Puerto Madryn Services

Information Offices

The Secretería de Turismo information office is on Madryn’s seafront avenue. It can help in finding lodging. Much of the staff speak English. (Winter: Monday-Friday 7 a.m.-9 p.m.; weekends, holidays 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Summer: until 11 p.m. Av Roca 223, Tel: 45-3504 / 45-6067, E-mail: informaed@madryn.gov.ar, URL: www.madryn.gov.ar/turismo). A branch office is at the bus terminal. Fundación Patagonia Natural is an NGO working on regional conservation issues (Zar 760, Tel: 45-1920, URL: www.patagonianatural.org). Other important offices are police (Mitre 339, Tel: 45-1449) and ACA (Belgrano 15, Tel: 45-6684).

Money

Most banks are on Roque Sáenz Peña and 25 de Mayo. Teller hours are Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-1 p.m. All have 24-hour ATMs. The following exchange US dollars and Euros:

—Banco del Chubut (25 de Mayo 154)

—Banco de la Nación (9 de Julio 117)—also exchanges American Express travelers checks; Western Union agent

—Banco Francés (RS Peña 30)—also exchanges Brazilian, Uruguayan currencies; American Express travelers checks (US dollar, Euo)

Casa de Cambio Thaler exchanges major Western currencies and Yen, as well as major travelers checks (US dollar, Euro) (Monday-Friday 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m., longer hours in summer. Av Roca 497, local 2).

Communications

Everyone jotting quick postcards drop them off at the post office (Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m., 4-7 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Maíz 293). Locutorios (phone centers) are easy to find, as are Internet cafés. Cyber World has Skype, phone booths and a snack shop-bar that hosts tango lessons on Friday nights (11 p.m.) (daily 11 a.m.-3 a.m. Roca 650. Internet: $1.25 per hour).

Medical

Hospital Subzonal can patch up travelers (Gomes 383, Tel: 47-3445). Pharmacies follow the de turno system. Farmacias Patagónicas is open 24 hours (Belgano and Roca).

Laundry

Morenas Lavandería charges $7 per basket for wash and dry, and can have it ready the same day (Monay-Saturday 8:30 a.m.-8:15 p.m. Sarmiento and Zar, Tel: 45-6969).