Escuela de Lenguas UNLP/About Argentina/Tourist Attractions/Chubut (province)

Chubut is a province in the Argentinian Patagonia in the south of the country. Rawson is the capital city but the town with the largest number of inhabitants is Comodoro Rivadavia. Chubut has a unique geography that includes the sea, beaches, valleys, mountains and lakes. The territory can be divided into three distinct regions: the mountains, the central plateau and the Atlantic coast; each with its particular attractions. The major cities on the coast are Rawson, Puerto Madryn and Puerto Pirámides. Excellent roads link the coast with the mountains, so you can easily get to the towns of this region: Esquel, Lago Puelo or Trevelin among others.

Cities

Esquel

It is a city northwest of the province of Chubut. It is rich in wildlife and it is a major tourist attraction. The most visited places are: the National Park “Los Alerces”, the ski center “La Hoya” and “La Zeta” lagoon.

Gaiman

Gaiman is a nineteenth century Welsh colony. It is near Rawson, in the province of Chubut, Argentina. The first Welsh colonies arrived on the Patagonian coast in 1865. They came from Wales on the Mimosa ship. They settled in the lower valley of Chubut river. The Welsh colonist David D. Roberts was the first inhabitant in the land called Gaiman in 1874. This word is a Tehuelche word which means “sharp stone”. In the town there are many traditional Welsh tea houses,which offer tourists exquisite cakes and delicious biscuits with Welsh tea.

Puerto Madryn

It is considered the diving capital of the country. It is a modern and cosmopolitan city that offers everything a visitor may need from museums, shops and beaches, to whale watching and sports of all kinds.

Puerto Pirámides

It is a stop no tourist can miss on their trip to the Península Valdés. The reproduction and delivery of the southern right whale is a show that nature offers every year from June to December. Killer whales can be seen between February and May, while dolphins and Commerson’s dolphins, all year round. Also you can see lions and elephant seals, penguins, cormorants and territorial wildlife.