Punta Tombo Penguin Colony Tour: Walk Among Thousands

Walk among thousands of Magellanic penguins and capture rare close-up moments

A guided tour from Puerto Madryn to Punta Tombo, the largest Magellanic penguin colony on the continent, where you walk through the reserve among nesting birds in their natural habitat. The tour includes a Spanish or English-speaking guide, air-conditioned transport from the dock, a stop at a dinosaur replica, and a box lunch. The reserve entrance fee ($15 USD) is separate. The full outing takes approximately 6 hours, timed to fit cruise schedules.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Punta Tombo Penguin Reserve

• Meet at Luis Piedra Buena dock
• Travel to dinosaur replica stop
• Visit Patagotitan Mayorum replica
• Continue to Punta Tombo reserve
• Pay entrance fee to reserve
• Visit interpretation center
• Walk among Magellanic penguins
• Return to Puerto Madryn dock

The experience

Your guide meets you at the Luis Piedra Buena dock in Puerto Madryn with a sign bearing your name. From there, the drive to Punta Tombo takes about an hour, with a planned stop roughly halfway to see a life-size replica of Patagotitan Mayorum (the largest dinosaur ever known to have lived), which stands for about 20 minutes before you continue toward the reserve.

Once at Punta Tombo, you spend approximately two hours inside the reserve itself. After paying the entrance fee at the gate, you visit the interpretation center, which traces the penguin's world from the ocean floor to the surface and shows how they coexist with local wildlife. Then you walk directly among the penguin nests, hundreds of thousands of them, observing the birds at close range in their breeding grounds. The penguins stay put on the open terrain, so the photography and wildlife viewing opportunities are immediate and abundant. Your guide points out behavior and details throughout.

The return journey to Puerto Madryn takes about two hours, with drop-off at the dock entrance. You'll have eaten the included box lunch (sandwich and water bottle) during the day. If you have dietary needs, let the operator know when you book.

What’s included

• Spanish or English-speaking guide.
• air-conditioned vehicle transport from Puerto Madryn dock.
• stop at the Patagotitan Mayorum dinosaur replica.
• entry to the Punta Tombo interpretation center.
• access to walk among the penguin nests in the reserve.
• box lunch with sandwich and bottled water.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

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

GroupUp to 18

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

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. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 15 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Punta Tombo Turismo

Is this one for you?Choose your guide's language (Spanish or English) at booking, and if you're arriving by cruise, let the operator know your ship's departure time so they can schedule the excursion around it.

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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.

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 far is Punta Tombo from Puerto Madryn, and how much time do I spend actually at the penguin colony?

Punta Tombo is roughly one hour's drive from the dock in Puerto Madryn. You spend approximately two hours inside the reserve itself, walking among the penguin nests and visiting the interpretation center.

Can I take photos of the penguins up close?

Yes. The tour is specifically designed for nature and photography lovers, and you walk among the nesting birds in their natural habitat at very short distances, offering countless opportunities to photograph them.

What's included in the tour, and what do I need to pay separately?

The tour includes a Spanish or English-speaking guide, air-conditioned transport, and a box lunch with water and a sandwich. The reserve entrance fee ($15 USD) is paid separately at the gate. Gratuities are also separate.

What is Patagotitan Mayorum, and why does the tour stop there?

Patagotitan Mayorum is the largest dinosaur ever known to have existed. The tour includes a 20-minute stop to see a life-size replica of it on the drive to Punta Tombo, breaking up the journey and adding context to the Patagonian landscape.