Isla MagdalenaTotal day
5hhalf day, 60 min on the island
0 h15 h
Punta Arenas → Isla Magdalena · 52°55′ S 70°34′ W
Punta Arenas Penguin Tour
Most visitors take the half-day boat trip to Isla Magdalena — about 5 hours, one hour walking among Magellanic penguins. King penguins live a full day away in Tierra del Fuego.
Updated Nov 2026 · Prices checked Nov 2026
Magdalena + Marta morning tour
One hour among the burrows on Isla Magdalena, then the sea lions at Isla Marta from the boat — back in town before lunch.
60 min with the penguinsof a ≈5-hour morning · check-in 6:30, José Nogueira 1255
$160per personCheck dates
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Entry to the penguin island and coffee on board are included.
60 minwith the penguins, every tour
$108–365per person, all tours
Oct–MarMagdalena · king park Oct–May
5 h · 15 hhalf day · full day
Quick answer
The best Punta Arenas penguin tour for most people is the half-day boat trip to Isla Magdalena: about 5 hours, one hour on the island, from $155–160. King penguins take a 14–15-hour day to Tierra del Fuego, from $108 plus the park fee.
- Every tour gives you about one hour with the penguins — the rest is travel.
- Magdalena runs October–March; the king penguin park October–May.
- Two Magdalena tours leave after midday, at 12:30 and 13:30.
- Wind cancels sailings — book on an early day of your stay.
- Seno Otway is closed; Magdalena is the penguin trip from the city.
Which Punta Arenas Penguin Tour Fits Your Day
Pick by the time you have and the penguins you want. A free morning means Isla Magdalena; a free afternoon still works on two tours; king penguins cost a whole day. If whales are the real goal, the glacier cruise is the trip — penguins there are a bonus, not a promise.
Our pickFirst time, one free morningMagdalena + Marta morning tour60 min with penguins of ≈5 h · 6:30 start, sea lions included$160Book
Only the afternoon freeAfternoon catamaran60 min with penguins of 6 h · 13:30 from Muelle Prat$170Book
Want king penguinsClassic king penguin day60 min with penguins of 15 h · park entry listed as included$119Book
Small group to Tierra del FuegoSmall-group king penguin day60 min with penguins of 15 h · 13 people at most$140Book
Lowest price for king penguinsBudget king penguin day60 min with penguins of 14 h · park fee CLP 20,000 extra$108Book
Whales matter more than penguinsWhales and glaciers cruise12 h at sea · penguins not guaranteed$365Book
Punta Arenas Penguin Tour Compared
Four Magdalena tours and two king penguin days cover almost every plan. All six give you about an hour with the penguins; they differ in how long the day is, when the boat leaves and what else is on board.
Sort by
Penguin time
60 min of ≈4.5 h
Leaves6:30
Getting there≈50 min boat
Also on the daySea lionsIsla Marta stop
PickupMeet at the office
Rating
Price per person$160
Penguin time
60 min of 5 h
Leaves6:30
Getting there≈45 min catamaran
Also on the dayIsland only
PickupHotel transfer
Rating
Price per person$160
Penguin time
60 min of 6 h
Leaves7:00 or 13:30
Getting there≈1.5 h catamaran
Also on the dayLighthouse trail800 m walk
PickupAdd-on · Muelle Prat
Rating
Price per person$170
Penguin time
≈60 min of 5 h
Leaves6:00 · 10:00 · 12:30
Getting thereFast ferry≈2 h each way
Also on the dayIsland only
PickupMeet at the pier
Rating
Price per person$180
Penguin time
60 min of 15 h
Leaves7:15
Getting thereFerry + drive2 h + 1.5 h
Also on the dayPorvenir museum
PickupFrom your hotel
Rating
Price per person$119
Penguin time
60 min of 15 h
Leaves7:00
Getting thereFerry + drive≈2 h ferry
Also on the dayPorvenir+ San Gregorio
PickupFrom your hotel
Rating
Price per person$140
Swipe for 5 more tours →
Do it yourself
TABSA public ferry to Isla Magdalena
60 min on the island≈2 h each wayTerminal Tres Puenteschildren 5–13 CLP 48,000CLP96,000≈$100 · bought from the ferry company
Source: GetYourGuide listings, checked Nov 2026 · ferry fare: meteored.cl, Oct 2026
All Isla Magdalena toursPunta Arenas Penguin Tour: Magdalena vs King Penguins
Isla Magdalena gives you more penguins, closer, for a third of the day; king penguins are rarer and bigger, but you watch them from a distance after a long drive. Choose Magdalena if this is your one penguin trip. Choose the king penguins if you have seen Magellanic penguins before or the tall, golden-necked species is the point.
