Penguin tour from Punta Arenas: Magdalene Island & Marta Island

Walk the penguin colony path on Isla Magdalena, the largest in South America.

This five-hour tour from Punta Arenas takes you by speedboat across the Strait of Magellan to Isla Magdalena, where you walk for an hour among one of South America's largest Magellanic Penguin colonies, then circles Isla Marta to see sea lions, cormorants and seabirds. A live guide in English or Spanish leads both islands. The tour includes transfer to the pier, restroom access on board and coffee or tea.

Step-by-step itinerary

Penguin walk and island wildlife cruise

• Check in at office
• Transfer to Bahia Laredo
• Embark speedboat to Magdalena Island
• Walk with Magellanic Penguins for 1 hour
• Cruise around Marta Island to see wildlife
• Return to pier and Punta Arenas

The experience

Five hours total, with the core experience split between two islands. After checking in at the office in Punta Arenas, you transfer by vehicle to Bahía Laredo, where you board a speedboat for a 45-minute crossing to Isla Magdalena. Once ashore, you walk a marked path for an hour alongside the Magellanic Penguins (around 50,000 of them nest here each year from late September through early April), in their natural habitat. The guide points out behavior and breeding patterns as you move through the colony.

From Magdalena, the speedboat circles Isla Marta to observe the strait's other wildlife: more than 1,500 sea lions hauled out on rocks, imperial cormorants diving, southern seagulls, petrels and albatrosses. Weather permitting, you may also spot Southern Dolphins, Toninas Overas or Sei Whales during the crossing. The return journey takes you back to the pier and then to Punta Arenas by transfer.

What’s included

• Entrance to Isla Magdalena and Isla Marta.
• transfer from the meeting point to Bahía Laredo pier and back to Punta Arenas.
• speedboat passage across the Strait of Magellan.
• one hour guided walk on Magdalena Island.
• circumnavigation of Marta Island with wildlife viewing.
• restroom on board.
• coffee and tea.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 06:30

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (5 to 12 years) · Infant (under 5): free

GroupUp to 66 · max 5 per booking

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Solo Expediciones

Is this one for you?Hotel pickup and a fixed morning or afternoon departure mean you see both penguin and sea lion colonies in one trip without splitting your day across multiple outings.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 12 years); Infant (under 5): 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 long do you actually spend walking with the penguins on Magdalene Island?

You walk the penguin path for one hour on Isla Magdalena. The 45-minute speedboat ride gets you there, and after the walk you return to the boat to head to Marta Island.

What wildlife can you see on Marta Island?

Marta Island hosts more than 1,500 sea lions, imperial cormorants, southern seagulls, petrels and albatrosses. If conditions are right, you may also spot Southern Dolphins, Toninas Overas or Sei Whales during the boat crossing.

Is the penguin colony there year-round?

The Magellanic Penguins arrive at Isla Magdalena at the end of September and leave in the first days of April. The tour operates during this breeding season when the colony reaches around 50,000 birds.

What's included in the tour price?

The tour includes entrance to both islands, transfer from the meeting point to the pier, restroom access on the speedboat and coffee or tea on board. A live guide in English or Spanish accompanies you on both islands.

Do I need to arrange my own transport to the pier?

No. The tour includes transfer from the meeting point in Punta Arenas to Bahía Laredo, where you board the speedboat. After returning to the pier, transfer back to Punta Arenas is also included.