Magdalena Island Penguin Tour by Boat from Punta Arenas

Name: Magdalena Island Penguin Tour by Boat from Punta Arenas
Price: 160 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.13 (102 reviews)

Overview

Available languages

English

Spanish

5 hours 30 minutes

Mobile ticket

Experience your own ‘March of the Penguins’ on Magdalena Island during a morning tour by boat from Punta Arenas. After cruising across the Strait of Magellan, land on this protected nature reserve and marvel at the thousands of Magellanic penguins milling about on the pebbly terrain that serves as their breeding grounds. Follow your guide along a cordoned-off path leading up to a lighthouse, where you'll learn about the island’s ecosystem. Weather permitting, cruise by Isla Marta to observe sea lions and elephant seals.

Additional Info

Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

It is recommended that you wear comfortable, warm clothes and trekking shoes or boots

Please bring a jacket or sweater, a scarf, hat, sunglasses and water

Important: Passport name, number, expiry and country is required at time of booking for all participants

Seasonal product operating October to March

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: On peak season (Christmas, Holidays, Cruise dates, November to March) the departure time of your tour is at 06:30 am, In case that we don't have more availability, we will be letting you know if we have to reschedule your departure time due availability.

In case that you are a cruise passenger, once you booked the tour, please contact us to confirm departure availability at 10:00 am.

Cancellation Policy

If you cancel at least 2 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.<br>If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.

What To Expect

Dress warmly and get ready to join this tour which will start at a meeting point in Punta Arenas and then travel with the rest of the group to the pier. Remember that you have to be at 06:30am at the meeting point located in José Nogueira #1255, Punta Arenas. Climb aboard a large powerboat and head north for about 40 minutes on the Strait of Magellan. If you’re lucky, you may glimpse panda dolphins leaping out of the choppy grey waters.

Admission Not Applicable

Isla Magdalena

Arrive at the small and rocky Magdalena Island, also called Los Pinguinos Natural Monument, a protected nature reserve and park since 1982, and a breeding site for Magellanic penguins. Even before the boat docks, you’ll see thousands of penguins crowding the shores and hear their squawking. During the summer, approximately 120,000 penguins occupy the island. Disembark and spend about an hour here with your guide, keeping to the designated trail roped off for visitors. These curious birds, about 2 feet (61 cm) tall, will cross your path and may approach you, but you'll be instructed not to touch or feed them. On either side of the trail, see hundreds of burrows in the ground, about a foot (30 cm) in diameter, each populated by a pair of penguins. Watch penguins pop in and out of the holes, where eggs are laid, and others excavate new burrows by flinging aside heaps of dirt with their webbed feet. Your guide may point out cormorants and Andean seagulls on the island as well. Reach the highest point on the island and enter a lighthouse, which houses exhibits explaining the penguins’ habitat and breeding cycles, the history of the strait and the rich ecosystems of nearby islands.

2 hours • Admission Included

What‘s Included

Professional guide

Snacks

Transfer from the meeting point to the pier

Boat tour

Transport by air-conditioned minivan

Gratuities

Food and drinks, unless specified

Airport pickup and drop-off

Hotel pickup and drop-off

Options

Magdalena Island Penguin Tour by Boat from Punta Arenas

Reviews

4.13

102 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Beautiful trip,...
Wolfgang M,,Jan 9, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00
Beautiful trip that keeps what it promises. However, you should be wave and windproof.
The Best Up Close Penguin Tour In Punta Arenas
Larry8241,,Jan 5, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Magdalena Island was amazing and filled with Magellanic Penguins that were nesting with their eggs at this time of the year. Park Rangers are there to answer questions and make sure no one gets within 2 meters of the penguins, but the penguins do tend to walk up to you and check you out since they are quite curious. The island takes about 30 minutes to get there in a rather large and enclosed boat that holds about 75-90 people, with a full crew, coffee bar and restrooms onboard. The island walk is about 1.5 kilometers that encircles the main part of the island and lighthouse. This area is teaming with 1000's of penguins. Really a sight to see!
Best place to experience Penguins
Gobinda S,,Jan 5, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00
Wow!!! this is one of the best tours that we had where we were able to encounter nature and animal so up close. We walked along with Penguins in wild. That is magical. We saw them walking to ocean, bringing fishes for their cubs. It was so much fun.
Sea sickness is real And...
Divya J,,Jan 5, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00
Sea sickness is real And can hit anyone in different ways. Please carry sea sickness medicine if possible. Lot of people on the boat got sick because the water was very choppy. The island itself was amazing, we saw lots of sea lions, penguins and different birds. Our guide kept us honest with rules and how to not approach penguins. They had lot of different teas, trash bags and tissues. The crew kept an eye on everyone for sea sickness. This was very helpful. They also took us out of the catamaran to watch the sea lions. Overall a fun day and definitely worth spending time.
Not organized and unfriendly staff.
Micki B,,Jan 4, 2026
- Review from Viator
3.00
No one owns this activity until you get on the boat. When you check in you get no instructions on how to move forward. You just hope you’re getting on the right bus. There is no guide until you’re on the boat. The island visit was great. Lots of penguins and seagulls with cute fluffy chicks.
Overall, good experience....
Jeff L,,Jan 3, 2026
- Review from Viator
3.00
Overall, good experience. Staff on boat was great. Very informative and knowledgeable. Tour was on schedule. The only problem I had was that we were a group of 6. We booked the excursion as 3 couples at the same time. When we arrived at the office, we were informed that we were going to be split up in 2 different buses which meant that we would be on 2 different boats. We explained our situation but was told that under no circumstances would they accommodate us. I’m sure that it might have been a small inconvenience but I think that adjustments could have been made so the 6 of us who are traveling together could enjoy this excursion together. Sometimes it’s the little things.
Lifetime experience
Misti C,,Dec 22, 2025
- Review from Viator
4.00
Our first navigation was canceled which we anticipated reading reviews so we were able to rebook for next day and glad we did! The tour was amazing! The host was incredible and so funny.
Great experience but zero guidance
Angela N,,Dec 11, 2025
- Review from Viator
4.00
The walk to the office brings you to an expeditions office. No announcements were made, no check in procedure. We followed each other to get on a coach, no one knew what was happening the coach went at snails pace, no guide or explanation. When we reached the boat we sat in the coach for a further 20 mins. No one to tell us anything. However once on the boat Rodrigo was very good full of knowledge and led us to the penguin trail. We also sat on top of the boat roof to take pics of sealions. A wonderful trip but what the agency did regarding information was zero.
Unforgettable and safe tour to see penguins
Sarah A,,Dec 6, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
This company provided a safe and informative tour of the island to see the penguins! The guide was very knowledgeable about the sea life on the boat ride as well as the penguins and their behavior. We saw male penguins do their mating calls and others gathering grass and bringing it to their burrows. The lighthouse on the island had a small museum in it and you could get your passport stamped with a penguin icon! On the boat ride, we saw dolphins saw a whale breathe at the surface, and saw lots of sea loins near another island. We did get hot cocoa and packaged cookies on the way back from seeing the penguins.
Penguin tour
John P,,Oct 17, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Prepare for a cold/wet weather. And most of all do not forget your sunglasses. you are going to love this tour. Seeing penguins up close is absolutely amazing.