Punta Tombo penguin tour: 3km walk among penguins

Walk alongside Magellanic penguins in their natural colony on a small-group tour

A small-group tour from Puerto Madryn cruise port to Punta Tombo penguin colony, where you walk a 3-kilometer round-trip trail among nesting Magellanic penguins and spot guanacos, rheas and other Patagonian wildlife. The tour includes park entry, an in-person guide fluent in English, Spanish or Italian, bottled water, and timing coordinated with cruise ship schedules so you return to the pier on time.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Punta Tombo Penguin Reserve

• Meet at Puerto Madryn cruise port
• Board comfortable modern vehicle
• Brief city tour of Puerto Madryn
• Stop at Patagotitan Mayorum replica
• Drive along gravel road to reserve
• Walk 3-kilometer trail among penguins
• Observe local wildlife and scenery
• Free time for lunch at DeliStore or picnic
• Return to Puerto Madryn and drop off

The experience

The tour picks you up at Puerto Madryn cruise port as soon as your ship docks, then drives south through the Patagonian landscape. On the way, you pass a replica of the Patagotitan Mayorum, the largest dinosaur ever discovered, and learn how this region once belonged to prehistoric creatures. The drive itself is part of the wildlife experience: along the gravel roads you may spot guanacos, lesser rheas, Patagonian rabbits and grey wolves crossing the open terrain.

At Punta Tombo, you walk a 3-kilometer trail (round trip) among thousands of nesting Magellanic penguins. The reserve sits where red volcanic rock from the Jurassic period meets deep blue sea, and the guide helps you read the landscape and spot the species around you. Beyond the penguins, you may see elegant crested tinamous, maras and other birds and mammals that share the reserve. After the trail, you have free time to eat lunch at the on-site DeliStore or rest before the return drive.

The tour is built around cruise schedules, so the timing gets you back to Puerto Madryn and dropped at the pier with time to spare before your ship departs. Small-group size means the guide can answer questions and adjust the pace to the group's interests. Bottled water is provided throughout the day.

What’s included

• Park entrance fee.
• in-person guide fluent in English, Spanish or Italian.
• bottled water.
• comfortable modern vehicle with hotel and cruise port pickup and return.
• timing coordinated with your ship's schedule.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (13 to 90 years) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupUp to 16

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and Italian

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 17 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Dos Océanos Viajes

Is this one for you?Guides speak English, Spanish and Italian, so you choose the language that fits your group. Small-group size means the guide can pace the walk and answer questions as you go, rather than rushing through the reserve on a larger tour.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and Italian.

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.

What is the Magellanic penguin and why is Punta Tombo the place to see them?

Magellanic penguins are black-and-white seabirds that nest in large colonies along the Patagonian coast. Punta Tombo is one of the largest and most accessible penguin rookeries in the region, with thousands of birds nesting on the red volcanic rocks year-round.

How long is the walk at Punta Tombo and how close do you get to the penguins?

The trail is 3 kilometers round trip. You walk among the penguins in their natural nesting habitat, observing them up close along the marked path.

What other wildlife might I see besides penguins?

Along the gravel roads and at the reserve, you may spot guanacos (wild relatives of llamas), lesser rheas, Patagonian rabbits, grey wolves, maras and elegant crested tinamous. The guide will help you identify species as you travel through the landscape.

Is lunch included in the tour?

Lunch is not included, but after the trail walk you have free time to eat at the DeliStore at Punta Tombo, or you can bring your own picnic.

How does the tour timing work with cruise ship schedules?

The tour is designed to coordinate with cruise ship arrivals and departures. You are picked up when your ship docks and returned to the pier with time before the ship leaves port.