This Welsh-founded town in Patagonia maintains its Celtic culture with traditional tea houses and Welsh-language signs along its tree-lined streets near the Chubut River.
In Gaiman, a small town in Argentina's Chubut Province, you can sip Earl Grey tea while eating homemade Welsh cakes at Ty Te Caerdydd, examine 19th-century settler photographs at the Regional Historical Museum, or admire the red-brick architecture of the 1914 Bethel Chapel. Each September, locals gather to recite poetry and sing in Welsh during the Eisteddfod festival, continuing a cultural connection that began with the first Welsh settlers in 1874.
Getting to Gaiman
Gaiman lies 17 kilometers west of Trelew and 72 kilometers from Puerto Madryn. You can drive there via National Route 25 or take a bus from Trelew's terminal, with journey times between 20-45 minutes depending on the route. The town has three main access points: National Route 25, Provincial Route 7 (known as the "Farms Route"), and Provincial Route 9.
Welsh Tea Houses
Tea houses in Gaiman serve multi-course afternoon teas with homemade pastries. At Ty Te Caerdydd and Ty Gwyn, you'll find butter cakes, black bread, and Welsh cakes made from century-old recipes. Princess Diana visited Ty Gwyn in 1995, and its walls display photos from her visit. Book your table at least one day in advance during summer months (December-February).
Museums and Historical Sites
The Regional Historical Museum occupies the 1909 railway station building. Inside, you'll find immigration documents, 19th-century farming tools, and photographs showing the first Welsh settlers. The Tehuelche-Mapuche Museum, in a 1910 two-story building, exhibits indigenous tools, weapons, and clothing. Y ty Cyntaf, built in 1874, still contains original furniture in its three rooms, including a cast-iron stove and wooden chairs from Wales.
Religious Buildings
The red-brick Bethel Chapel, built in 1914, has wooden pews and a carved pulpit typical of Welsh Protestant churches. You can visit three other 19th-century chapels: the Old Chapel (1880) with its stone facade, Seion (1888) featuring stained glass windows, and Bryn Gwyn (1900) surrounded by cypress trees.
Beyond the Town
At Bryn Gwyn Paleontological Park, 10 kilometers south of town, walking trails lead past 40-million-year-old fossils embedded in cliff walls. You can watch dolphins in Rawson (45-minute drive) or visit the Punta Tombo penguin colony (two-hour drive), where Magellanic penguins nest from September to April.
Annual Events
During the September Eisteddfod, competitors perform poetry, music, and dance in both Welsh and Spanish. The week-long festival includes choir performances, art exhibitions, and Welsh language workshops. Local families often host visitors from Wales in their homes during the event.
