Puerto Madryn is a peaceful and beautiful city located in the northeast of the province of Chubut, Argentina. It is one of the most important tourism centers in the region, as thousands of tourists visit each year. It is considered the national capital of diving.
The city of Puerto Madryn the capital of diving, is located within the Nuevo Gulf, formed by the Valdés Peninsula and Punta Ninfas, on the coast of Chubut province, facing the Argentine Sea in the Atlantic Ocean. It sits on a small plateau that offers a stunning ocean view. Its population is approximately 120,000 inhabitants. It is considered the gateway to the Valdés Peninsula, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999.
Economic Activity, Tourism.
The three main pillars of the city’s economy are: the industrial park (heavy and light industries, including aluminum production), fishing, and tourism. In recent decades, Puerto Madryn has significantly increased its population, with many new neighborhoods built to support related activities. The city is experiencing active urban expansion to the south, west, and north. Currently, there are over a dozen new apartment buildings under construction, along with commercial spaces in the downtown area, hypermarkets, the Portal de Madryn shopping center, and more.
The installation of a steel plant in Puerto Madryn is under consideration. The Italian-based Beltrame Group has been negotiating with the provincial government to set up a plant in the area, though there is some concern among citizens about the potential environmental impact of such a venture, especially given the city’s positioning as an ecotourism destination.
The city of Puerto Madryn offers a wide range of accommodations and hotels of all categories and services, catering to both leisure and business conventions, with over 75 hotels. Our recommendation: Yene Hue
A Bit of History
In 1862, Love Jones-Parry, Baron of Madryn, and Lewis Jones traveled from Wales to Argentina as representatives of the Emigration Society to negotiate with the Argentine government for potential Welsh settlement locations. Once the agreement was reached, they sailed from Buenos Aires on an exploratory journey through Patagonia aboard a small ship called Candelaria. On February 7, 1863, the Baron of Madryn set foot on the shores of what is now Puerto Madryn, named in his honor.
On July 28, 1865, the first contingent of 153 Welsh settlers arrived on the shores of the current city aboard the Mimosa schooner. However, due to a lack of drinking water, the settlers could not stay and moved toward the Chubut River in search of better conditions. In 1880, the Argentine government began constructing warehouses at the port, and later, with the labor of Welsh, Spanish, and Italian immigrants, the Central Chubut Railway was built, connecting Puerto Madryn to Trelew. The Puerto Madryn Station was significant, featuring railway workshops spread across large warehouses with storage, machinery, spare parts, etc.
Ultimately, the city’s major growth came from the development of railway and port activities, which interacted with the service sector, including commerce and storage.
In 1970, the company ALUAR (Argentine Aluminum) established itself in the city due to its strategic location for maritime exports and imports. The company employs over 1,700 people and is the sole primary aluminum producer in the country and the largest in South America.
Diving and Nautical Activities
All the beaches in Puerto Madryn, the Diving Capital, are equipped with infrastructure for various nautical activities, including windsurfing and, of course, diving. Thanks to the many divers from around the world who choose Puerto Madryn, the city has developed numerous artificial reefs in recent years, ideal for traditional diving baptisms.
During the summer season, the beaches are bustling, where besides sunbathing and swimming, visitors enjoy water sports such as kayaking, canoeing, windsurfing, kitesurfing, and jet skiing, among others.
The San José and Nuevo Gulfs are primarily visited for “diving baptisms,” as Puerto Madryn boasts crystal-clear and calm waters, allowing light penetration up to 70 meters deep.
Southern Right Whale
Undoubtedly, whale season is one of the tourist attractions that put Puerto Madryn on the global map. Southern right whales arrive at its shores and can be observed from boats departing from Puerto Pirámides or from natural viewpoints along most of the city’s beaches.
From the central Comandante Luis Piedrabuena Pier, visitors can spot Commerson’s dolphins, sea lions, and even southern right whales, which return to the area each year to mate and breed. Additionally, cormorants, kelp gulls, and sea lions can be seen.
Near the city, visitors can spot guanacos, choiques (a smaller type of rhea), a wide variety of coastal birds, Patagonian hares (also called maras), and martinetas (a Patagonian bird), among other species.
Geography and Climate
As mentioned, the city has a unique geographical position, sitting a “step” below the Patagonian plateau. The coast features cliffs and beaches of pebbles and sand. Rainfall is scarce year-round, with an average annual temperature of around 14°C, reaching highs of 35°C in summer and lows of 5°C in winter.
Culture and Education
The main points of interest in the city include the Municipal Art Museum, the Provincial Museum of Man and the Sea, the Ecocentro, and the Landing Museum.
The city hosts important university-level educational institutions, with academic offerings tailored to the region. It has a branch of the National University of Patagonia San Juan Bosco, offering programs in Natural Sciences, Engineering, and Law. The campus spans approximately 2,500 m² and was established in 1985, with 870 students (as of 2003).
The Chubut Regional Faculty of the National Technological University (UTN) offers degrees in Fisheries Engineering, Electromechanical Engineering, Industrial Organization, and Occupational Health and Safety. The University of Chubut provides programs such as Nursing and Administration of Natural Areas, the latter being a pioneering and unique program in the country with international certification.
Additionally, CONICET (National Scientific and Technical Research Council) has a multidisciplinary delegation in the city, next to the UNPSJB building. Here, scientific research and doctoral work are conducted with students and researchers from around the world through the Patagonian National Center (CENPAT).
Event Calendar
March: Senior Olympics – Brings together retirement centers from across Argentina for a week of bocce, card games, costume contests, and dancing at the Municipal Gymnasium.
Easter: Underwater Via Crucis. Artisanal Fishermen’s Festival.
June: Launch of “Whale Season,” the peak tourism period, attracting visitors from around the world.
July 28: Celebration of the Welsh settlers’ arrival in Puerto Madryn (Landing Festival), marking the city’s founding. Puerto Madryn Half Marathon.
September: Local Model United Nations.
Last week of October: Inter-school Artistic Encounter of Madryn (Escuela Mutualista).
November: National Lamb Festival. Artisanal Fishermen’s Festival.
December: National Diving Festival – Diving competition with the Jules Rossi Cup as the prize.
How to Get There
To reach Puerto Madryn from Buenos Aires, take National Route 3 for 1,400 kilometers.
Cruise ships heading to southern Argentina pass through the Luis Piedrabuena Pier. The city also has a long-distance bus terminal connecting it to the rest of Argentina, as well as El Tehuelche Airport, which offers several weekly flights from various Argentine cities. Several airlines provide daily flights to the city or to Trelew, located 67 kilometers away.
Puerto Madryn: where history and the sea meet under the surface
Puerto Madryn is not only the diving capital of Argentina, but also a destination that combines Patagonian landscapes, marine biodiversity and a fascinating history. To dive in its waters is to discover ancient shipwrecks, sea lion colonies and a unique connection with nature. From underwater baptisms to advanced explorations, diving in Madryn is an experience not to be missed. Find out more about this treasure of the Chubut coast in PatagoniaMás and get ready for your next adventure!
City website: https://www.madryn.gob.ar/ Tourism: https://turismo.madryn.gob.ar/
