Visit a Chilean penguin colony
Mingle with everyone’s favourite bird at the Isla Magdalena rookery on the Strait of Magellan.
Down in the southernmost reaches of South America where the landmass starts to quickly disintegrate into a tangle of islands, the Strait of Magellan weaves right from the Pacific to the Atlantic. Departing from Punta Arenas on a 2-hour boat journey, you’ll begin tracing the same route as the great explorers who made this place synonymous with seafaring adventure.
Lying adrift in the Strait of Magellan, the Isla Magdalena is a breeding ground for several species of seabird, most notably the loveable penguin. You can walk among a chattering crowd of these comical birds, whose activities vary by the seasons – visit in September or October and you’ll see the monogamous pairs reunite after a long summer at sea, while January brings baby penguins making their first attempts at swimming.
For those short of time, a visit to the Seno Otway penguin colony on the way to Torres del Paine would be a quicker alternative.
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Tell us where you want to go, and we’ll take it from there. No obligation, no sales pitch – just a conversation with someone who knows the region inside out.
Why choose Journey Latin America for your holiday
We’ve been planning trips to Central and South America for over 45 years, longer than any other UK specialist. Every holiday is built around you by a Travel Expert who has been to the places they recommend, with support from your first enquiry to the day you fly home.
Rosie embarked on a year-long backpacking trip across Latin America. She is excited to share her knowledge and experiences with others.
Finn discovered his passion for travel on an extensive 18-month trip to Latin America, experiencing the vibrant Carnaval in Rio, the end-of-the-world city of Ushuaia, trekking the Andes and volunteering on the Galápagos Islands.
Maggie visited Latin America on her first backpacking trip when she was 19. Since then, she has taken every opportunity to travel, and has managed to explore a lot of the region in subsequent trips.
Gary discovered what he had been missing with his first foray into the wilds of Latin America. In his role as Product Manager, he combines this personal obsession with years of industry experience to help ensure that travellers will fall for the region every bit as much as he has.
