Penguins in Argentina?
One of the many highlights of our Patagonia itinerary was our trip to see the Magellanic Penguins in Punta Tombo Argentina. Yes, there are penguins in Argentina. Punta Tombo in Chubut Province is home to the world’s largest colony of Magellanic Penguins.
More than a million penguins arrive in South America to breed every year, although, in recent years, the numbers have dropped by around twenty percent. Climate change, marine environment, pollution, and overfishing are some of the reasons given for their decline.
We reached the Nature Reserve at 9 am and were pleased to see that we were the first visitors to arrive. After purchasing our tickets, we drove another kilometre down to the Punta Tombo Penguin rookery.
Inside the sanctuary, there’s a three-kilometre walking path you follow, and for the sake of the penguins you must keep to the trail but don’t be surprised if the young adolescent penguins decide to hang out with you for a while, but please don’t touch. (Tempting as it was!)
We were so excited when we came across our first Penguin; we hadn’t expected to get quite so close. But as our eyes started to focus, we soon realised there were thousands of penguins as far as the eye could see.
Just relaxing in their nests and family units under bushes; some waddling down to the beach, others protecting themselves under the path from the hot sun.
And the noise of penguin chatter was just incredible from the young chicks calling out to their parents to the braying sound of the adult males.
How Long Should I Plan To Spend at Punta Tombo
We spent around four hours watching the antics of these cute guys. Visiting Punta Tombo Nature Reserve was so much fun and really worth the long drive. The Visitor Centre at the reserve was also cool, perfect for kids and filled with information about the life of penguins.
Guided tours were available with the rangers. The visitor centre also has a small restaurant, plenty of toilets and a tiny souvenir shop.
From here, we headed back along bumpy, dusty roads to our guesthouse in Trelew via Gaiman, where we stopped for a scrumptious Welsh tea. For more information on our adventures in the Welsh town of Gaiman, click here.
What You See At Punta Tombo Depends On The Time Of Year
- January: The young penguins leave their nest, begin to moult and venture into the sea.
- February: The young penguins continue to moult and head to the beach.
- March/April: The young adult penguins finish moulting, and the annual migration north begins.
- May to August: The penguins are at sea, so not the best time to visit the penguin sanctuary.
- August/ September: The Penguins return to Punta Tombo to build nests. There are some territorial struggles along the way.
- October: 30-45 day egg incubation period.
- November: Lots of baby chicks born, would so love to have seen this.
- December: Taking care of the young chicks.
What Other Wildlife Will I See At The Penguin Nature Reserve?
If the penguins aren’t enough for you, there is other wildlife in the area. We saw plenty of guanacos which are related to llamas and camels plus many other seabirds: cormorants, seagulls, rheas, Antarctic pigeons (which look like regular pigeons to me but apparently there’s a difference!)
How To Get To Punta Tombo Nature Reserve
Most people’s itinerary starts from Puerto Madryn, a seaside town in Chubut Province but we started from Trelew, not a particularly attractive town but an hour closer to the Penguins. Day tours are available from Puerto Madryn, Trelew, and Rawson but it’s a lot more fun to rent a car and do it yourself.
Top Tip – When visiting the Sanctuary, check to see if a cruise ship will be in Puerto Madryn that day. Many of the cruise passengers will be taking tours to look at the penguins, so to avoid crowds arrive early or visit on a day when there are no cruise ships in.
See Also:
- The Complete Three Week Buenos Aires and Patagonia Itinerary
- Argentina Lake District And The Route of the Seven Lakes
- Ushuaia, Patagonia – Traveling To The End Of The World
Where is Punta Tombo located?
Punta Tombo is located in Chubut Province in Patagonia in southern Argentina. The Punta Tombo Nature Reserve is situated on a peninsula that stretches out into the Atlantic Ocean, roughly 123 km south of Trelew and 188 km south of Puerto Madryn Cruise Port.
Map of Punta Tombo, Argentina
Travel Times and Distance To Punta Tombo
- From Puerto Madryn, takes just under three hours each way. Distance 188 kilometres.
- From Trelew, takes just over two hours each way. Distance 123 kilometres.
- From Rawson, takes two hours 20 minutes. Distance 132 kilometres. Although we didn’t do this, it’s possible to take a boat tour from Rawson to see dolphins.
