Back

Visit a penguin colony

Magellanic Penguins, Argentina

Walk among the massed crowds of Magellanic penguins which breed on and close to the Valdés Peninsula.

The Patagonian landscape of the Valdez Peninsula and the neighbouring coastline is hauntingly desolate but it’s well populated with wildlife and you may spot ñandu ostriches, Patagonian hares and graceful guanacos as you drive through in search of penguin rookeries.
The largest rookery of Magellanic penguins, with an estimated population of 300,000 birds, is to be found at Punta Tombo, a 3hr drive from Puerto Madryn. During the September to March breeding season, you can wander among jostling crowds of unperturbed penguins, making this one of the area’s top attractions. Other rookeries may be visited in the region.

There's also an intriguing cultural facet to the area. You can stop in the village of Gaiman, founded by migrants from Wales in the 19th century (and still Welsh-speaking, at least among the older residents), visit its museum and churchyard and even take tea in one of the town’s tea rooms, situated in Welsh-style stone cottages only too familiar to UK visitors.

Argentina
Valdes Peninsula and Atlantic Patagonia

Holidays Visit a penguin colony

From expertly designed Private Journeys to trail-blazing Group Tours, browse our range of carefully crafted holidays.

Ibera Wetlands in Argentina

Private Journeys

Argentina

Argentina Wildlife: Tropical wetlands and Patagonia

12 days from £6,850pp

(based on two people sharing & excluding flights)

Rainbow over the Tierra del Fuego

Private Journeys

Chile / Argentina

Patagonia cruise: Tierra del Fuego and Cape Horn

13 days from £5,450pp

(based on two people sharing & excluding flights)

Islands and mountains in the sea, Argentina

Group - Classic

Argentina

Magellanic: Southern Voyage

12 days from £5,197pp

(based on two people sharing & excluding flights)

Papagaio

Your edit for Latin American inspiration

Our exciting range of articles on Latin America explore everything from iconic destinations and lesser-known cultural gems to delicious traditional recipes. You’ll also find exclusive travel tips, first-hand client reviews and the chance to get your personal questions answered by our travel experts.

View Extraordinary Inspiration
Bartolome, Galápagos

Meet our team

Real Latin american experts

  • Finn Clennett
    Finn Clennett - Travel Expert

  • Mary
    Mary Anne Nelson - Travel Expert

    Born in the Atacama Desert in northern Chile, Mary’s insider knowledge and dry sense of humour make her a highly valued member of the Tailor-made Holidays and Group Tour sales team.

  • Chris
    Chris Rendell-Dunn - Travel Expert

    Anglo-Peruvian Chris grew up in Lima and spent much of his adult life in between London and Cusco as a tour leader, before settling permanently in our London-based Tailor-made and Group Tours sales team.

  • Ben
    Ben Line - Travel Expert

    Ben fell in love with Latin America on a six month backpacking trip from Colombia to Mexico in 1995. Since then he has explored most of South America, including living in Peru for a year. He is now Head of Sales.

  • Charlotte
    Charlotte Daubeney - Travel Expert

    Charlotte's fascination with Latin America began with a family holiday to Belize. She went on to study Spanish in school and at university before spending a year living in Santiago, Chile.

  • Lina
    Lina Fuller - Travel Expert

    Lina's passion for the continent where she was born really took off when she moved to Córdoba (Argentina) to study, spending the holidays travelling between Argentina and her native Colombia.

0 1 2 3 4 5