El Doradillo is 15 km away from Puerto Madryn and covers a 3 km wide, 25 km long area running parallel to the coastline, extending from Punta Arco till Cerro Prismatico.It was created in the year 2001, under the UICN Management Category V “PROTECTED LAND AND SEA AREA”, by municipal ordinance n? 4263/01. In the year 2003 , the Doradillo Protected Area Management and Development Plan was made, where the required strategies and actions to attain the objectives of such creation are established.

The main attraction is the land-based watching of Southern Right whales (Eubalaena australis) that gather there every year between June and October to mate and nurse their calves. The coast features make the sighting more attractive, since these enormous cetaceans can be sighted just a few meters off the shore. The endless scenic beauty and the privilege of being able to watch these marine mammals from the coast have turned El Doradillo into a unique place, very popular with residents and both local and foreign tourists.

The continental landscape is covered by steppe bushes, mainly quilembay and jarilla. The indigenous fauna is represented by huanacos, maras, foxes, skunks and other species typical of this semidesertic ecosystem. There are significant cliffs in this area which become natural lookout points from where it is possible to watch the littoral landscape with its huge abrasion platforms (restingas). Water erosion has worked significant gullies into the plateau and one can have a glimpse of the geological profile of the place.

The characteristics of this area permit to perform, in addition to the typical recreational activities of a sea side resort (sun, beaches, trekking, mountain bike), other activities such as photography and bird watching.

El Doradillo is a quiet, isolated place practically unaltered by human intervention, which allows visitors to enjoy a wild environment and invites landscape contemplation.

El Doradillo Natural Protected Area has a staff of Conservation Agents who are in charge of the control and protection of the area, enforcing the conservation rules that tend to assure that good care is taken of the place. They also work to create awareness in and give information and assistance to visitors.

Systematic patrolling of the area is undertaken to check on the public beach and access road conditions, the signal boards, and compliance with the rules applying to the activities that may or may not be done in the area.