Choose your Punta Arenas penguin tour by species
A Punta Arenas penguin tour takes you either by boat to Magellanic penguins on Isla Magdalena or by ferry and vehicle to king penguins on Tierra del Fuego. Choose by species and time commitment: the Magdalena outings here last five or six hours, while the king penguin day lasts 15 hours.
Magdalena and the king penguin reserve are separate excursions. Magdalena belongs to Monumento Natural Los Pingüinos in the Strait of Magellan; the king penguin colony is at Bahía Inútil on Tierra del Fuego. A boat route mentioning Magdalena and Marta still describes the island excursion, rather than a visit to both penguin species.
Our picks: penguin outings
Our take: Choose the Magdalena boat with island entry included, or the catamaran for a guided island walk. The ferry and land journey offers a different destination on Tierra del Fuego.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of November 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Magdalena Island by catamaran
- Guided hike on the island
- Bilingual guide
- Boarding pass and pre-tour instructions
Sailings can be cancelled in bad weather; the island stay is limited to one hour.
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Magdalena and Marta by boat
- Navigation to Magdalena Island and Marta Island
- Entrance fee to Penguin Island
- Bilingual guide
Weather can interrupt sailings; the island stay is limited to one hour.
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Tierra del Fuego king penguins
- Ferry ticket
- Guide during the program
- Transportation from your accommodation
King Penguin Park and Porvenir museum entry are extra; check the reservation and payment arrangements in advance.
Check availability →Magdalena boats and the king penguin day
Choose between two island outings with different starts and a longer Tierra del Fuego trip with accommodation transfers and a ferry crossing.
Boat to Isla Magdalena for Magellanic penguins
Isla Magdalena gives you a guided colony walk after crossing the Strait of Magellan. The five-hour Magdalena and Marta excursion includes navigation to both islands, coffee, a bilingual guide and admission to Penguin Island. It starts at José Nogueira 1255 in Punta Arenas; hotel pickup and food are extra.
The six-hour Magdalena catamaran starts at Muelle Prat, Av. Costanera del Estrecho de Magallanes 1398. Its services include the sailing, a bilingual guide, boarding pass, pre-tour instructions and guided island walk. Hotel transfer is an add-on, and meals and drinks are separate. Establish the island admission arrangement for that option when booking, rather than applying the other boat's inclusion to it.
Choose the five-hour outing if you want Magdalena and navigation past Marta with island admission included; choose the catamaran for its guided 800-metre trail and Muelle Prat start; choose Tierra del Fuego for king penguins with a full day available. Marta has no visitor landing, so the island walk takes place on Magdalena.
King penguins on Tierra del Fuego by ferry and road
A king penguin tour from Punta Arenas involves crossing to Tierra del Fuego and continuing by land to the reserve at Bahía Inútil. The 15-hour option includes transport from your accommodation, a guide during the programme, a ferry ticket and return to your accommodation. Meals, King Penguin Park entry and Porvenir museum entry are extra.
The reserve uses advance reservations and specialist rangers, with admission paid on arrival. Select a visit date within the reserve's current calendar before arranging your wider travel. Wear warm clothing and closed shoes, respect the marked observation distance and follow the rules against drones, smoking and pets.
Ferry routes via Porvenir and Primera Angostura use different crossings and tickets. For independent travel, build the land leg and the appropriate ferry into your plan rather than treating the arrival pier as the colony entrance. Even infants need a boarding pass for the ferry. The general excursion comparison also includes a 14-hour king penguin alternative.
Magdalena season and weather-dependent departures
Isla Magdalena's CONAF season runs from 15 October 2026 to 31 March 2027, according to the season notice consulted on 14 November 2026. The island stay is limited to one hour. Those dates define the visitor season, while wind and sea conditions still determine whether an individual sailing can run.
Keep an alternative city visit or another flexible day in your schedule in case your boat is cancelled. Change and refund conditions belong to the particular excursion you select. King penguin visits follow the reserve's separate calendar, so a Magdalena season date should not be used as the opening date for Tierra del Fuego.
The weather and travel timing guide helps place wildlife plans alongside the local climate. The accommodation guide helps you choose between a city base near your own meeting-point route and a booking with accommodation pickup.
A short island walk on Magdalena
Isla Magdalena visits use designated paths with certified guides, and the catamaran product specifies an 800-metre trail. Keep the route clear for penguins, stay on the path and allow the guide to manage the group's progress. The one-hour maximum ashore is a conservation limit, not permission to wander beyond the visitor route.
Flash photography, running, fires and pets are prohibited. Prepare your camera before stopping and make space for both animals and other visitors. For more detail on the island visit itself, Plan your Isla Magdalena visit. Return to the Punta Arenas overview for city sights that can fit around your sailing.
Penguin excursion questions
How long can visitors stay on Isla Magdalena?
One hour is the maximum visitor stay on Isla Magdalena under the CONAF season rules for 2026/27, consulted on 14 November 2026. The full excursion also includes navigation and its other scheduled elements. Follow the guide on the visitor path and keep the route clear for penguins.
Does the king penguin excursion include reserve entry?
No, King Penguin Park admission is extra on the 15-hour Tierra del Fuego excursion here. The booking includes accommodation transport, a guide and the ferry ticket, while meals and Porvenir museum entry are also separate. Reserve visits need advance reservation, with the admission payment made at the reserve.
Can I land on Marta during the penguin trip?
No, visitor landing on Marta is prohibited under the Los Pingüinos rules. The Magdalena and Marta excursion includes navigation to the islands, with the guided colony visit on Magdalena. Choose the trip for the combination of time on the water and the permitted island walk, subject to weather.