Puerto Madryn : excursions and conditions of roads

[ozscotart]

We are on HAL Veendam to Puerto Madryn in November : they are currently offering three different excursions : Valdes Peninsula, Punta Loma and and Estancia, and Punta Tombo.

The thing is I have arthritis and have real problems on bumpy roads. HAL says the buses may not be of the usual standard. They also say the road to Punta Tombo is unpaved, so that option would be unsuitable. One reviewer has said the road to Valdes Peninsula is unpaved. I have no idea about Punta Loma.

Does anyone have have any recent experience of these roads ? Are they paved ? Are they bumpy ?

Thanks for any help.

[cruising cockroach]

The road to Punta Tomba is paved most of the way as of late 2009 (the last 10-15 Km weren't), which is much better than its state in 2003.

 

Valdes is unpaved after the turnoff for Puerto Piramides, so essentially all the wildlife spots are on unpaved. That said, the roads are not necessary very rough, more like fairly well-maintained gravel roads though there may be the occasional rough patch.

[ozscotart]

The road to Punta Tomba is paved most of the way as of late 2009 (the last 10-15 Km weren't), which is much better than its state in 2003.

 

Valdes is unpaved after the turnoff for Puerto Piramides, so essentially all the wildlife spots are on unpaved. That said, the roads are not necessary very rough, more like fairly well-maintained gravel roads though there may be the occasional rough patch.

 

Thanks for that : still not sure what to do.

[cruising cockroach]

If rutted paved roads or ones where the trucks have worn down, or the average poorly-maintained U.S. highway hurt you, I wouldn't go.