Exclusive Punta Tombo Penguins
Visit the largest Magellan penguin colony in South America where you may walk among more than 500,000 penguins along a two-mile path.
A half-million Magellanic penguins are waiting for you in Punta Tombo, South America's largest penguin colony. This tour begins with a two-hour drive to the Punta Tombo peninsula in the Argentinean province of Chubut. There you will find hundreds of thousands of Magellanic penguins. The two-mile-long, 1,969-feet-wide peninsula is covered with sand, clay, and gravel. Between September and April, a large number of Magellanic penguins come to this site to incubate their eggs and prepare their offspring for migration - the largest such colony in South America. Couples stand in front of their nests, protecting the eggs from birds and other predators, and occasionally one adult goes to the sea for food. Other wildlife encountered in the area includes sea birds (mainly seagulls, chimangos and cormorants), rheas and guanacos. As you walk along the trail inhabited by penguins on both sides, you will be able to observe the different phases of these birds' lives. Because of the proximity of the path to the nests, visitors may enjoy and learn from the penguin behavior. The path has benches for visitors to be able to rest and enjoy the view in this isolated place, far from towns and free of human interventions in the landscape. After this once-in-a-lifetime experience, the tour returns to Puerto Madryn and your ship. Please note: The length of your stay at the Punta Tombo will be determined by the tour guide according to the ship's sailing time and following the circulation policies imposed by the reserve administration (usually no more than 90-100 minutes per group). See our FAQ for more information
- Duration
- 6.5 hours
- Operated by
- Shore Excursions Group
- An approximate 3-minute complimentary shuttle is required to reach your departure location. Full details will be provide in your electronic ticket upon confirmation.
- We recommend dressing in layers and sensible walking or hiking shoes. Guests should bring a windbreaker, a hat, sunscreen, and sunglasses.
- Guests must advise if they have food allergies or have special dietary requirements at time of booking. Guests must be able to walk over paved, wooden, gravel, and hard packed dirt surfaces. There are approximately 20 steps on the trail.
- Food & beverages: A ham and cheese sandwich, one Argentinian alfajor (cookies), one granola bar, and a bottle of water are included.
Excursion purchases are fully refundable outside of 14 days prior to the tour date. Beginning on the 14th day prior to the tour date, excursion purchases are non-refundable.