Ruta Sur Rental company category:Standard
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Ruta Sur Puerto MadrynPuerto MadrynView map
Choosing a campervan hire in Puerto Madryn means setting off from the bay of the Golfo Nuevo, sheltered waters where whales, sea lions and dolphins roam. A seaside town turned towards the open ocean, it faces the Valdés Peninsula, whose entrance is just an hour's drive away. Here, southern right whales are watched from the beach, and both the southern Chubut coast and the long road to Buenos Aires open up without a detour.
Our partner company, Ruta Sur, hands over 4x4 campers with two to four berths, designed for the ripio gravel tracks of Patagonia.
1 rental partner
Where to pick up your vehicle in Puerto Madryn?
Observed prices
Rental prices observed in Puerto Madryn
| Vehicle | Winter July | Spring October | Autumn April |
|---|---|---|---|
| Campervan | from €309/day median €321/day | from €353/day median €364/day | from €329/day median €345/day |
Daily prices observed on October 26, 2026 for a 15-day rental: CoolDrive selling price, mandatory fees included, 1 rental companies compared. 100% of offers with unlimited mileage. Median excess: €3,000.
Road trip ideas
Road trips from Puerto Madryn
1 Valdés via Isla de los Pájaros, Salina Grande and Punta Cantor
- Puerto Madryn
- Isla de los Pájaros
- Puerto Pirámides
- Salina Grande
- Punta Cantor
- Puerto Madryn
On the isthmus leading to the peninsula, a viewpoint overlooks Isla de los Pájaros, in the San José Gulf: its outline is said to have inspired Saint-Exupéry, an Aéropostale pilot in the region, to draw the "hat" of The Little Prince. After a night at the Puerto Pirámides campsite, the track crosses the estancias to Salina Grande, a salt pan below sea level, then reaches the Punta Cantor viewpoint above the Caleta Valdés lagoon.
- Distance
- about 400 km
- Recommended vehicle
- 4x4 camper
2 Punta Loma, Camarones and Cabo Dos Bahías
- Puerto Madryn
- Punta Loma
- Garayalde
- Camarones
- Cabo Dos Bahías
- Puerto Madryn
Less than twenty kilometres south-east of town, the Punta Loma reserve is home to a sea lion colony visible from the top of the cliff. National Route 3 then runs south across the steppe to the Garayalde junction, where a road leads to Camarones, a fishing village facing the Atlantic. Further on, Cabo Dos Bahías brings together Magellanic penguins, guanacos and deserted coves, within a little-visited coastal marine park.
- Distance
- about 800 km
- Recommended vehicle
- 4x4 camper, any model
3 The Atlantic coast to Buenos Aires
- Puerto Madryn
- Sierra Grande
- Las Grutas
- Viedma
- Carmen de Patagones
- Bahía Blanca
- Sierra de la Ventana
- Buenos Aires
Heading north, National Route 3 enters Río Negro province and Las Grutas, whose cave-riddled cliffs line the mild waters of the San Matías Gulf. Viedma and Carmen de Patagones face each other across the Río Negro; after Bahía Blanca, the Sierra de la Ventana and its summit pierced by a window come just before Buenos Aires, another departure point of our partners, where you can return the 4x4.
- Distance
- about 1,450 km
- Recommended vehicle
- 4x4 camper
Weather and seasons
When to go in Puerto Madryn?
Best time
September to November, whale season
September to November
highs 17 to 24 °C, lows 7 to 12 °C
September and October are the peak of the whale season: mothers and calves, numerous in the gulf, can be watched from the shore as well as at sea. Penguins return to their colonies, the steppe turns briefly green and the days grow longer, with 10 to 12 hours of sunshine, under a still brisk wind.
High season
Southern summer, December to March
December to March
highs 24 to 28 °C, lows 13 to 16 °C
The Argentine holidays fill the beaches of the bay, where the sea reaches 18 to 19 °C from January to March, a rare mildness on this coast. It is the time for diving with the Punta Loma sea lions and for long evenings, with up to 14 hours of sunshine; the whales, meanwhile, have returned to the open ocean.
