Let us take you to Bahía Bustamante, a seaside lodge and destination on its own, together with the guide of his owner Matías Soriano to enjoy the vastness of nature, unparalleled wildlife and unspoilt Southern landscapes. This amazing area is part of Patagonia Austral National Park.
Without a doubt, Bahía Bustamante is a paradise awaiting to be discovered inhabited by a great number of birds and mammals.
Bahia Bustamante has a fascinating history. It means a journey to the past, to discover the amazing life of the pioneers of this truly remote place in Patagonia. It all started in the 1950s with a seaweed settlement by Lorenzo Soriano, a Spanish immigrant and Matias’ grandfather. Back then, it was a small town with 400 seaweed workers and their families: there was a church, a school, a police department and everything their inhabitants needed.
With the passing of time, Bahia Bustamante has become a quiet seaside lodge of six sea cabins and five steppe cabins. The ocean on one side and the never ending steppe on the other. The Argentine flag waves behind the old Bar, the oldest construction and silent witness of bygone days.
What to do here?
There are so many exclusive activities within the property to explore and discover! You can enjoy unforgettable half day and full day experiences: navigation to watch the marine wildlife and seabird colonies, biking, trekking and 4×4 rides at Graviña Peninsula and visits to its fascinating Petrified Forest. You will fall in love being so close to the colony Magellanic Penguins all for yourself. And also at Aristizabal Cape, with such diverse wildlife. Above all, relax at the wonderful beaches with natural swimming pools formed in between the rocks.
Ph. Ruben Digilio
How to get there?
- Bahia Bustamante is located 180 miles / 300 km southwards from Península Valdés (Chubut). Nearest airport: Comodoro Rivadavia (CRD) – 110 miles/180 km (2 hours by car) , and Trelew (REL) -155 miles/250 km (3 hours by car).
Would you like to know more?
Here are the insights and views of its owner, Matías Soriano.
How did the idea of turning Bahía Bustamante into a tourism destination begin?
The project matured over time. In the 90s I helped carry out the first integral work on marine biodiversity in Gulf San Jorge, an area of influence of Bustamante Bay together with a group of biologists who made the first atlas of fauna of Maritime Patagonia with the support of WCS (New York Zoo). This was very revealing to me, I became fully aware of the natural wealth of this area and how fortunate we are as inhabitants of this place. In the year 2000 I began the environmental protection of Bahia Bustamante and we started to show what we were doing. This coincided with moments of personal change, I turned 30, I trusted my values and principles and I fully dedicated to preserve this place where my grandfather Lorenzo had started his business.
What makes Bahía Bustamante a unique place? What activities and proposals do travelers
find each season?
This is my home; it is neither a ranch, nor a town. Here you feel immersed in a small paradise without luxurious buildings, but surrounded by the great luxury of its steppe and marine biodiversity, of the unique encounter of desert and sea. There is a 65 million year old petrified wood; electrical power is turned off at midnight, and the night skyoverflows with stars… you realize then that you do not really need electric power in order to live. We offer different alternatives ranging from cabins where the guests are totally independent to discover on their own, to cabins with all inclusive service, including expeditions as if it were an African safari. All this makes you understand that there are other values in life, with a unique history.
What kind of travellers enjoy this destination the most?
Anyone who wants to leave behind massive tourist destinations, any person who takes a step further in order to experience true Patagonia with everything it means and awakens in you.
How would you define your gastronomic proposal?
We always seek to be as sustainable as possible, it does not mean that we always achieve it, but our cuisine is very rich in flavours with meats as lamb, guanaco, hare, fish, shrimp, seafood; plus we grow our own vegetables, berries, cherries, apples, quinces among many others. We also count on the seaweed supplied by the sea. And we make our own liquor and bread. It is a cuisine of local dishes with very good preparation.
If you had to make a postcard of Bustamante Bay, what moment of the year would you choose?
I would rather make a movie since each moment has its unique charm. Everything is always changing, from the power of the sea with its tides, carving totally different beaches; different colours; calm days and windy days, sunsets and sunrises; nights when the shining moon casts shadows or other nights when there is no moon and the night sky is lit by a million stars. Springtime means the arrival of migratory birds and the steppe becomes colourful with wildflowers; in summertime you enjoy both the sea and the beach so much, and the wild animals stay with their offspring and there is an explosion of life; or in the autumn with noble temperatures and the migratory birds starting their flight once again.
Ph. Alex Macipe
Bahia Bustamante combines perfectly with Península Valdés since in Península Valdés you can do whale watching.