San Lorenzo Peninsula Valdés tour: Penguin colonies

A morning among Magellanic penguins on a working Patagonian sheep farm

This seven-hour tour from Puerto Madryn travels 100 miles into Peninsula Valdés to Estancia San Lorenzo, a protected natural area where over 600,000 Magellanic penguins nest between September and March. A professional guide leads you through the penguin rookery, then to Punta Norte to see elephant seals and sea lions, with stops at the farm's interpretation center and a traditional lamb BBQ lunch included. Pickup from your ship or hotel is part of the booking.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Peninsula Valdes wildlife and farm

• Visit protected natural area
• See Magellanic penguin rookery
• Tour San Lorenzo sheep farm
• Visit Punta Norte for wildlife

The experience

The drive from Puerto Madryn takes you into one of Patagonia's most intact ecosystems, where whales, orcas, sea lions, elephant seals, guanacos and Magellanic penguins share the same habitat. San Lorenzo sits 100 miles inland, a working sheep farm inside the Peninsula Valdés protected area, and the coastline here holds one of the world's largest penguin colonies: over 600,000 birds return each year between September and March to nest and raise their young. Your guide is a professional Park Ranger employed by the estancia, trained in both the ecology and the conservation work happening on the site.

After walking the penguin rookery, the route heads to Punta Norte, where elephant seals haul out on the beach and sea lions gather on the rocks. Orcas pass through these waters seasonally. Back at the farm, you'll visit the interpretation center to learn about four decades of penguin research the estancia has supported with scientists from Argentina and abroad. Lunch is a Patagonian box meal: braised lamb sandwich on pita bread, a meat empanada, homemade alfajor, a Pyrenees dessert (brownie, dulce de leche, meringue or chocolate Charlotte) and a non-alcoholic drink. The vehicle is air-conditioned for the long drive across open steppe.

The tour runs year-round, but penguin viewing is guaranteed only from September 7 through March 31, when the colony is ashore. Outside those dates, the same route covers the same terrain and wildlife, but the rookery will be empty. Park entrance and estancia fees are separate from the tour price.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned vehicle with professional Park Ranger guide.
• Patagonian box lunch with braised lamb sandwich, empanada, alfajor and Pyrenees dessert plus one non-alcoholic drink.
• access to the penguin rookery and Punta Norte.
• interpretation center visit.
• pickup from your ship or hotel in Puerto Madryn.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

Book up to8h before

AgesAdult (12 to 90 years) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 17

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, Italian and Portuguese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 96

Prices and times updated 13 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcome

Operated by Sentir Patagonia Travel

Is this one for you?The tour is a full morning or afternoon commitment with a long drive each way, so it suits travelers with time to spare and the stamina for seven hours mostly in a vehicle. If you're docked in Puerto Madryn for only a few hours, this excursion will not fit the schedule.

Traveler reviews

4.66★★★★★★★★★★

44 verified traveler reviews

5 ★35

4 ★5

3 ★2

2 ★2

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, Italian and Portuguese.

Can children come?

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

When can I see the penguins on this tour?

Magellanic penguins nest at San Lorenzo between September 7 and March 31 each year. The tour operates outside those dates too, but the rookery will be empty and you'll see the same landscape and other wildlife (seals, sea lions, guanacos) without the birds.

What animals will I see besides the penguins?

Elephant seals, sea lions and occasionally orcas gather at Punta Norte, the second main stop. The Peninsula Valdés ecosystem also hosts whales, guanacos, maras and choiques (Patagonian rheas), though sightings depend on the season and time of day.

Is the penguin rookery accessible on foot, or do I view it from the vehicle?

You walk the penguin rookery as part of the tour. The exact access depends on the season and nesting activity, and your Park Ranger guide will explain what you're seeing and the conservation work underway.

What's included in the lunch?

Lunch is a Patagonian box meal with a braised lamb sandwich on pita bread, a meat empanada, homemade alfajor, a Pyrenees dessert (brownie, dulce de leche, meringue or chocolate Charlotte) and one non-alcoholic drink. A vegetarian menu is available if you request it when booking.

How far is San Lorenzo from Puerto Madryn, and how much of the tour is driving?

The estancia is 100 miles (160 km) from Puerto Madryn. The seven-hour tour includes the round-trip drive, stops at the penguin rookery and Punta Norte, the interpretation center visit and lunch, so a significant portion is travel time across the Patagonian steppe in an air-conditioned vehicle.

Do I need to pay anything extra on top of the tour price?

Park entrance to Peninsula Valdés and the estancia entrance fee are not included in the tour price and are paid separately. Tips for your guide are also separate.