Penguins of Patagonia – Up Close and Personal

For some visitors to Argentina, the closest they get to a penguin is a jar of house wine at a Buenos Aires restaurant. But if porcelain pinguïnos aren’t enough, there are also ways to see the birds in the wild, although you’ll have to travel a bit further south of the capital.

What kind?

The most common type of penguin found in Argentina is the Magellanic, whose namesake, Ferdinand Magellan, first spotted them on a voyage in 1520. There are also two small breeding colonies of Gentoo penguins that visitors can see in Ushuaia. Rockhopper and Macaroni penguins nest on remote islands in Tierra del Fuego, but none are accessible to tourism.


Magellanic penguins on the beach (photo courtesy of Caitlin McCann)

Where?

There are three main locations in Argentina to observe penguins in their natural habitat. The furthest north and largest penguin rookery in continental Argentina is in Punta Tombo, where over 1 million Magellanic penguins come to nest every summer. Continuing down the coast, Magellanic penguins can be seen in Puerto San Julián, a natural harbour in the province of Santa Cruz. Lastly, and even further south, penguins can be found in Ushuaia, at “the end of the world.”


Magellanic penguins in Ushuaia (photo courtesy of Caitlin McCann)

When?

Penguins start to arrive along the Patagonian coast in September, when they come to breed, and stay until about mid-March. The best time to see them, however, is December-January, when fuzzy little chicks are still feeding in the nests.


Gentoo penguins (photo courtesy of Caitlin McCann)

How?

Aerolineas Argentinas offers direct flights daily from Buenos Aires to Trelew (2 hours), Rio Gallegos (3 hours) and Ushuaia (4 hours). LAN also offers daily flights to Rio Gallegos and Ushuaia.

Punta Tombo – The penguin colony is located within a natural reserve and can be accessed by car from Trelew (110km), Rawson (110km) or Puerto Madryn (175km). You can hire an excursion during high season or rent a car and go it alone. Leave early in the morning and allow for a full day because the journey one way takes about 2 hours, part of which is on a gravel road. Wildlife lovers also combine the trip with whale watching in Peninsula Valdes, best between September-December.


Penguin crossing in Punta Tombo (photo courtesy of Catherine Mathes)

Puerto San Julián – About 360km south of Rio Gallegos, the rookery is far from much development. Pinocho Excursiones offers boat tours around the bay that includes stops to see a variety of birds and marine mammals. Tours last about 1 hour 15 minutes and are offered every 2 hours, 7 days a week during high season (January-February).

Ushuaia – As the main penguin rookery is on private property on the Estancia Harberton, it is closely regulated. Boats may come near the island but Piratour is the only company authorized to land on it. From the Ushuaia tourist dock, a 1.5-hour minibus ride takes you to the estancia, which is also worth a visit, and then another 15-minute boat ride drops you directly on Martillo Island to see nesting Magellanic and Gentoo penguins. We even saw two lost King penguins, who had taken a wrong turn. Make sure to book early as tours are small and book up quickly.


A lost King penguin (photo courtesy of Caitlin McCann)

Penguin etiquette

If you are lucky enough to see pinguïnos in their natural habitat, there are a few things to remember. In general the penguins are docile, but they are wild animals, so don’t touch or bother them. It’s a good idea to keep a distance of a few feet, especially if they are protecting their chicks and are extra defensive. And yes, a camera on a selfie stick shoved in a penguin’s face is not only bothersome but also illegal.

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Caitlin McCann
Caitlin is a freelance writer, editor, and translator who fell in love with an Argentine, married him, and has (so far) lived to tell about it. Based for the last two years in Buenos Aires, she previously lived in Spain where she received a Master's in Linguistics and sangria drinking. Current title holder for "Best Tortilla de Patatas" in the Southern Cone, her other pursuits include photography, wine, and adopting street dogs named Viggo.


2 responses to “Penguins of Patagonia – Up Close and Personal

  1. Thi says:

    Seeing the penguins in Ushuaia was so surreal. I made a short video about my time in Argentina. Would appreciate it if you could check it out! https://youtu.be/VgNUGe7VqNc

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