Hostels in Puerto Madryn: where to stay, how to get there and what to do
Puerto Madryn is a city of about 103,000 people on the Golfo Nuevo, founded in 1865 by Welsh settlers. For backpackers it's the cheapest base for seeing the Valdés Peninsula: southern right whales arrive from June to December and can be watched for free from El Doradillo beach, and from September to March there are penguins at Punta Tombo. The hostels are downtown, a few blocks from the bus station. The catch: almost everything good is 70-180 km away and has no public bus.
🛏️Dorm bedfrom ≈ US$ 18 a night
✈️AirportPMY (Madryn), ≈ 10 km away; REL (Trelew), 63 km
🚌Bus stationDr. Ávila 350, 0.2-0.8 km from the hostels
🐋WhalesJune to December; free from El Doradillo, ≈ 15 km away
🎟️Valdés entry fee≈ US$ 32 for foreigners, ≈ US$ 13 for Argentines
💨ClimateWindy and dry; highs from 13 °C in July to 27 °C in January
📍Trelew≈ 64-70 km, ≈ 1 h by bus
Ballena franca austral saltando frente a la costa patagónica
Pingüinos de Magallanes sobre la costa de piedras
Elefante marino descansando en la playa
How to get to Puerto Madryn
✈️ El Tehuelche Airport PMY
≈ 10 km from downtown Puerto Madryn · 9 km from the bus station
Getting to the centre and the hostels
Taxi: there's a dedicated rank in front of the airport terminal, ≈ 15 min to the centre
Inside the terminal there are Avis and Hertz desks for renting a car
Direct flights
Aerolíneas Argentinas to Buenos Aires (Aeroparque): ≈ 9-10 flights a week, 1 h 50 flight time.
✈️ Almirante Marcos A. Zar Airport (Trelew) REL
63 km from Puerto Madryn · 6 km from the Trelew bus station
Getting to the centre and the hostels
Bus from the company 28 de Julio, from the RN 3 Acceso Aeropuerto stop to the Madryn bus station: every hour, every day, ≈ 56 min, ≈ US$ 6
Taxi or remís (private car): ≈ 44 min by car
Direct flights
Aerolíneas Argentinas and JetSMART to Buenos Aires (Aerolíneas also to Ezeiza), and a flight to Bariloche. There are no direct international flights: you connect through Buenos Aires.
🚌 Puerto Madryn Bus Station (Terminal de Ómnibus)
📍 Dr. Ávila 350
🛏️ 0.2 to 0.8 km from the hostels (2 to 10 min on foot)
It has left luggage, a food court, kiosks, a waiting room and a taxi rank. Andesmar, Cóndor Estrella, Vía Tac, Mar y Valle and 28 de Julio operate here; schedules change, so confirm them at the ticket offices.
a few departures a day; confirm the time at the bus station
Mar y Valle
Gaiman (via Trelew)
81-86
≈ 2 h 11
with one change in Trelew
28 de Julio or Mar y Valle to Trelew
Comodoro Rivadavia
396-440
5 h 30 to 6 h 20
≈ 3 a day
Vía Tac, Andesmar
Esquel
665
≈ 10 h 30 to 11 h
1 a day (direct)
Vía Tac
Neuquén
674-694
≈ 10 h
1 a day
Vía Tac
Bariloche
838
≈ 16 h
1 a day
Vía Tac
Buenos Aires
≈ 1,300
17 h 30 to 20 h 30
Andesmar, 3 a day
Andesmar, Cóndor Estrella, Vía Tac
There's no practical direct bus to Ushuaia or El Calafate: you travel via Buenos Aires. Long-distance bus fares change often, so check them at the bus station.
Map of Puerto Madryn: bus station, hostels and sights
The hostels in this guide, the bus station, the airport and the things to see, all on one map. Tap a point to see its name.
Loading the map…
HostelsBus stationAirportSights
Off the map (straight-line distance): Aeropuerto Almirante Marcos A. Zar (REL), Trelew (≈ 53 km); Terminal de Ómnibus de Trelew (≈ 57 km).
