Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
353
Fast Facts
P uerto Madryn
ATMs
There are quite a few ATMs around town.
Banco Galicia,
Mitre 25 (
&
2965/
452323
), and
Bansud,
corner of R. Saenz Pena and Marcos A. Zar (
&
2965/451489
),
are the most c onveniently located.
Currency Exchange
The Casa de C ambio Thaler, at Roca 493 (
&
2965/455858
),
is open until at least 10pm ev ery night.
Emergency
Dial
&
101
or 2965/451449 f or police;
&
100
for fire.
Hospital
T he
Hospital Subzonal
is at R. Gomez 383 (
&
2965/453030
).
Internet
You'll find man y Internet cafes around town. Rates are under $2 (£1.35)
per hour, and most ar e open fr om 8am until midnight. Try
Cyber World,
at Roca
650 (
&
2965/475370
), or
El Tucán,
Mosconi 36.
Laundry
The laundr omat at Roca 2040 (
&
2965/456969
) is open M onday t o
Saturday from 10am t o 9pm.
Pharmacy
FarMadryn,
corner of Roca and Belg rano (
&
2965/474555
), is open
24 hours.
Post Office
The main post offic e for
Correo Argentino
(the official name of the
Argentine postal service) is located at Belgrano and Maíz (no phone).
12
WHERE TO STAY
Puerto Madryn hotels are virtually all situated along the main coastal road, Avenida Roca
(which turns into Bd. B rown farther south), or a fe w blocks inland. B esides the av ant-
garde Hotel Territorio, most are still family-run, old-fashioned hotels that ar en't exactly
chic. At press time, a local hotel chain, Ray entray, was r eopening the giant 180-r oom
multistory white hotel to ward the south end of the water front. Most visitors to P uerto
Madryn spend only 2 or 3 nights here. They visit the peninsula 1 day and Punta Tombo
the next, and then fly out. Parking is free at hotels in Puerto Madryn. Prices have soared
here over the past few years, especially during the busy months of O ctober and Novem-
ber; some hotels will offer you a cheaper price if you pay in cash. Rates listed here are for
high season, September through March.
Expensive
Hotel Península Valdés
Overrated
For decades, this was the top place in P uerto
Madryn, and it r etains a cer tain elusiv e highbr ow feel that would appeal to business
travelers. The owners (a w ell-known local family) hav e recently tried to be hipper and
more modern. Many of the rooms have been renovated, including the bathrooms, which
are brighter no w, though most tubs ar e still tiny. Rooms on the top floor ar e the most
spacious. The charge for “panoramic” rooms with sea views is 20% extra, though it never
hurts to ask at check-in for a free upgrade. The panoramic rooms have king-size beds and
flatscreen TVs. The most anno ying thing about this hotel is the charge for use of the
sauna ($16/£11) and the unattractiv e indoor J acuzzi ($14/£9.45). I nternet access fr om
the tiny business center is fr ee, ho wever, and the staff is efficient, if a bit snotty . We
recommend the Territorio over this place, if you can afford it. If you are with a tour group
or otherwise without a choice but to stay here, however, you will likely find this hotel to
be satisfactory, if unimpressive.
