Punta Tombo Shore Excursion: Magellanic Penguins Tour

Walk among thousands of Magellanic penguins on designated boardwalks through their nesting colony.

This shore excursion departs Puerto Madryn cruise port within 30 minutes of ship arrival and returns before departure, taking you by air-conditioned vehicle through the Patagonian steppe to Punta Tombo, where you walk boardwalks through a rookery of thousands of Magellanic penguins nesting, molting and caring for chicks. A bilingual guide leads the small group, with stops at the interpretation center and optional photo breaks en route. Box lunch and professional interpretation are included. Admission is paid separately in cash at the port exit.

Step-by-step itinerary

Punta Tombo Shore Excursion

• Meet near Port Exit door
• Travel south through Patagonian steppe
• Walk boardwalks at Punta Tombo rookery
• Return to the pier on time

The experience

The tour meets you near the port exit within 30 minutes of disembarking, your guide holding a sign marked "CALA TOUR." From there, the drive south cuts through open Patagonian steppe with optional stops for photos or rest. The route itself is part of the day. You see the landscape the penguins inhabit, not just the birds themselves.

At Punta Tombo, you walk designated boardwalks through the rookery. Thousands of Magellanic penguins are there year-round, nesting in burrows, molting their feathers, or tending chicks depending on the season. The boardwalks keep the colony undisturbed while giving you close views without the crowds that arrive on larger cruise buses. Your guide interprets what you're seeing (breeding behavior, molt cycles, the species' migration patterns) in both English and Spanish, so the commentary is live and responsive to what's happening in front of you.

Box lunch is included and eaten during the day. The entire excursion is timed to get you back to the pier before your ship departs, which means the itinerary is locked to cruise schedules, not the other way around. Admission to Punta Tombo must be paid in USD cash at the port exit before departure.

What’s included

• Professional bilingual guide (English and Spanish).
• air-conditioned vehicle with scenic drive through the Patagonian steppe.
• box lunch.
• interpretation center visit.
• boardwalk access through the Punta Tombo rookery.

Before you book

Days and timesWednesday to Sunday10 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 11:30Last departure this season: 31 Oct

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Infant (1 to 3 years): free

GroupUp to 17

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.

Paid on siteUS$ 25

Prices and times updated 24 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availableNot for pregnant travelers

Operated by CALAIO VIAJES Y TURISMO

Is this one for you?The bilingual guide delivers live commentary in both English and Spanish, so you follow the interpretation comfortably in whichever language you prefer. The small group size and timed return to the pier make this suited to cruise passengers who want close penguin viewing without the logistics of arranging their own transport or timing their own return.

Traveler reviews

4.69★★★★★★★★★★

42 verified traveler reviews

5 ★31

4 ★9

3 ★2

2 ★0

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years); Infant (1 to 3 years): free.

What are Magellanic penguins and when do I see them at Punta Tombo?

Magellanic penguins are a South American species that nest in burrows at Punta Tombo year-round. Depending on the season, you'll see them nesting in colonies, molting their feathers, or caring for chicks. The boardwalks let you observe them at close range without disturbing the rookery.

How much time do I spend actually watching the penguins?

The entire excursion is 7 hours from port to port. After the scenic drive south through the steppe, you spend your time at Punta Tombo walking the boardwalks through the rookery and visiting the interpretation center, with the guide providing live commentary in English and Spanish throughout.

Will I be in a large group with other cruise passengers?

No. The tour is deliberately kept to a small group size to avoid the crowds that arrive on larger cruise-bus excursions. This means more intimate wildlife viewing and better access to the boardwalks during peak times.

Is the drive to Punta Tombo uncomfortable or very long?

The vehicle is air-conditioned, and the drive south through the Patagonian steppe includes optional photo and rest stops en route, so you're not sitting for hours without a break. The landscape itself is part of the experience.

Do I need to pay anything extra at the port?

Yes. Admission to Punta Tombo must be paid separately in USD cash at the port exit before the tour departs. This is not included in the tour price.