Distances from the centre
Place
Distance
Time
How
Waterfront and Monumento a los Colonos Galeses
0.5-1 km
≈ 12 min on foot from the bus station
on foot
Lobería Punta Loma
≈ 17 km
gravel road
car, bike or tour
El Doradillo beach
≈ 15 km
20-25 min by car
car, remís or tour
Puerto Pirámides
94 km
≈ 1 h 20
Mar y Valle bus or car
Punta Ninfas
≈ 70 km
≈ 1 h on gravel; a 6 to 9 h tour
private tour or 4x4
Punta Tombo
180 km
≈ 7 h tour
car, remís or tour
Gaiman
81-86 km
≈ 2 h 11 by bus with a change
bus via Trelew
Getting around Puerto Madryn
The centre is walkable: the waterfront is 0.5-1 km away, the bus station is 0.6 km from Plaza San Martín and the three hostels in this guide are less than 1 km from the bus station.
There are municipal city buses, but you don't need them to get between the hostels, the bus station and the waterfront.
Outside the city there's no public transport to Punta Loma, El Doradillo or Punta Tombo, nor along the gravel roads of the Valdés Peninsula: the only buses are Mar y Valle to Puerto Pirámides and to Trelew.
For car rental there are Avis and Hertz desks at the airport; an economy car costs around ≈ US$ 51-57 a day. Inside the peninsula the speed limit is 60 km/h on gravel.
The El Doradillo Protected Natural Area has a bike path, and the listing for El Gualicho Hostel mentions bike rental for getting around the area.
Use licensed taxis only (there's a rank at the bus station). The centre is low-risk for walking, with petty theft at bus stations and busy areas: withdraw cash from ATMs during the day and never leave anything visible in a car.
The 3 best areas to stay in Puerto Madryn
1Around the bus station For bus arrivals and departures
🚌 ≈ 0.2 km from the bus station
This is where La Casa de Tounens is, ≈ 0.2 km from the bus station, with the plaza 0.5 km away and a La Anónima supermarket ≈ 140 m away. It suits anyone arriving or leaving on an early or overnight bus and staying only a few nights. The sea (Monumento a los Colonos Galeses) is ≈ 1 km away. The downside: it's the farthest from the waterfront within the centre.
2South centre: Sarmiento and Marcos A. Zar For walking to the sea and downtown
🚌 0.8 km from the bus station
La Tosca and El Gualicho are 0.3-0.5 km from the plaza, 0.6-0.8 km from the Monumento a los Colonos Galeses and 0.8 km from the bus station. Nearby are Vea and Carrefour Market supermarkets, Banco Nación and most of the banks. It suits anyone who wants to reach the sea, the restaurants and the ATMs without transport. Cons: at El Gualicho you can hear the neighbouring rooms, and the social scene at both is rather quiet.
3Puerto Pirámides (Valdés Peninsula) Alternative for the whales
🚌 94 km from the Madryn bus station
It's the only town inside the peninsula and the only departure point for whale-watching boats. It has hotels, cabins, hostels and a campsite, a petrol station, restaurants and medical care. Sleeping there saves you paying the entry fee to the area more than once and «200 km less per day» compared with Madryn. Cons: the bus is limited, mobile signal is patchy and this guide doesn't include hostels in Pirámides.
The 3 recommended hostels in Puerto Madryn
Three downtown Puerto Madryn hostels with dorms and a shared kitchen, chosen for their rating, number of reviews and proximity to the bus station. All have dorms and private rooms.
La Tosca Hostel & Suites
9.0 · 913 reviews
Sarmiento 437 · 300 m from Plaza San Martín
🚌 0.8 km from the bus station (9 min on foot)Mixed dormsPrivate roomsBreakfast includedKitchenBarbecue grill
Shared dorm
Dining room
Garden
A hostel with mixed dorms and private rooms, with shared or private bathroom, 300 m from the main plaza and 400 m from the beach. It has two equipped kitchens, a shared barbecue grill and breakfast included with homemade cakes. Guests get a 15-minute talk with information about the region. It stands out for staff (9.6) and location (9.4).
Very highly rated staff (9.6)
Homemade, varied breakfast
Weak WiFi according to guests
Top bunks are awkward
How much a night costs, month by month
Bed in a shared dorm · 1 person
283225282626······
OctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSep
Private room · 2 people
596652595656······
OctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSep
A bed costs from US$ 25 to US$ 32 a night, depending on the month. The private room, from US$ 52 to US$ 66. Months marked «·» have no rate loaded yet: the place opens its calendar in stages, it doesn't mean it's closed.
Public price per night, before taxes and fees (these are shown at checkout and depend on your country of residence and payment method), for the free-cancellation rate when there is one; quotes are for 2 consecutive nights. Rates change with the date. Updated 06/10/2026.