April and May
April to May
highs 15 to 20 °C, lows 7 to 10 °C
The southern autumn empties the coast: campsites free up, the low light gilds the cliffs and sunshine drops from 9 to 8 hours a day. In early April, orcas still hunt young sea lions at Punta Norte; in May, the cool nights call for shorter stages.
Winter
Winter, June to August
June to August
highs 12 to 14 °C, lows 3 to 5 °C
Short, cold days with 7 to 8 hours of sunshine, but a much-awaited return: the first southern right whales enter the Golfo Nuevo from June to breed. The beaches are deserted and the peninsula's tracks, sometimes muddy after the June rain, call for caution.
Climate in Puerto Madryn, month by month
Most pleasant months: September to April.
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun | Sea |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 28 °C | 16 °C | 16 mm | 14 h/day | 18 °C |
| Feb | 27 °C | 16 °C | 15 mm | 12 h/day | 19 °C |
| Mar | 24 °C | 13 °C | 24 mm | 11 h/day | 18 °C |
| Apr | 20 °C | 10 °C | 24 mm | 9 h/day | 16 °C |
| May | 15 °C | 7 °C | 15 mm | 8 h/day | 14 °C |
| Jun | 12 °C | 4 °C | 32 mm | 7 h/day | 12 °C |
| Jul | 12 °C | 3 °C | 25 mm | 7 h/day | 11 °C |
| Aug | 14 °C | 5 °C | 16 mm | 8 h/day | 10 °C |
| Sep | 17 °C | 7 °C | 19 mm | 10 h/day | 10 °C |
| Oct | 20 °C | 9 °C | 16 mm | 11 h/day | 12 °C |
| Nov | 24 °C | 12 °C | 24 mm | 12 h/day | 14 °C |
| Dec | 27 °C | 14 °C | 19 mm | 14 h/day | 16 °C |
Averages 2016–2025 computed from Open-Meteo data (ERA5 reanalysis).
Practical tips
Everything to know before hitting the road
El Doradillo, the whale beach
About fifteen kilometres north of the centre, the coastal road leads to El Doradillo, a protected area where southern right whales swim very close to the shore from June to December. Come at high tide, park the 4x4 in the spaces provided above the beach, keep quiet and check the rules in force before considering spending the night there.
Working with the gulf's tides
The tidal range in the Golfo Nuevo reaches several metres: at low tide, the sea pulls far back from the town beaches and El Doradillo, and the animals with it. Check the tide table, the tabla de mareas published every day, never park on the sand and plan your wildlife watching around high water.
Garayalde, the only stop on Route 3 south
South of Trelew, National Route 3 crosses the steppe for more than two hundred kilometres with hardly any services. Fill up in Puerto Madryn, carry water and food, and refuel again at the Garayalde junction before turning off towards Camarones and Cabo Dos Bahías, where supplies are scarce.
The Ecocentro before you set off
At the south end of the bay, the Ecocentro presents the marine wildlife of the Golfo Nuevo and helps you recognise whales, orcas, dolphins and seabirds once on the road. A visit before collecting the 4x4 gives you the keys to watching without disturbing: distances to keep, behaviour to know, the season of each species.
What travellers ask
Your questions about a road trip in Puerto Madryn
Where to pick up a campervan in Puerto Madryn?
Ruta Sur, our partner company, hands over its 4x4 campers in Puerto Madryn; the exact place and time of the meeting are given in the booking confirmation. If you fly into Trelew, allow about an hour by road or bus to reach the town, and send your schedule to the company to arrange the key handover.
How much does it cost to hire a campervan in Puerto Madryn?
The rate varies with the departure date, the length of hire and the 4x4 camper model, and demand peaks during the whale season as well as the southern summer. Run a search with your exact dates: Ruta Sur's offers are then shown at their real price, mandatory fees included, and can be booked online straight away.
Which 4x4 campers can you hire in Puerto Madryn?
The offers we found include five versions of the Adventure Camper: Elite, Freedom, Premium and Luxury, with three berths, and Freedom Plus, which has two. The Eminence Camper, the roomiest, offers four berths and five seats. The Luxury has only three travelling seats: check this if there are more than three of you.
