An Afternoon Among Patagonia’s Wildlife

The afternoon was ours to explore at leisure. After a light lunch at the hotel, we set off on a walk along the coastline, which stretched out behind the lighthouse.

Not far from the hotel, we stumbled upon a collection of skeletons. It was an eerie feeling, finding them so close to where we were staying. One of the skeletons appeared to belong to a very large animal—perhaps a small whale? The bones were neatly arranged, leading us to wonder if this was done on purpose, perhaps for some unknown reason.

The coastline itself was stunning. The sea was a brilliant turquoise, set against a deep blue sky, with not a soul in sight. The atmosphere was wild and untouched, a true escape into nature.

As we looked back, the lighthouse was still visible, its red structure standing out against the vibrant colors of the sea and sky. The scene was so picturesque, almost as if it belonged in a painting.

The highlight of our day—and perhaps our entire stay on the Valdés Peninsula—was the incredible encounters with wildlife. Guanacos and horses roamed freely, as they did everywhere here. But what we will never forget was our encounter with a skunk family. At first, we spotted one and stopped in our tracks. Then, a smaller one appeared, curiously watching us. Soon, a slightly larger, lighter-colored skunk, perhaps the mother, came out in front of the young ones. And then, the father emerged, standing protectively beside the mother. Both parents stared us down in a stance that was more endearing than intimidating. It was an utterly charming scene, one of the best wildlife encounters of our lives, made even more special by the fact that it happened in the wild.

We also came across an armadillo, and this time, we managed to capture a clear photo—redeeming our earlier disappointment. Nearby, we even found its skeleton, confirming that armadillos are indeed native to this wild landscape and not as rare as we first thought.

It was an excellent afternoon walk. On our way back to the hotel, we bumped into the hotel owner, who was out for a walk with her horses.

The day ended perfectly, a fitting farewell to our time on the Valdés Peninsula.