I want to thank the staff, who always answered all my questions. The breakfast was delicious, with little things they make themselves. Super attentive to everything we needed. They saved my breakfast because I was leaving at dawn for Trelew on a transfer, honestly a really lovely gesture.
Natalia · Argentina · Sep 2026
9Wonderful
The kindness of Lucas and Eduardo. Incredible willingness to help, give tourist information and listen.
Maryzargenta · Colombia · Sep 2026
10Highly recommended
The hostel is very well located with respect to the main avenue and the bus station. Around it there are corner shops to stock up and places to eat. The staff are super attentive and always available to advise you on activities in the city. We stayed in a 6-bed room, super spacious and comfortable.
Giannina · Argentina · Sep 2026
9Pleasant
The place is very nice and comfortable, the receptionists are approachable and friendly. The location is very good. The showers work well. The beds are comfortable.
Sebastian · Argentina · Sep 2026
Real reviews from verified guests, translated from the original language. A selection of 4 out of 913.
Hostel La Casa de Tounens
9.3 · 363 reviews
Pasaje 1.º de Marzo 432 · 200 m from the bus station
🚌 ≈ 0.2 km from the bus station (2 min on foot)Mixed dormsPrivate roomsKitchenBarBarbecue grill
Shared dorm
Shared kitchen
Entrance
A hostel one block from the bus station, with a 6-bed mixed dorm, doubles with private or shared bathroom and an affordable single. It has a shared kitchen, a bar, a garden with a barbecue grill, a games room, left luggage and a tourism desk. Its owner, Vincent, appears in almost every review for his advice. Rating 9.3.
Attentive owner who gives plenty of advice
200 m from the bus station
WiFi unstable at times
Better to choose a room with a private bathroom
How much a night costs, month by month
Bed in a shared dorm · 1 person
181818·········
OctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSep
Private room · 2 people
45·50·········
OctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSep
A bed costs around US$ 18 a night. The private room, from US$ 45 to US$ 50. Months marked «·» have no rate loaded yet: the place opens its calendar in stages, it doesn't mean it's closed.
Public price per night, before taxes and fees (these are shown at checkout and depend on your country of residence and payment method), for the free-cancellation rate when there is one; quotes are for 2 consecutive nights. Rates change with the date. Updated 06/10/2026.
I had a really, really nice experience. Vincent, the owner, is super friendly and gave me good advice for getting around the city. As for the facilities, the location is very good (right next to the bus station), the room was super clean and comfortable, with a nice patio too.
Rocío · Argentina · Oct 2026
10Vincent's service was exceptional
Vincent's service was exceptional, willing to help at all times with whatever you need; the location of the accommodation is ideal, close to all the main places. Only the WiFi signal, which was unstable at times.
Rodolfo · Argentina · Aug 2026
10Ideal place to travel solo or with family
The comfort and the hospitality. The private room with bathroom was super comfortable. It even had a handy little minifridge. Quiet, family atmosphere. I'd definitely choose it again.
Schneider · Argentina · Mar 2026
10One block from the bus station
The location, one block from the bus station and 5 from the centre. Supermarkets, YPF, everything within reach. And the service at the hostel.
Aylen · Argentina · Dec 2025
Real reviews from verified guests, translated from the original language. A selection of 4 out of 363.
El Gualicho Hostel
8.9 · 298 reviews
Marcos A. Zar 480 · 3 blocks from the sea
🚌 0.8 km from the bus station (10 min on foot)Mixed dormsFemale dormPrivate roomsBreakfast includedKitchen
Shared dorm
Shared kitchen
Entrance
A hostel with mixed dorms and a female one, and private rooms for 2 to 6 people. It includes continental breakfast, an equipped kitchen with a barbecue grill, a garden with hammocks, 24-h reception, an in-room safe, left luggage and parking. It's 3 blocks from the sea, 0.3 km from the plaza and 0.8 km from the bus station. Location 9.6 and cleanliness 9.2.
Very highly rated location (9.6)
Large kitchen with a barbecue grill
Basic, repetitive breakfast
Thin walls: you can hear the next room
How much a night costs, month by month
Bed in a shared dorm · 1 person
28282828282828·····
OctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSep
Private room · 2 people
64646470707070·····
OctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSep
A bed costs around US$ 28 a night. The private room, from US$ 64 to US$ 70. Months marked «·» have no rate loaded yet: the place opens its calendar in stages, it doesn't mean it's closed.
