Puerto Madryn is the easy gateway to the wildlife coast of northern Patagonia. The city itself is a practical port on the sheltered Golfo Nuevo, but the bay gives it a softer edge: whales can come close enough to be seen from shore in season, and the long waterfront is made for slow evening walks after a dusty day on the steppe.
Most travellers use Madryn as a base for Punta Loma, El Doradillo, and the long day to Peninsula Valdes. That is sensible. The animals are the reason to come: southern right whales from winter into spring, sea lions and cormorants on the cliffs, elephant seals on the peninsula, and penguins farther south at Punta Tombo.
Do not expect a polished resort. Puerto Madryn is windy, spread out, and busy when cruise ships arrive, but it has good seafood, diving operators, and a front-row position on one of South America's great natural spectacles. If you have a car, it is one of the most rewarding bases in Argentine Patagonia; without one, book tours carefully and group the far-flung wildlife sites by direction.