Isla Magdalena
King penguinsTotal day
15hfull day, 60 min at the colony
0 h15 h
- Magellanic penguin, ≈70 cm
- Species
- King penguin, ≈90 cm
- Tens of thousands nesting
- How many
- About 100–160 seen per visit
- Walk past burrows on a roped path
- How close
- 20–100 m behind a rope line
- Boat ≈45–90 min
- Getting there
- Ferry 2 h + drive 1.5 h
- October–March
- Season
- October–May, some days closed
- From $155
- Price
- From $108 + park fee
Who it's forOne penguin trip, a half day to spare, kids or limited timeSee Magdalena tours
Who it's forThe rarer species, a free full day, happy to spend it on the roadSee king penguin tours
How a Punta Arenas Penguin Tour Day Runs
A Magdalena morning is over by lunchtime; a king penguin day ends after dark in summer. On the half day you check in at 6:00–6:30, ride a coach to the dock, sail, walk the island for an hour and are back by about 11:00. The full day crosses the Strait by ferry, drives across Tierra del Fuego and returns around 21:30–23:00.
Half day · Isla Magdalena≈5 hours
- 6:30Start
Check in at the operator's office, José Nogueira 1255.
- ≈30 minBy road
Coach to the dock on Laredo Bay, north of the city.
- ≈50 minBoat
Crossing to Isla Magdalena; coffee on board.
- 1 hourOn the island
The roped path through the burrows to the 1902 lighthouse.
- ≈30 minIsla Marta
Sea lions watched from the boat; skipped in rough water.
- ≈11:15Back
Boat and coach back to Plaza de Armas.
Full day · king penguins≈15 hours
- 7:15Start
Pickup from your hotel.
- ≈2 hFerry
Across the Strait of Magellan to Porvenir; town and museum.
- ≈1.5 hBy road
Drive to the reserve on Bahía Inútil.
- 1 hourAt the colony
King penguins with a ranger-led group, behind a rope line.
- ≈2 hBy road
North across the island to Cerro Sombrero.
- ≈30 minFerry
Short crossing at Primera Angostura.
- 21:30–23:00Back
Back in Punta Arenas, guests report.
Source: operators' itineraries on GetYourGuide, Nov 2026 · full-day clock times vary with the ferries, so only durations are given
When to Book a Punta Arenas Penguin Tour
December and January are the best months: the island is full and the chicks have hatched. Tours to Isla Magdalena run October to March; the king penguin park opens October to May. From June to September there are no penguin visits from Punta Arenas.
Source: CONAF Los Pingüinos leaflet, Jan 2026 · pinguinorey.com, checked Nov 2026
Know Before You Book a Punta Arenas Penguin Tour
Wind is the one thing that changes plans. The Navy closes the port in strong wind; operators reschedule or refund. Book a penguin tour for your first full day so there is room to move it.
Check dates- Sailings cancel in windAfternoon sailings are dropped more often than morning ones.Instead: book early in your stay
- Bring your passportSeveral tours ask for passport details when you book.
- Dress for wind and coldThe island is bare; layers, hat and gloves even in summer.
- Limited mobilityMost Magdalena tours say not suitable.Instead: the three-departure ferry — wheelchair access listed
- No food on the islandCoffee and a snack on board at most; toilets only on the boat.
- King park feeCLP 20,000 per adult; most king tours collect it on the day.
Is a Punta Arenas Penguin Tour Worth It
Yes, if you want to walk among wild penguins — Magdalena is one of the few places where the path runs through the colony. You pay for transport more than for time with the birds: one hour on the island out of about five. Guests rate the guides highest and value for money lowest.
Worth it — if
you want an hour among tens of thousands of nesting penguins, a metre or two from the path.
