Puerto Madryn

This shore excursion from Puerto Madryn takes you on a private tour of the towns of Trelew and Gaiman, the centre of Welsh colonial settlement in Argentina. Step back in time as you browse interesting artefacts at Trelew’s Paleontological Museum, home to a replica of UNESCO World Heritage-listed Cueva de las Manos, and spend time walking around the charming streets of Gaiman.

Its name comes from joining two Welsh words “Tre” (means town) and “Lew” (for Lewis); this is “The town of Lewis”. This Celtic name is a tribute to Lewis Jones, one of the first Welsh settlers arriving at these lands. The Celtic origin of the first Welsh immigrants left its mark in this picturesque town. The diversity of creeds of these settlers originated the construction of more than 30 chapels, many of which are still standing. The regional museum, located at Fontana Ave. at its crossing with Lewis Jones Street, is a very good alternative to visit. It is possible to observe many objects related to the Welsh immigration days, documents and testimonies of these first settlers’ relationship with the Tehuelches aborigines, original inhabitants of this part of Patagonia.

But there is something you definitely cannot miss; the Paleontological Museum. The richness of the materials being exhibited here is known worldwide since in many cases they are original pieces instead of copies. It features several rooms, chronologically ordered, each one featuring a distinct environment according to the characteristics of the time period during which the existence of the animals whose fossils are being shown took place. The tour starts at a replica of the Hands Cave, at River Pinturas, done in such a way that the visitor gets the feeling of actually inhabiting one of those caves and enables him to look at the surrounding landscape just like our prehistoric counterparts did. The bird’s room is also amazing; reconstructions made out of fossils are exposed and hanging from the ceiling, thus giving the impression of flying over the visitors’ heads. And there is of course a room devoted to sea fossils and a very interesting video about the origins of the universe and its evolution. All the visits can be self-guided or escorted by expert, multilingual guides. Visiting this Museum is really a worthy activity to perform while in Trelew.

The picturesque town of Gaiman is a few kilometres away; there you will be able to walk along its charming streets and meet the Welsh. And it will be quite difficult for you to avoid the temptation of tasting a complete Welsh tea, prepared according to unique standards and accompanied by delicious homemade pastries.