Note: There is a lot of road construction on Argentina Route 3 at the moment (January 2019), so when fixed, I expect travel times will be a little quicker. The last 30
Opening Hours At Punta Tombo Penguin Sanctuary
Open daily from 8 am to 6 pm, but
Punta Tombo Entrance Fees
Entrance fee 1300 Argentinean Pesos per person, about $11 (April 2022).
Top Tips For Visiting The Penguins
- Wear comfortable shoes, the paths around the rookery are a little uneven.
- When we visited in January, it was hot, and there was very little shade, so wear sunscreen and a hat.
- Bring cash for the entrance fee, as they don’t accept credit cards.
- Don’t touch the penguins (Yes, I know, I wanted to cuddle them too, but don’t!)
- Check the cruise schedule to avoid busloads of tourists. We use Cruisemapper to plan our days. It really came in useful in Patagonia.
- Bring water.
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Those penguins are adorable! This looks like a really great place to see, I love getting outdoors and exploring places like this. Very informative post!
Thank you, they were adorable and very much a highlight of our trip in Patagonia
This is such a beautiful experience! I would die for watching these penguins! Thanks for the tips to at the end of the post, especially that you pointed out we can not touch the penguins, it is sooo essential but easily forgotten by travellers!
It was very tempting to give them a cuddle when they came up to you though 🙂
What a beautiful experience! Seeing wildlife in its natural habitat is always very special… and how cute are those Penguins x
They were so cute! Never realised what a huge fan of penguins we were lol
Wow what an incredible adventure to visit Punta Tombo to see the Magellanic Penguins. It’s interesting to learn that over a million come here to breed each year, although said to hear that this number is dropping. It’s truly incredible how close and personal you were able to get to the penguins and could snap some great photos. Good to know to bring cash for entrance fees – I am finding a lot of places still don’t take card so having cash is still so handy.
It really was an amazing sight to see so many penguins. Would love to return to see when the babies are born
This is incredible! I’ve never seen penguins in person but would love to have this experience. It was a very informational post. Thanks for sharing.
It really was an incredible experience.
What an incredible trip! I adore penguins in general and never miss a chance to watch anything about them! I appreciate the calendar too, so I know exactly what’s happening. I think 4 hours there sounds magical, and I’d be tempted to touch them, but will take your advice and just admire 🙂
It’s very difficult not to cuddle them when they just come up to you and hang out lol
Oh my gosh – this is so cute! It’s unbelievable that you are sitting so close to all these darling penguins! I need to visit there as soon as I can 😀
Highly recommend this place. It’s out of the way but so, so worth it!
We fell in love with penguins last year when we visited the Antarctic. We travelled Patagonia but never got to Punta Tombo. Your article makes me want to return! Thanks for sharing great information.
Oh, you visited the Antarctic. So, so jealous. Bet you saw loads of penguins there.
What a beautiful experience! We have been in Patagonia this past spring and have seen the Magellanic penguins on Magdalena Island, next to Punta Arenas. I’d love to return and see the one in Punta Tombo too. You’ve got so cute pictures of these penguins!
Penguins everywhere in Patagonia, it seems. Gorgeous, aren’t they?
This is so amazing, being able to see penguins in their natural habitat. We saw penguins for the first time in a zoo in Singapore. Would love to see these cute creatures in their natural habitat. This adds another reason to visit South America.
It’s just amazing seeing animals in their natural habitat! Mind you, as zoos go Singapore’s pretty good 🙂
Awww these little penguins are just so cute. I am sure you had an amazing experience with these adorable creatures. My 6-year-old is fascinated by penguins. But he has always seen them on ice and snow. He will be thrilled to watch them so close on dry land. This will definitely go into our Argentinian itinerary.
Oh, they must. Your kid will love them and the visitor centre there is perfect for kids.
OMG I couldn’t help admiring these little gentlemen! I love penguins (the Emperor is the best!) and they look so smarty. It was so nice that you guys explored their place and liked it.
Wow this is such an amazing wildlife reserve. I have never seen a penguin in real life so I’m sure I’ll spend a lot of time if i get there. Thanks for all the valuable details and info.
My wife and I are going on a cruise in the end of April and have the option of taking an excursion to the Magdalena Island Reserve or to Punta Tombo. After reading your post I deffenitely decided to visit Punta Tombo. The penguins are so amazing!
beautifully. We’re going in December. what car did you have?
they say there’s a gravel road.
díky Simča