Bustamante Lodge Bay excursions & Tours

You don’t need civilization, modernization or technology to live a dream vacation in Bustamante Bay. This secret corner of the Patagonia Argentina is more than a date with the fascinating marine fauna of this region. It is history, culture, adventure, beaches and so many other natural beauties that blend perfectly with the exquisite gastronomy of the place and the warmth of its inhabitants. You don’t believe it? Meet the excursions at Bahía Bustamante Lodge and confirm it by your own!

•     SAILING WITH MARINE WILDLIFE SIGHTING

Unskippable if you visit Estancia Bahía Bustamante. We are talking about the main attraction of the place, the sighting of marine fauna like the wolves sitting and birds colonies. An unrepeatable show to experience!

The adventure begins with a navigation aboard the boat La Atrevida through the calm waters of the Caleta Malaspina, where we will approach the islands of the Vernacci archipelago, home of the Sea Lions. With approximately 4,000 specimens, it’s the largest colony in Golfo San Jorge.

We don’t go down once we are in the place. However, the closeness will allow you to delight in the charming behavior of these animals in the breeding season. The transparency of the water is majestic and the Wolves are just as loving and playful.

The activity continues towards the colony of Magellan Penguins, with more than 100 thousand specimens. The experience is magical. Indeed, first you see them from the boat in its side of swimmers, unique in Argentina, and then we have another penguin where if observed in its reproductive cycle (making nests), the proximity to marine fauna makes it even more special.

And that’s not it! Throughout the promenade we are accompanied by a variety of species (125 among which are two endemic), of seabirds such as cormorants, petrels, steam ducks, skúas, chorlos and gulls. Navigation is done at high tide and good weather conditions.

•       THE GRAVIGNA PENINSULA

Its white sandy beaches, crystal clear waters and huge, reddish rock formations are the main attraction of this excursion, a nice contrast with the intense blue of the sea. The simple fact that you’re there is already great. Not only will you be able to take a delicious swim in the water wells that form –among its rocks– on low tide days, but you can cycle, walk or board our 4×4 vehicles too. Thus, you will also arrive at sites of geological and archaeological importance.

After the above, it’s important to mention that the water in the south of Chubut province is cold. However, between the months of January and February the temperature of the place reaches about 25 and 35°C, ideal for getting into the sea. This is one of the excursions in Bustamante Lodge Bay preferred by many.

•         THE PETRIFIED FOREST

It’s a journey to the past, nothing less than 60 million years ago, through an activity that combines adventure on 4×4 and trekking for an entire tour of the natural Petrified Forest “La Joya” of the Bay Bustamante.

Located 30 km away from the Main Lodge (45 minutes), within the same area, it gives us an impressive landscape. A forest converted into stone, a moon desert full of fossil trunks where you can also observe guanacos, choiques and maras.

To give you a more accurate idea about this tour, we tell you that it’s the furthest from the stay and lasting. Once there, a walk is made among the wooden “sculptures” that are now stone, giving us amazing colors. In short, the Petrified Forest encloses history, nature, marine fauna and fun.

•         PENGUIN ISLAND EXCURSION

His name says it all! It’s one of the homes of the Magellan Penguins that is located just 15 minutes from the Logde of Bustamante Bay. This time we come ashore, right into the space where penguins meet their reproductive cycle and an important part of their day-to-day life.

That means that you’ll be surrounded by hundreds of these specimens, their chicks and their nests! Seeing them in the search for food for their young is an experience like no other and is also accompanied by the choiques, maras, foxes or piches that you will see along the way.

For this tour it’s needed a low tide, moment when the island sticks to the mainland, in order to walk up the rocks to get to these friendly little animals. The activity is done by groups of 2, 4 and up to 7 people. It’s an intimate date with the Magellan Penguins.

•         CAPE ARISTIZABAL EXCURSION

After a tour aboard 4×4 vehicles, we go to Cape Aristizabal, the furthest part of the Patagonia Argentina! It’s a rocky tip full of wonderful landscapes overlooking the open sea and hidden beaches that no one can imagine. Not for nothing is one of the favorite places of foreigners that visit this stay.

The inhabitants of the steppe accompany us once again. Along the walk, we will be sharing with guanacos, foxes, choiques, maras, piches and so many other birds of the place; sea lions don’t keep them waiting.

As if that weren’t enough, we will find an ancient lighthouse, a huge whale skeleton and even a work by the French sculptor Christian Boltanski, who placed it right next to the frame of this mammal arguing that with the wind the sound of this specimen is heard.

•         STONE CANYON

In the same inhospitable place, Corporal Aristizabal, we find the Stone Canyon, made up of walls more than 15 meters high. It is a dry riverbed where, if the passenger is physically active, is allowed to take a 2-hour walk.

It does not end there. If you get to the mouth of the sea, you will encounter water wells where you can go swimming and continue the interaction with nature. To the steppe fauna is added the grey fox, you will love it! It is a must of excursions in Bustamante Lodge Bay.

•         HISTORICAL TOUR

The historical tour could not be missed. And it is that, as we mentioned in our article about Bahía Bustamante “La Estancia de la Fauna Marina”, this place of great natural goodness, encloses a great history. To give you a clearer idea, what is now a small tourist town was the introduction to the go-to industry.

In this sense, this activity consists of a walk through the stay and surroundings of the Lodge. You will learn about its founder Lorenzo Soriano and the more than 400 inhabitants –between workers and their families– who in the 1950s gave life to this place in the south of Chubut province.

In short, visiting the sheds will help you learn about the different species of algae, their use and the harvesting process. Similarly, you’ll learn about the supply, police station, church, school, singles neighborhood, and family ward.

•         FIELD DAY

Did you know that in Bustamante Bay sustainable wool is also produced? Thus, among the activities there can be no miss a field day with a visit to the corrals, bretes and sheds, where you will know and learn about the process of production of wool and meat. Depending on the season of the year in which you travel you will enjoy other traditional rural activities of the stay.

That said, it’s important to remember that this Lodge is an Area of Importance for Bird Conservation (AICA), so the generations in charge of the place stand firm in their philosophy of preserving this natural environment with a sustainable project.

Do not think about it anymore and visit this place, not as secretive as before, but still exclusive to you and the family. As you read above, there’s a lot to do! The excursions in Bustamante Lodge Bay are varied, fascinating and suitable for all types of travelers.

Simply put, these are half-day activities that don’t require physical effort and adapt to any age. However, you must know that it is nature that decides when and at what time we will take each walk. That is, we depend on a tide chart –high or low– and the winds to make each excursion. Without a doubt, nature is the protagonist !Consult our travel specialists and live Bustamante Lodge Bay to the fullest!