This modern town, which serves as a distributor of touristic services by means of its modern airport and its geographic location, started around 1886 as the "end of the rails" to the brand-new railway which joined it with Port Madryn. It takes its name from the leader of the Welsh Settlement, Lewis Jones (in Welsh: Tre=town; Lew=short for Lewis),who struggled to keep the colony together in the days when a handful of 153 souls survived in the Patagonian desert which still surrounds the town and which is one of its most precious touristic treasures.
The railway was opened on the 25th May 1889 in the charming little building which today houses the museum. A few blocks away, the visitor may enter the peace of the Tabernacl chapel (Congregational) or get acquainted with the history of Saint David Hall, which for decades was the seat of the Eisteddfod, which festival of music and poetry still fulfils the cultural expectations of the local community.
In the middle of the Independencia Square Garden one can enjoy a valuable historical piece. This wooden pavilion has served as stage to numerous cultural expressions.
On the way to Rawson, next to the channel -dug by the settlers- and accompanied by the tombs of almost all of them stands Moriah chapel, stage to countless demonstrations of the faith which always moved the Welsh. Some 15 chapels of different creeds still stand all along the valley.
A few blocks from the centre of town one can visit the Egidio Feruglio Paleontological Museum. This young scientific-educational organisation displays unique fossil pieces in a modern and didactic atmosphere. (See its own page).
The airport hall exhibits a touching brass plate as a token of gratitude to Antoine de Saint Exupery, (author of "The Little Prince") for the heroic services rendered along Patagonian air routes.
Season: For whales, from July to December - For other wildlife, from September to March.
This music and poetry festival takes place in Trelew every spring. But it takes an international character every second year, when choirs from Wales and other countries join the different competitions.
The tradition was brought in by the Welsh settlers and it is believed that it dates as far back as the sixth century, although in Patagonia it started only by the late 1800s.
Some of the competitions are in Welsh , others in Spanish, English, French, Italian or other languages. The means of communication is either Spanish or Welsh.
The Coronation of the Bard for prose in Welsh and the ceremony of the Poet for a poem in Spanish are unusually interesting stages of the festival, as the real names of the contestants remain unknown until the time when the announcer calls him/her for three times. Once identified, the winner will be accompanied to the stage by a teenager and a child where he or she will be crowned.
There is a lot more to see but rather come and see for yourself. We know you will enjoy it.
Rawson is just a few minutes east of Trelew airport. Besides being the capital of the province this peaceful town has a historical value, as it was the place where the Welsh immigrants started organising themselves politically and socially. One can still visit the old "Berwyn" chapel which was erected on the plot donated by Richard Berwyn who was the secretary to the provincial government from the beginning.
A few miles east there is Union Beach, a weekend village which grows considerably in summer due to the arrival of large numbers of tourists. Next to it is the Chubut river mouth, where a small jetty has been built in order to allow for the operation of minor fishing vessels which take to sea in search of gastronomic delicacies.
Gaiman is a romantic little town which original bucolic atmosphere has been kept by the Welsh community along the years. The old railway station, opened on a rainy morning of 1910 has been turned into a charming museum which deserves to be seen. Before returning to your hotel, it is worth enjoying a Pantagruelian good old tea with home-made cakes at some of the cute local TEA ROOMS.
A few yards away, in the middle of a gorgeous quiet park rises a monolith erected by the immigrants of different nationalities in commemoration of the quadricentennial of the discovery of America.
Across the road one can explore the past by leafing through some of the old Welsh books at the Richard Berwyn library, built right over the canal.
Approximate duration: from Trelew 6 hs.
from Port Madryn 8 hs.
From Trelew or Port Madryn, some 110 or 173 km south, on a peninsula which leads into the South Atlantic, there lies this magnificent wildlife reserve.
Along the route, on both sides of it, one can see maras (cavy), armadillo, skunk, tinamou, wild goose, rhea and even large herds of guanaco (Lama guanicoe).
Upon arrival, after paying the relevant fee, the warden will give you indications so as to enjoy your visit while contributing to the conservation of the species which inhabit the area: magellanic penguin, rhea, guanaco, tinamou, kelp and dolphin gulls, snowy sheathbill, cavy, steamer duck, skua and many others.
Hundreds of thousands of penguins are the major attraction which every season draws tens of thousands of visitors from all over the world.
It is possible to walk along the nests excavated on the pebbly ground, sometimes under the shrubs or simply at open air.
As in most tours in Patagonia it is recommendable to have a jacket at hand, as the weather changes unexpectedly. Footwear, the same as dress, should be appropriate for a field outing.
There is a shop which during the season sells sandwiches, meatpies, beer, cool drinks, sweets and souvenirs.
There is neither a telephone nor accommodation at this place.
Approximate duration: from Trelew, 6 hours.
from Port Madryn, 8 hours.
Season: Approximately September to April.
It is about 120 km west of Trelew. This 17 000 acre water reservoir offers an excellent opportunity to anglers for a big trout (rainbow or brownie) catch, either from the dam itself or from a canoe. On the other hand, the grandeur of the canyon, reflected on the peaceful lake, is a must for every photographer.
At the other side of the wall, a village, set in the massiveness of porphyry, decorated by the changing colours of the poplars, offers a variety of activities which include cycling, swimming in a natural pool, kayaking, a walk to the caves, bird-watching, climbing or the traditional barbecue, for which there are ready-made barbecue sites and a well supplied store.
There are two public telephones, a restaurant, a school, a police station, a mini hospital and the Municipality.
Approximate duration: from Port Madryn, 12 hours.
from Trelew, 10 hours.
From Trelew, in a north-westerly direction, the road stretches some 550 km (340 m) for a full day excursion. The itinerary includes visits to: Bird Island, Caleta Valdes, Punta Norte or Punta Delgada, Puerto Piramide and Puerto Madryn.
Bird Island may be seen through a telescope from the beach, as for reasons of preservation it is forbidden to walk along the beach where several species have their habitat (terns, flamingoes, oystercatchers, gulls, plovers, etc.). Occasionally, a nearby spot called "Riacho" (rivulet) is visited. This is the "residence" of fishermen and certain avian species.
Elephant-seals may be seen in Punta Norte, Caleta Valdes or Punta Delgada. Often -depending on the season- whales, orcas and dolphins may be found in the area. The first whales arrive in May and leave by mid December. They may be watched from 20-people-boats or catamarans. Passengers are provided with lifejackets and oilskins (it is fun to see ourselves in the picture back home). These gigantic cetaceans approach the boat very gently and sometimes they even touch it with the tip of the nose or breach just a few yards away.
Puerto Piramide is a small village set in a spectacular scenario of huge sand dunes which is best enjoyed from above upon arriving along a paved road sliding down through the cliffs. Right whales may be seen in this shallow sea of remarkable transparency sometimes very close to the beach. On the cliffs there is an exceptional riches of fossilized specimens.
In summer this shallow beach is the ideal place for scuba diving, especially for beginners.
Punta Piramide, near the homonymous harbour, offers the view, from above, (some 300 ft.) of a colony of sea-lions which complements the excursion. Although they may be observed with the naked eye, binoculars are advisable. Gulls, snowy sheathbill, cormorants, plovers and other birds coexist with the mammals.
Port Madryn, sitting on the shores of Golfo Nuevo, is the place where a brig by the name of "Mimosa" anchored in 1865. The fragile boat brought on board some 153 Welsh settlers. Today it is a 55 000 p. modern busy little town. In summer, with some 100º F and a soothing breeze its shores become quite populated.
Approximate duration: from Port Madryn, 10 hours.
from Trelew, 12 hours.
