Magdalena Island Penguin Colony Walk
A boat trip to Isla Magdalena in the Strait of Magellan, home to 120,000 Magellanic penguins nesting in burrows across a windswept island.
- 1
Punta Arenas Ferry Terminal
Boats depart from the terminal for the 90-minute crossing to Isla Magdalena, one of the largest Magellanic penguin colonies in the world.
- 2
Magdalena Island Landing
The island greets visitors with thousands of penguins standing on the landing area, utterly unafraid and seemingly curious about the human visitors.
- 3
Penguin Burrow Trail
A marked circular trail winds through the colony, where penguins nest in burrows on either side of the path and peer out at passing visitors.
- 4
Nesting Zone Overlook
From a gentle rise, the full extent of the colony becomes visible — a living carpet of black-and-white birds stretching across the windswept island.
- 5
Historic Lighthouse
The red-and-white lighthouse has guided ships through the strait since 1902, its beam now a backdrop to the extraordinary penguin spectacle below.
- 6
Return Strait Crossing
The return crossing often encounters South American sea lions and Peale's dolphins, rounding off an unforgettable wildlife excursion.
Walk this route with audio
Stories play automatically as you reach each stop — no tapping needed.
