Punta Tombo Penguin Colony Tour: Half a Million Birds

Walk between nesting Magellanic penguins on a trail built for close observation

A full-day tour from Puerto Madryn to Punta Tombo, South America's largest penguin colony, where you walk a designated trail with hundreds of thousands of Magellanic penguins nesting on both sides. The two-hour drive each way brackets a guided walk where benches let you rest and watch the birds at different life stages. A live guide speaks English, Spanish or Portuguese. Children from age one are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Punta Tombo Penguin Colony

• Drive two hours to Punta Tombo
• Walk along penguin-inhabited trail
• Observe penguin behavior and nests
• Rest on benches and enjoy views
• Return to Puerto Madryn and ship

The experience

The tour leaves Puerto Madryn and drives two hours to the Punta Tombo peninsula in Chubut province. Half a million Magellanic penguins nest here, the largest colony in South America, and the trail winds through their habitat with birds on both sides. Because the path runs close to the nests, you can watch the different phases of their lives without binoculars or distance: chicks still in down, adults returning from the sea, pairs tending eggs. The proximity is the whole point. You are not watching from a boardwalk or a viewing platform.

Benches are placed along the trail so you can sit and observe without rushing. The walk itself is the core of the day, and the pace is yours. You move at whatever speed lets you see what you came for. After you have spent as much time as you want on the peninsula, the tour returns to Puerto Madryn. The full outing takes seven hours, with the drive accounting for four of them.

The vehicle is air-conditioned, and the tour includes bottled water, two empanadas, a jam and cheese sandwich, a mini alfajor, candies and an apple. A live guide in your choice of English, Spanish or Portuguese travels with the group. The penguin colony entry ticket is not included in the tour price and must be purchased separately at the site.

What’s included

• Bottled water.
• two empanadas, a jam and cheese sandwich, a mini alfajor, candies and an apple.
• air-conditioned vehicle with a live guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day28 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 20:30

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (18 to 65 years) · Senior (66 and older) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Infant (1 to 3 years)

GroupUp to 30

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and Portuguese

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditions

Operated by Favio y Paola tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you have a full day in port and want to walk among nesting penguins rather than view them from a distance. The trail is gentle with rest stops, but the drive takes most of your time.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (4 to 12 years); Infant (1 to 3 years).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How close do you actually get to the penguins at Punta Tombo?

The trail runs directly through the nesting areas with penguins on both sides, close enough to watch their behavior (feeding chicks, tending eggs, returning from the sea) without optical aid. Benches along the path let you sit and observe at your own pace.

What is the drive time to Punta Tombo from Puerto Madryn?

The drive is two hours each way, making up most of the seven-hour tour. The return trip follows the same route back to the port.

What food and water are provided during the tour?

The tour includes bottled water, two empanadas, a jam and cheese sandwich, a mini alfajor, candies and an apple. Lunch itself is not included, so plan accordingly if you want a full meal.