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Visit a Chilean penguin colony

Penguins

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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  • 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.

  • Maggie
    Maggie Wilson - Travel Expert

    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.

  • Juliet
    Juliet Ellwood - Travel Expert

    After graduating with a degree in Anthropology and History and having been fascinated by Latin America since childhood by the book featuring photos of Nazca, Juliet first visited the region in 2003. Since then, Juliet has visited the majority of countries in Latin America but has particularly extensive experience with Peru, a country she loves for many reasons but not least, its incredible archaeological richness and delicious food!

  • Finn Clennett
    Finn Clennett - Travel Expert

  • Steve Yates
    Steve Yates - Travel Expert

    Steve has travelled extensively over the years, experiencing destinations in many different ways. From backpacking through basic hostels, hitchhiking and taking overnight buses, to enjoying stays in some of the world’s most luxurious hotels and lodges, he has developed a deep appreciation for every style of travel

  • Hannah
    Hannah Waterhouse - Travel Expert

    Hannah had an early introduction to Latin America when her family moved to Ecuador and she returned to study in Buenos Aires for a year before backpacking across the continent.

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