Camarones

Cute penguins waddle and skip in the waves that roll ashore near the sleepy, unspoiled town of Camarones. Life here is lived well and truly in the slow lane, but this fishing village has plenty of joy to offer intrepid visitors. ‘Camarones’ translates as ‘prawns’ and, as the name suggests, this is a great place for seafood – with the octopuses and clams that are scooped from the city's waters proving to be some of the most mouth-wateringly delicious available. You'll be welcomed in to restaurants, like the Indalo Inn, like long lost friends, before sitting down to dine on delicious slabs of salmon, and wine pressed from the grapes of the renowned Río Negro region of Patagonia. February's Salmon Festival provides a particular treat for seafood lovers, if you happen to be in town for it. The Cabo Dos Bahías nature reserve is a glorious expanse of sweeping coastline and the place to see the colony of 30,000 Magellanic penguins, who play and fish in the waves, wandering ashore as the sun begins to set. With a vast array of wildlife on full display, you can enjoy walks along the frothing, broody shoreline, cowering as waves clatter ashore along wide, open beaches. Punta Tombo Reserve is another spot to find some of nature's cutest birds. Visit to perch on a rocky outcrop, and watch as penguins dash in and out of the waves that fizz ashore on the scenic sands. From the harbour, head out across the water on excursions to find curious dolphins and whales breaching the surface of the ocean. Or, Plaza San Martin offers a small square to relax in and catch some shade. The small Museo de la Familia Peron gives an interesting insight into the area's wool heritage, meanwhile.