Public price per night, before taxes and fees (these are shown at checkout and depend on your country of residence and payment method), for the free-cancellation rate when there is one; quotes are for 2 consecutive nights. Rates change with the date. Updated 06/10/2026.
Spacious areas, heating in every room; even though there was a lot of foot traffic during the night, it stayed quiet enough to rest.
Fernanda · Argentina · Sep 2026
10Excellent
The location, the security, the friendliness of all the staff, always willing to help and offer information. Very good room and all its facilities. Maybe the breakfast was very repetitive, but for the price you can't ask for more.
Uribe · Argentina · Sep 2026
9It was a great choice
Perfect hot shower, good cleanliness in the room with shared bathroom, comfortable beds, well-kept facilities, spacious kitchen and comfortable spaces. It was a great choice.
Irene · Argentina · Aug 2026
10All the staff are very friendly
All the staff are very friendly. They answer all your questions. The hostel is very pleasant with good resting areas. Spacious kitchen for anyone who wants to cook, with a barbecue grill and space to store food. It's very close to everything, a few steps from the beach.
Jhoselina · France · Feb 2026
Real reviews from verified guests, translated from the original language. A selection of 4 out of 298.
Backpacker tips for Puerto Madryn
1Free whales, expensive whale watching
From the El Doradillo coast (≈ 15 km, 20-25 min by car) you can see whales without paying, and they come closer at high tide. Whale-watching boats leave only from Puerto Pirámides: ≈ US$ 127 per adult in high season and ≈ US$ 97 in low season.
2Share a car with people from the hostel
An economy car costs around ≈ US$ 51-57 a day: split four ways that's ≈ US$ 13-14 per person before fuel and entry fees. The regular full-day tour to Valdés costs from ≈ US$ 147 without the boat trip or the entry fee.
3Buy your tickets online
The Valdés Peninsula ticket is valid for two visits within 7 days and is sold in advance on the area's website. Punta Tombo is paid for online only, by card or Mercado Pago: it doesn't accept cash.
4Money and ATMs
Downtown there are ATMs from Banco Nación, Chubut, Macro, Galicia, Santander, BBVA, Credicoop and Patagonia, and a Western Union at San Martín 112. Withdraw cash before heading out to the peninsula.
5Cook at the hostel
There are La Anónima supermarkets (Fuerte San José 184, ≈ 250 m from the bus station), Vea (Belgrano 372) and Carrefour Market (28 de Julio 136). All three hostels in the guide have a shared kitchen.
6Wind and clothes
It's windy almost all year and the sea is cold, between 9.5 and 17.5 °C. In Valdés bring a windbreaker, water and snacks: services are few.
7Don't leave anything in the car
In 2024 backpacks were stolen from a rental car parked at Curva del Indio, on the seafront promenade, using signal jammers, and the newspaper says the method keeps recurring. Take everything with you.
8Fill up in Madryn
Inside the peninsula there's only one useful petrol pump, in Pirámides, and mobile signal is limited. Book the whale-watching boat well in advance at the peak of the whale season.
Things to do in Puerto Madryn (and how to get there on your own)
Whales from El Doradillo
From June to December southern right whales can be seen from the shore, free of charge and with open access. It's best to go at high tide, when they come closer.
Distance
≈ 15 km
How to get there
Car, remís or tour
Entry
Free
Whale-watching boat from Puerto Pirámides
Trips of ≈ 90 minutes between 9:30 and 15:30, only from Pirámides. It doesn't include the Valdés Peninsula entry fee.
Distance
94 km
How to get there
Mar y Valle bus or car
Entry
≈ US$ 97-127 per adult
Valdés Peninsula circuit
Istmo Ameghino at 66 km, Pirámides at 94 and Punta Norte at 162. There are no buses on the gravel roads: you go by car or on a full-day tour.
Distance
66-173 km
How to get there
Car or tour
Entry
Entry ≈ US$ 32 for foreigners
Punta Tombo
The largest mainland colony of Magellanic penguins, with more than 400,000 adults. The last 22 km are gravel.
Distance
180 km
How to get there
Remís, car or ≈ 7 h tour
Entry
≈ US$ 23 for foreigners
Punta Ninfas
A lighthouse and penguin colony on a private estancia, with elephant seals. It's ≈ 1 h on gravel and can only be done on a private tour or in a 4x4.
