Punta Tombo Penguin Colony from Puerto Madryn: Magellan penguins

Thousands of Magellan penguins on one rocky coast, plus the wildlife that shares it

A full-day tour from Puerto Madryn to Punta Tombo, Latin America's most important Magellan penguin reservation, where you spend 90 minutes watching penguins in their habitat alongside gulls, cormorants, giant petrels and other coastal species. The tour includes a professional guide, air-conditioned vehicle and hotel pickup. An optional boat navigation at Rawson's Port lets you observe Overa Toninas (small dolphins) in the water. The drive covers roughly 6 hours round-trip through Patagonian landscape.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Punta Tombo and Rawson Port

• Travel to Punta Tombo
• Observe Magellan penguins and wildlife
• Stop at Rawson's Port
• Optional Toninas dolphin watching navigation
• Return to Puerto Madryn

The experience

Punta Tombo sits three hours south of Puerto Madryn, and the route itself is part of the day: the road crosses open Patagonian steppe where you'll spot guanacos, rheas and grey foxes before you reach the coast. Once there, you have roughly 90 minutes to watch the penguins move across the rocks, dive into the water and interact with the other species that nest on the same stretch of shore: cormorants, skúas, ostreros and giant petrels among them. The penguin colony is the main stop and the reason the tour runs, so if weather forces a cancellation of the optional Rawson's Port visit, you stay longer here instead.

After Punta Tombo, the tour stops at Rawson's Port on the way back to Puerto Madryn. If you booked the Toninas Watching option, you board a boat for roughly 90 minutes to watch the Overa Toninas (small dolphins no longer than a meter and a half), as they play and escort the vessel. If you chose the penguin-only tour, you have free time to walk the port. The full day ends around 5 pm back in Puerto Madryn. A professional guide in English or Spanish travels with you the whole way. Bring or buy food on the road, since lunch happens in the vehicle during the long drive.

What’s included

• Professional guide in English or Spanish.
• air-conditioned vehicle.
• hotel pickup and drop-off from selected hotels.
• round-trip boat navigation to watch Overa Toninas (only in the Toninas Watching option).

Options for this experience

2 options

Punta Tombo Penguin ColonyGuide in English or Spanish · 07:15Covers a stop at Playa Unión and at Punta Tombo. The boat navigation to see the toninas is NOT part of this option. Pickup is included.

Watching Toninas at Punta TomboGuide in English or Spanish · 07:15Pairs the visit with the remarkable chance to watch dolphins in their natural environment. Pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:15Last departure this season: 15 Apr 2027

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupUp to 25

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 24 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical level

Operated by Tangol

Is this one for you?Pick Toninas Watching if you want to see dolphins alongside penguins. The boat trip adds a separate wildlife viewing experience at Rawson's Port, while the penguin-only option keeps your day centered on Punta Tombo with free time to explore the port independently.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 12 years); Infant (under 4): free.

How long do I actually spend watching the penguins at Punta Tombo?

You have approximately 90 minutes at Punta Tombo to observe the Magellan penguins in their habitat and watch the other coastal species that share the rocks and water.

What are Overa Toninas and where do I see them?

Overa Toninas are small dolphins, no longer than a meter and a half, found in Rawson's Port. They are recognized for their similarity to dolphins and usually escort boats, playing and showing their skills to visitors. You see them only if you book the Toninas Watching option, which includes a boat navigation lasting about 90 minutes.

Is the Rawson's Port stop guaranteed to happen?

The stop at Rawson's Port is subject to favorable weather conditions. If weather forces a cancellation, you stay longer at Punta Tombo instead, and if you paid for the Toninas navigation, you receive a full refund for that option.

What wildlife besides penguins will I see?

At Punta Tombo, you'll observe gulls, skúas, giant petrels, cormorants, ostreros and pato vapor on the coast, and guanacos, rheas, maras and grey foxes on the steppe during the drive. The Overa Toninas appear only if you book the optional boat navigation at Rawson's Port.

Does the tour include lunch?

Lunch is not included. The road trip takes approximately 6 hours round-trip, so you eat in the vehicle. Bring sandwiches or buy food at stops along the way.

When does this tour run?

The tour operates from September to mid-April, the season when Magellan penguins are present at Punta Tombo.