60 min
with the penguins in a ≈5-hour morning
4.7–4.9guide scores on the Magdalena tours
4.1–4.4value-for-money scores — the lowest mark
Worth it for
- First-time penguin watchers — the birds cross the path a metre or two away.
- Photographers and families: close enough for a phone camera.
- Anyone with one free morning between the city and Torres del Paine.
Think twice if
- You get seasick easily — the morning crossing is often rough.
- You have one day only and the forecast is windy.
- You expect hours with the birds: the king penguin day is 15 h for one.
The real cost · $155–180 for a 5–6-hour morningCheck dates
Punta Arenas Penguin Tour to Otway — Is It Still Open
No. The Seno Otway penguin colony is closed to visitors, and old blogs that still sell it as the "afternoon penguin tour" are out of date. The colony there collapsed after about 2015. For penguins from the city today, the choice is Isla Magdalena by boat or the king penguins in Tierra del Fuego.
Closed
Seno Otway penguin colony
- The visitor site is closed; there is no tour to book.
- The colony collapsed after about 2015.
- Old blogs still sell it as the "afternoon penguin tour".
Source: thebirdinginsights.com, Sep 2026 · todopatagonia.net
Punta Arenas Penguin Tour or Whales — The Glacier Cruise
If whales matter more than penguins, book the whales and glaciers cruise instead. It is a 12-hour day that starts at 4:00, sails past Cape Froward into Francisco Coloane Marine Park and is the second most reviewed tour from the city. Penguins are a side sighting: three guests in March–April 2026 saw none.
A tour for thisWhales and glaciers cruise
$365per personBook
How Much a Punta Arenas Penguin Tour Costs
Half-day Magdalena tours cost $155–200 per person, king penguin days $108–140 plus the park fee, and the whales cruise $365. The price follows the day's length and what is added: hotel pickup, Isla Marta, a smaller group. Prices on two tours move with the date.
MagdalenaOur pick
Half day · Isla Magdalena
$155–200
per person · 5–6 h · 60 min with the penguins
$100$250$400
- Magdalena + Marta morningIsla Marta sea lions$160
- Morning catamaranisland only, hotel transfer$160
- Afternoon catamaran13:30 sailing, transfer extra$170
- Three-departure ferry$200 on some dates$180
Book the pick · $160Do it yourself: the public ferry is CLP 96,000 (≈$100), bought from the ferry company.
King penguins
Full day · Tierra del Fuego
$108–140
per person · 14–15 h · plus CLP 20,000 park fee on two
$100$250$400
- Budget king penguin daypark fee extra · $120 some dates$108
- Classic king penguin daypark entry listed as included$119
- Small-group king penguin day13 people max · park fee extra$140
Book the classic day · $119With the CLP 20,000 fee, the budget day costs about the same as the classic one.
Whales
Full day · whales and glaciers
$365
per person · 12 h · breakfast and lunch on board
$100$250$400
- Whales and glaciers cruisepenguins not guaranteed$365
Book the cruise · $3654.8 from 394 reviews; whales are seen on most trips.
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What changes the price
Hotel pickup+40 USDThe pier trip is $155 from the pier, $195 with pickup and a snack.
Smaller group+21 USD13 people at most on the small-group king penguin day.
Your date±12–20 USDTwo tours change price with the date — the calendar shows yours.
King park fee+20,000 CLPPaid at the gate on two king tours; free under 10.
Source: GetYourGuide listings and availability, checked Nov 2026
Full price guideWhat Guests Say After a Punta Arenas Penguin Tour
Guests praise the guides and how close the penguins come; they complain about early check-in queues and long days on the road. Across six tours with ten or more reviews, scores sit between 4.2 and 4.7.
4.6718 reviews
Magdalena + Marta morning tour, the most reviewed from the city
Magdalena + Marta morning tour, the most reviewed from the city
Source: verified GetYourGuide reviews, checked Nov 2026
“The whole night was windy and rainy and I was so worried that the tour would be cancelled — but it wasn't! The little guys were literally everywhere, super close, unbothered, there was plenty of time to watch and take photos. The ride back was a bit rough since the wind had picked up again. We skipped Isla Marta since it wasn't safe enough to go there with the waves.”
