Punta Tombo penguin walk from Puerto Madryn: 180 km to the colony

Walk alongside penguins at Punta Tombo, timed perfectly for your cruise return

This is a shore excursion from Puerto Madryn to Punta Tombo, a 180 km journey south to the world's largest continental penguin colony, where you walk among Magellanic penguins in their natural habitat. The tour runs seven hours total, including travel time, and is scheduled to return you to the pier before your ship departs. A guide fluent in English and Spanish leads small groups in an air-conditioned vehicle, and the itinerary adjusts to your cruise's departure window.

The experience

The drive south covers 180 kilometers to reach Punta Tombo, where the real experience begins: walking directly among Magellanic penguins as they move through their reserve. This is not a viewing platform or a distant vantage point. You are on the ground in their space, watching their behavior and interactions up close. The reserve is also home to Patagonian terrestrial wildlife, so the day opens onto more than penguins alone.

A specialized guide who speaks both English and Spanish travels with your small group in a new, air-conditioned vehicle. The operator times the entire seven-hour excursion, including the 180 km round-trip drive, to align with your ship's departure, so you return to the pier entrance with a buffer built in. Entrance tickets to the reserve are purchased separately at the checkpoint when you arrive.

The journey itself is part of the experience: 180 kilometers of Patagonian landscape before you step into the colony. Travel time is factored into the total duration, so the day is structured around getting you there, giving you time among the penguins, and getting you back to the ship on schedule.

What’s included

• Tour guide fluent in English and Spanish.
• air-conditioned vehicle for the round-trip journey.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (18 to 64 years) · Senior (65 to 90 years) · Youth (12 to 17 years) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupUp to 20

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 7 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomeNot for pregnant travelersNot for back problems

Operated by Ualan Tour EVyT

Is this one for you?The seven-hour duration includes the full 180 km drive each way, so plan accordingly if you have other activities in Puerto Madryn before or after your cruise departure. The timing is built around your ship's schedule, leaving no room for a separate city visit the same day.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 17 years); Child (4 to 11 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?

Punta Tombo lies 180 kilometers south of Puerto Madryn. The round-trip drive is included in the seven-hour tour duration.

Can I walk right up to the penguins, or do I view them from a distance?

You walk among the Magellanic penguins in the reserve itself, observing them in their natural habitat up close rather than from a viewing area.

Will the tour get me back to my ship on time?

Yes. The operator adjusts the schedule to your cruise's departure window and drops you at the pier entrance with time to spare before your ship leaves.

What else might I see besides penguins?

Punta Tombo is also home to Patagonian terrestrial wildlife, so you may encounter other species native to the region during your walk through the reserve.