Be sure to read the Special Notes further down this page for important requirements and restriction.

One of the best ways to discover all the watery wonders Patagonia has to offer is aboard a RIB-a lightweight and high-capacity Rigid Inflatable Boat. Capable of startling acrobatic maneuvers and high speeds, the RIBs provide an excellent vehicle for an exhilarating ride along the picturesque Golfo Nuevo coast.

But this isn't just a cruise over the water! The RIB will whisk you to the Punta Loma Nature Reserve for a chance to see the frisky and friendly sea lions that make their home among the rocky cliffs, pebble beaches and warm waters of the gulf. Be sure to bring along a camera to capture every memorable moment.

Your three-hour excursion begins right at the pier as you walk to the RIB. After boarding your vessel, your captain will share his knowledge of the area and its history as you zoom down the scenic coast. Keep your camera handy - playful dolphins have been known to command your attention by jumping in and out of the water. And if you're lucky, pods of dolphins will cruise alongside your boat.

As you near the reserve, you'll no doubt "ooh" and "aah" over the high, rugged chalk-white cliffs and cobalt blue water of the Golfo Nuevo. Located between the Valdes Peninsula and the Patagonian mainland, the protected waters of Golfo Nuevo are often frequented by Southern right whales during breeding season from May to December. But the main attraction is the frisky and friendly sea lions. Created in 1967 to protect South America's only permanent sea lion colony, the Punta Loma Nature Reserve is home to about 600 sea lions.

Sea lions spend most of their time in the water so don't be surprised if they play peek-a-boo with the boat. Although a sea lion can swim up to 25 miles an hour, as you get closer to the sea lions your captain will pause the engines, allowing you to take one terrific photo after another. From the boat, you'll be able to watch these cute critters basking or walking with their bodies raised and supported by their four limbs on the shore.

Maybe a male will pop his head out of the water. Recognized by their short snout and moustache, a typical male sea lion measures eleven feet long while a female usually measures eight feet long. Each is a graceful creature that loves to dive and cavort around humans.

Keep an eye on the skies and the cliffs, too; rock cormorants, kelp gulls, South American terns, and oystercatchers, with their bright orange-red bills, feel well at home here, too.

Hopefully with a camera filled with photos, your captain will steer the boat around and return you to shore in time to set out on another adventure.