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Rincon Chico


Peninsula Valdes
Argentina

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About Rincon Chico activities - in their own words:

Guests will have the opportunity during their stay to enjoy the natural beauty of the varied wildlife that lives in the ranch and its coasts, the flora and work with the sheep.

We offer wildlife watching tours guided by biologists and professionals bilingual naturalists to the various beaches of the property, hiking trails of varying length and difficulty across the steppe and cliffs, mountain biking, interpretation of native flora, birdwatching, livestock facilities tours of the property (and rural participation in the work if it matches the date), astronomical interpretation talks and walks in the dunes fields.

While walking along the different pathways and coast of the ranch they will be able to film, take photographs and enjoy the tranquility of nature from a unique private setting.

Sea lions and thousands of elephant seals have chosen our beaches for breeding and birthing; and whales, orcas, penguins and dolphins are all sighted from the estancia’s 15 km of coastline. You can watch a wide variety of inland and coastal birds, and see many of Patagonia’s native terrestrial mammals.

Additional activities on the Península, include whale and dolphin watching, visiting penguin colonies, snorkeling and scuba diving with sea lions, kayaking, and exploring the scenic vistas the Península’s cliff-lined coastline has to offer.

SAMPLE GUIDED EXCURSIONS:

Excursion A - Distance from the farmhouse and back 14,8 km.
You will be taken along the path that goes from the farmhouse to the so called Playa del Pedregullo on the northeastern part of our establishment. The main aim of this excursion is to reach the place where the elephant seals are and to watch from level grounds. You will also come across marine fossils and birds in the "Refugio de los Acantilados" (Cliffs Shelter).
Difficulty level is low.
Specially designed for elder people or those with walking difficulties.

Excursion B - A 10,9-kilometre excursion to the cliffs and back to the farmhouse.
From the cliffs you will enjoy a panoramic view of the elephant seals.
Whale-watching will be an added bonus if you come when these mammals are on their way from Golfo Nuevo to Golfo San José (whales season). Eventually orcas will also be spotted.
Birds can be seen all along the path.
Difficulty level is medium.

Excursion C - Distance from the farmhouse and back 13,4 km.
This excursion (from and back to the farmhouse) will take you to the southwestern section of the Estancia.
It has been designed to reach the highest cliffs from where sea lions can be seen.
Difficulty level is low and at some parts medium.

Excursion D - Distance from the farmhouse and back: 8,4 km.
On this excursion you will be visiting a pit that could have been the shelter of the first inhabitants of Peninsula de Valdés; you will also be visiting the northern coast of the Estancia. This is an area of cliffs from where the open sea, elephant seals, and birds can be seen.
Difficulty level is low and at some parts medium.

Excursion E - Distance from the farmhouse and back 6,4 km.
While going along this path you will be able to enjoy birds in their habitat: an area of magnificent dunes, which are an added bonus to the attractions of the Península.
Difficulty level is low.

Excursion F - Distance from the farmhouse and back 9,8 km.
You will be visiting the Breakwaters. The special attraction of this path depends on the seasons according to which different types of birds will be seen. This bird-watching activity can be done from the vehicle.

SELF GUIDED EXCURSIONS
These paths are on the surroundings of the farmhouse.  A step-by-step guide will help you enjoy and take photographs of the fauna and flora.

CYCLING
While cycling along the paths of Rincón Chico you will be enriched by invaluable experiences, such as your close contact with the land or the temptation to run a senseless race against the quick lizard. You will get surprised at the martineta and its cry, or stumble while racing the choiques, and you will be amused at the arrogance of the guanacos.

FLORA & FAUNA

MARINE FAUNA: On the coastal area of the Estancia there is an elephant seals (mirounga leonine) colony. To the west coast there is a place where sea lions (otaria flavescens) meet. It is also possible to watch the Southern Franca Whale (eubalaena australis) and orcas (orcinus orca) swimming by.

LAND FAUNA: Some of the species in our Patagonia are: the Patagonia hare or mara (dolichotis patagonum), guanacos (lama guanicoe), grey foxes (pseudolapex griseus), the Patagonian pichi (zaedius pichiy), armadillos (chaetopractus villosus), small reptiles (lizards belonging to the liolaemus genus), skunks (conepatus patagonico), the European hare (lepus europaens) and the small cuis (microcavia australis).

BIRDS: On the Steppe - Choique (pterocnemia pennata), the Southern goldfinch (sicalis lebruni), herons (nyctycorax nyctycorax), turkey vulture (Cathartes aura), turkey buzzards (pluvialis dominica, charadrius faiklandius and ch. Collaris), owls (tyto alba, bubo virginianus, athenes cunicularia and asio flammeus), calandra larks (mimus patagonicus and mimus triurus).

On the breakwaters and Atlantic Coast - Seagulls (larus maculipennis and l. dominicanus), cormorants (phalacrocorax olivaceus), the Antarctic doves (chionis alba), oystercatcher (haematopus palliates, h.leucopodus and h.ater), swallows (progne modesta tachycinetta leucopyga and notiochelidon cyanoleuca), Flamingos (phoenicopterus chilensis), and ducks (anas flavirostris, lophonetta specularoides and ana georgica) among others.

FLORA: The stunted flora shyly tints the Patagonian steppe in subtle tones of yellow and orange. In our Estancia there is a wide variety of species such as: Fabiana (Fabiana nana -Speg.- Arroyo); Sulupe (Ephedra ochreata Miers); Coirón llama (Stipa humilis Cavanilles); Neneo (Mulinum spinosum -Cav.- Persoon); Pata de perdiz (Hoffmannseggia trifoliata Cavanilles var); Molle (Schinus johnstoii Barkley); Jume (Suaeda divaricata Moquin); Tuna (Maihueniopsis darwinii -Hansl.- Ritter); Marancel (Sisyrinchium junceum E. Meyer ex Presl ssp junceum); Abrojo (Acaena platyacantha Spegazzini); Alfirerillo (Erodium cicutarium -L.- L´Heritier ex Aiton); Jumelia (*).

SHEEP RAISING

Nature-related tourism and sheep farming go hand in hand at the Estancia Rincón Chico.

In the farm house and its surrounding area, events such as sheep shearing and branding will show you the true life of the Patagonian farmer and his history