Distance
≈ 70 km
How to get there
Private tour or 4x4
Lobería Punta Loma
Sea lions all year round, with pups from November to March. Snorkelling with sea lions is also offered.
Distance
≈ 17 km
How to get there
Car, bike or tour
Waterfront and Punta Cuevas
From the pier to the southern end of the promenade it's 4.6 km (≈ 56 min on foot), passing through the Punta Cuevas Historical Park.
Distance
4.6 km
How to get there
On foot or by bike
Entry
Free
Trelew and Gaiman: Welsh tea
In Gaiman are the tea houses Plas y Coed (the oldest, from 1944), Ty Gwyn (since 1974), Nain Glenys and Ty Cymraeg. In Trelew you'll find the Egidio Feruglio Palaeontological Museum.
Distance
81-86 km
How to get there
Bus to Trelew and a connection to Gaiman
Tours you can book online
The best of Puerto Madryn lies outside the city and almost always without public buses. If you don't rent a car, here are some of the tours available.
Weather and seasons in Puerto Madryn
High season runs from September to mid-December, when the whale peak, the Punta Tombo penguins (open from 14 September to 30 March) and the elephant seals coincide; January and February are also high, with penguins but no whales. From June to August there are whales in the cold, and orcas appear from March to May. May is the slowest month: no whales or penguins. In high season it's best to book your whale-watching trip and hostel in advance.
max. / min. °CHigh seasonShoulder seasonLow season💧 rain (mm)
Average temperatures and rainfall according to Wikipedia.
Plan the rest of your trip
You can fly to Puerto Madryn (PMY) with Aerolíneas Argentinas from Aeroparque, a 1 h 50 flight, or to Trelew (REL), 63 km away, which has more Aerolíneas and JetSMART flights; from there the 28 de Julio bus leaves every hour and takes ≈ 56 min to the Madryn bus station. By long-distance bus, Buenos Aires is ≈ 1,300 km away and takes 17 h 30 to 20 h 30; by car it's ≈ 1,327 km. To get around the Valdés Peninsula and Punta Tombo, the most practical option is to rent a car with others or join a tour, because there are no buses on those roads.
When can you see the whales, and where can I watch them for free?
The southern right whale season runs from June to December, peaking between September and mid-December. You can see them for free from the coast at El Doradillo, about 15 km from Madryn, best at high tide. Whale-watching boats leave only from Puerto Pirámides and cost money: ≈ US$ 97 to ≈ US$ 127 per adult, depending on the season.
Can I see the Valdés Peninsula without a car?
With limits. A Mar y Valle bus takes you to Puerto Pirámides (94 km, ≈ 1 h 20), where the whale-watching trips leave from. There are no buses on the gravel roads in the rest of the peninsula: for Punta Norte, Caleta Valdés or Punta Delgada you need a car or a full-day tour (from ≈ US$ 147 without the boat trip).
How much does it cost to enter the Valdés Peninsula and Punta Tombo?
Valdés Peninsula: foreigners ≈ US$ 32 and Argentines ≈ US$ 13 (AR$ 50,000 and AR$ 20,000). Punta Tombo 2026-27: foreigners ≈ US$ 23 and Argentines ≈ US$ 13 (AR$ 35,000 and AR$ 20,000), online only and no cash. Tours don't usually include the entry fee, so ask before you pay.
When are there penguins and how do I get to Punta Tombo?
The penguin colony is open from 14 September 2026 to 30 March 2027, and the chicks hatch in November. It's 180 km from Madryn and 110 from Trelew, with the last 22 km on gravel and no public transport: you get there by car, remís or on a tour of about 7 hours.
When are there orcas at the Valdés Peninsula?
Between March and May, at Punta Norte and Caleta Valdés, where they hunt sea lion pups by beaching themselves on the shore. In October and November they can show up at Caleta Valdés hunting elephant seal pups. They depend on the high tide and seeing them is not guaranteed.
Is it better to fly to Madryn or to Trelew?
Madryn (PMY) is ≈ 10 km from the centre but has only Aerolíneas Argentinas, with ≈ 9-10 weekly flights to Aeroparque. Trelew (REL), 63 km away, adds Aerolíneas, JetSMART and the route to Bariloche, and there's a 28 de Julio bus every hour to Madryn (≈ 56 min). If Trelew works out cheaper, the bus makes up for it.
Transparency: this is an independent guide; we are not the official website of any hostel. If you book through our links we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
