Penguins! So many penguins! We decided to end our recent Patagonia trip with a visit to Punta Arenas – specifically for the opportunity to visit the penguin colony at Magdalena Island. Apart from being a relaxing break from hiking, this part of our trip was – as you’d expect – very, very cute.
We booked our Magdalena Island tour through Denomades and were happy with the decision. Originally, our plan was to do the afternoon tour so that we could sleep in after a late arrival to Punta Arenas and many early mornings spent hiking. Patagonia had other plans though. Because of forecasted wind conditions, the afternoon tour got cancelled two days before our departure. Luckily, Denomades was accommodating and able to move us to the morning tour of the same day.
After meeting at the Bus-Sur station in the middle of town, we took a ~10 minute drive to the pier for departure. The boat ride to Magdalena Island then lasted just over an hour. During the journey, the tour guides told us about the history and geography of the area and the unique conditions that make the island a sanctuary for penguins. When they weren’t talking, we watched Cocaine Bear on our phone.
Finally, as we were nearing the island, we saw thousands of birds dotting the coast. The tour guides took a few minutes to reenforce the ground rules (i.e., don’t get too close to the penguins) and tell us when we needed to be back on the boat. Then, we were off to explore for the next hour.
The island itself isn’t that big, which only makes it feel even more crowded with birds. And we say “birds” intentionally, as there are more than just penguins here. You will also see plenty of gulls, geese, and cormorants, among others. Still though – the penguins are the stars.
Most of the island is roped off, and there is a defined one-way loop path for visitors to follow. All along the way you’ll see penguins waddling about, sticking their heads out of their nests, or cawing. They have no fear of humans, so you may even have to pause your walk to let a penguin cross the path directly in front of you.
The literal high point of the trail is a lighthouse that makes for some good photos. Most of the penguins are before this point, so take your time getting there and enjoy the journey. If you’re visiting on a windy day like we were, just know that the gusts get even more powerful as you get close to the lighthouse. By the end we were bracing ourselves to avoid being knocked over.
Following the time with our many new penguin friends, we took the 1+ hour boat ride back to town. All in all, the tour was a perfect way to cap our Patagonia trip and is an absolute must for anyone visiting Punta Arenas.
Punta Arenas itself doesn’t have much to do, so we only spent about 24 hours in the the area. Because of the last minute shift in our Magdalena tour schedule though, we had more time than expected to wander the town, eat, and drink. If you find yourself in a similar situation, below are some spots worth visiting.
Happy traveling!
Kitrina & Jordan
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