a boat. There is nothing built here beyond a car park and signage. The best viewing follows the tide, and the whales are usually present from June through November.

What you actually see

• Whales from the shore - mothers and calves in shallow water close to the beach.
• The shingle bank - the steep gravel shore that lets them come in.
• The calving behaviour - nursing, rolling and tail slapping at close range.
• The open gulf - the wider bay where other whales rest offshore.

When to go

June to November, with the largest numbers of mothers and calves typically from September to early November. Time the visit to high tide, when the animals come closest. Early morning light is best and the wind usually lightest.

Honest expectations

Whales are wild and sightings are never guaranteed, particularly at the edges of the season. There are no facilities, no shade and no shelter from the wind. Entering the water near the whales is prohibited, and drones are restricted.

Nearby

Puerto Madryn is fifteen minutes south; Península Valdés lies further north.