When can you see whales from Puerto Madryn?
Southern right whales stay in the Nuevo and San José gulfs from June to December, with a peak in September and October. The best encounters from the shore happen at high tide; at sea, guided boat trips leave from Puerto Pirámides. For orcas, aim instead for Punta Norte in March and April, at high tide.
Can you return the 4x4 in Trelew, Bariloche or El Calafate?
Besides nearby Trelew, our partners have depots in Buenos Aires, Bariloche, San Martín de los Andes, Río Gallegos and El Calafate. Bariloche is reached by crossing the steppe towards the Andes, about 900 km by road; El Calafate takes about 1,450 km heading south. Choose the return city to see whether a one-way hire is offered.
Verified customer reviews
They rented in Puerto Madryn with CoolDrive Nomad
4.3
818 reviews
Excellent follow-up, pleasant and efficient contact.
Jérôme K.
Argentina · Mar 2025
Avis Vérifiés
Booking a pick-up with a rooftop tent. A flawless experience from the first exchange with Cooldrive to the return of the vehicle, which allowed us to travel across Argentina just as we wanted: on an ADVENTURE!! This will remain an unforgettable trip. A big thank you for your valuable advice and your responsiveness. Rental company in Buenos Aires very professional and extremely kind.
S.
Argentina · Mar 2025
Trustpilot
The quality of the vehicle was limited, with basic comfort considering the excessive price. Good rating for customer relations, but there was a lack of verification of the rented vehicles.
(anonymous)
Argentina · Jan 2024
Avis Vérifiés
Frequently asked questions
FAQ — Campervan and motorhome hire in Puerto Madryn
Do you need an international driving permit in Argentina?
A valid national licence is generally enough for a tourist stay, but an international driving permit, shown with the original, avoids any misunderstanding at police checks, which are frequent at provincial borders. The minimum age and years of licence required by the rental company are stated in the offer. In Argentina, you drive on the right.
Can you swim in Puerto Madryn?
Yes, especially from December to March: the sea in the bay reaches 18 to 19 °C at the height of summer, a rare temperature in Patagonia, and the town beaches stretch for several kilometres along the seafront. In August and September, the water drops to 10 °C. The sheltered gulf also attracts divers and kayakers.
Where to sleep in a campervan around Puerto Madryn?
The town has campsites on its outskirts, handy for the first and last nights. On the Valdés Peninsula, a protected area, nights are spent at the Puerto Pirámides campsite; parking overnight on the tracks or at viewpoints is not allowed there. Further south, in Camarones as at Cabo Dos Bahías, ask locally before settling anywhere other than a campsite.
How do you get to Puerto Madryn?
Most travellers land in Trelew, whose airport receives flights from Buenos Aires, then reach Puerto Madryn in about an hour along National Route 3, by taxi or bus. El Tehuelche airfield, on the edge of town, has only limited connections. Long-distance coaches also link Buenos Aires with the bus station.
Do you need to book far in advance?
With a single partner company, it is best to book early for September and October, the heart of the whale season, and for January, the month of the Argentine holidays. For families, the Eminence Camper, the only model found with four berths, is worth reserving first. From April to August, demand falls and a few weeks ahead is often enough.
About us
Why start a campervan trip in Puerto Madryn
Puerto Madryn was born from the landing of the Welsh settlers of the Mimosa in 1865; at Punta Cuevas, the Tehuelche monument pays tribute to the people who helped them survive. An aluminium port and Argentina's diving capital, the town lives to the rhythm of the sea: wrecks in the Golfo Nuevo, kayaking along the bay and, every winter, the return of the southern right whales.
For a 4x4 camper trip, it is a convenient starting point: the Valdés Peninsula begins across the gulf, Trelew is 57 km away as the crow flies, and National Route 3 opens the coast to the south as well as to the north. Ruta Sur offers six models with two to four berths. By returning the vehicle in Bariloche, El Calafate or Buenos Aires, where our partners also have depots, you can cross Patagonia in one go, ideally between September and April.
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