The only way I could see other areas of the Valdes Peninsula without hiring a car is to sign up for a tour. Our first stop is Punta Norte, 75km from Puerto Piramides on rough gravel roads. Here seals and sea lions live in harmony. I spot a large male elephant seal on the beach and I wonder whether he`s a 'beachmaster'. Beachmasters get to mate with all the female seals in their harem. For this privilege he needs to control his patch by fighting off any challengers. The largest harem known on the peninsula contained 130 female elephant seals. The beachmaster was named 'Pavarotti'.
At times Orcas come up on to the beach to catch seals. 95 percent of the time they let them go again. It`s purely a lesson for young Orcas on how to feed themselves. Unfortunately we don't see any today.
Our next stop for more seal watching is Caleta Valdes, an elongated creek 50km from Punta Norte. Here savage winds have eroded the land and carved out sand banks separating the sea from a number of shallow channels. It's so windy it's a struggle to stay upright. The air is hot and dry and the sand sticks to my face.
(Photo - seals at Punta Norte)
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