Happy TravellerWelcome to Puerto Madryn, a beautiful city located in the province of Chubut in Argentine Patagonia. With a population of approximately 93,995 inhabitants, Puerto Madryn is a popular destination for tourists visiting the natural attractions of the Península Valdés and the coast.
Founded on July 28, 1865, by Welsh immigrants arriving aboard the clipper Mimosa, Puerto Madryn was named after Sir Love Jones-Parry’s estate in Wales, called Madryn after the Welsh name for Saint Materiana. The settlers had to dig irrigation ditches for their first crops, and the town grew as a result of the building of the Central Chubut Railway by Welsh, Spanish, and Italian immigrants. This line, opened in 1889, linked the town to Trelew via the lower Chubut River valley.
Today, Puerto Madryn is an important center for tourism, protected by the Golfo Nuevo, which is formed by the Península Valdés and the Punta Ninfas. Visitors can enjoy a variety of activities, including whale watching, scuba diving, and visiting the nearby penguin colonies. The city also boasts a new shopping mall in the city center, which has helped tourism significantly, making Puerto Madryn a more attractive place for both international and domestic tourists visiting Patagonia.
One of the unique aspects of Puerto Madryn is its enduring link with Welsh culture since the Welsh settlement in Argentina. The city is twinned with Nefyn, a small town on the Llŷn Peninsula in North Wales. The first of a two-Test tour to Argentina by the Wales national rugby union team was played in 2006 in Puerto Madryn, a 27–25 win for Argentina.
Puerto Madryn is also home to two football clubs; Club Social y Atlético Guillermo Brown, who play in Nacional B and Deportivo Madryn that currently play in Torneo Argentino B. A basketball team, Deportivo Puerto Madryn, plays in the Liga Nacional de Básquetbol (LNB). Their home arena is known as the Deportivo Puerto Madryn Arena.
If you’re planning a trip to Puerto Madryn, you can fly into El Tehuelche Airport, located 10 km (6 miles) northwest of the city center. Commercial flights from Buenos Aires, Ushuaia, and other Argentinian cities are available. Most tourists fly into Trelew Airport as flights into Puerto Madryn are restricted as a result of environmental concerns.
Puerto Madryn features a cold desert climate (Köppen BWk), with an annual precipitation of between 150 and 200 mm (6 to 8). The town was the port to which Argentine prisoners of war captured in the Falklands Islands during the 1982 war were repatriated on the vessels SS Canberra and MV Norland, which sailed from Port Stanley on 18 June 1982.
In conclusion, Puerto Madryn is a must-visit destination for anyone traveling to Argentine Patagonia. With its rich history, breathtaking landscapes, and unique cultural heritage, this enchanting city is sure to leave a lasting impression on any traveler.