Sarah · Germany
Read the tour review
“I loved seeing them in their burrows and swimming in the surf on Isla Magdalena. We were able to take this tour in the morning and still have time to drive our rental car all the way up to Puerto Natales and make it to our lodge in Torres del Paine by 8pm.”
Brian · United States
Read the tour review
“Of course, it's a long day of driving, but we made several short stops to observe all kinds of animals, so the time was well spent. The king penguins themselves were amazing, we were lucky enough to see them from only a few meters away. They strictly limit the amount of people accessing the area and their focus is clearly conservation.”
Julian · Germany
Read the tour review
“The island itself is definitely worth a visit, lots of penguins up close. However, we were only allowed to spend an hour on the island, and were told every five minutes to hurry. Although we were on time at the meeting point, we still had to wait an hour and a half before the tour even started.”
Pia · Chile
Read the tour review1 / 4 · swipe for more
Check Dates for a Punta Arenas Penguin Tour
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before; a weather cancellation gets a new date or a refund.
Live dates and seats from GetYourGuide
Punta Arenas Penguin Tour FAQ
Can I see penguins in Punta Arenas without a tour?
Yes — the TABSA public ferry sails to Isla Magdalena from Terminal Tres Puentes in season, about 2 hours each way with one hour on the island, for CLP 96,000 per adult and CLP 48,000 for children 5–13. It is bought from the ferry company, not here, and leaves later in the morning than most tours.
Is there an afternoon penguin tour from Punta Arenas?
Yes. The afternoon catamaran sails at 13:30 from Muelle Prat and the three-departure ferry at 12:30; both give you about an hour on Isla Magdalena. Afternoon sailings are cancelled for wind more often than morning ones. Compare the tours.
Can I do Isla Magdalena and the king penguins on the same day?
No. They lie in opposite directions — the island north-east of the city by boat, the king penguins on Tierra del Fuego by ferry and road — and the king penguin day alone takes 14–15 hours. Plan two days, Magdalena first.
How close do you get to the penguins?
On Isla Magdalena the roped path runs between the burrows, and penguins often cross it a metre or two away; you must keep at least 2 m and let them pass. At the king penguin park you stand behind a rope line, usually 20–100 m from the birds, so bring a zoom lens.
Are penguin tours cancelled because of wind?
Sometimes. The Chilean Navy closes the port in strong wind, and operators then reschedule or refund; on the morning tour the Isla Marta stop is dropped first. Book on an early day of your stay so a cancelled sailing can move.
What is the best month for a Punta Arenas penguin tour?
December and January. The Magdalena colony is full and chicks are out of the burrows; by March numbers drop week by week. King penguins can be seen until May, on fewer weekdays.
Is the king penguin park entrance included in the tour price?
It depends on the tour. The classic king penguin day lists park entry as included; the small-group and budget days collect it on the day. The reserve charges CLP 20,000 per adult, CLP 15,000 for 11–17-year-olds, and nothing for children under 10.
Can children go on a penguin tour?
Yes, the tours are open to families; the operators do not state a minimum age on the listings. On the public ferry children under 5 travel free and 5–13-year-olds pay half. The 15-hour king penguin day is hard on small children.
Is there a toilet on Isla Magdalena?
Guests report none on the island itself — only on the boat and at the operator's office. Food is not sold either, and eating on the island is not allowed.
What should I wear on a penguin tour?
Layers, a windproof jacket, a hat and gloves, even in January, plus shoes you don't mind getting muddy. The island has no shelter, and the boat deck is cold at 7:00.
Is Seno Otway penguin colony still open?
No. The Seno Otway visitor site is closed and its colony collapsed after about 2015. The penguin trips from Punta Arenas today are Isla Magdalena and the king penguins in Tierra del Fuego.
Can I go on a penguin tour from a cruise ship in Punta Arenas?
Often, if the ship is in port for a full morning. Magdalena tours take 5–6 hours and leave at 6:00–7:00, with afternoon sailings at 12:30 and 13:30; check your all-aboard time against the return. The 15-hour king penguin day does not fit a port call.
Will I get seasick on the way to Isla Magdalena?
It is common on windy mornings — guests on several tours report rough return crossings. Take a seasickness tablet before boarding, even if you rarely get sick, and sit low and in the middle of the boat.