4 Great Places To See the Penguins of Patagonia
Seeing penguins in the wild is an unforgettable experience and Patagonia, the southern tip of South America, is one of the best places to view them. From Magellanic, Humboldt, Gentoo, Southern Rockhoppers, to King Penguins, Chile and Argentina have them all. There are even more penguins in Patagonia than humans! You can view these adorable creatures in massive colonies at Tierra del Fuego, Punta A
Seeing penguins in the wild is an unforgettable experience and Patagonia, the southern tip of South America, is one of the best places to view them. From Magellanic, Humboldt, Gentoo, Southern Rockhoppers, to King Penguins, Chile and Argentina have them all. There are even more penguins in Patagonia than humans! You can view these adorable creatures in massive colonies at Tierra del Fuego, Punta Arenas, and Puerto Madryn. Here are the best places to find South America’s iconic penguins:
1. Punta Tumbo, Peninsula Valdes, Argentina (Northern Patagonia)
Punta Tumbo is Patagonia’s most famous penguin colony with over 100,000 visitors making the trip to the nesting ground each year. It is the world’s largest colony of Magellan Penguin with over 200,000 breeding pairs on the peninsula. Masses of inquisitive birds, preening themselves and scampering about, extend as far as the eye can see. It’s an inconceivable amount of waddling tuxedos; a ½ million pinguinos gathering on the shores, swimming in the waves, and burrowing under the small shrubs. Though it’s a 2.5 hour drive from the town of Puerto Madryn, it is completely worth the time to get there. In addition to the Magellan penguins, the reserve is also home to rheas, guanacos and armadillos. To make the most of this excursion combine it with a trip to see the tonina dolphins while keeping your eyes peeled for orcas that occasionally appear offshore. Though the Punta Tumbo colony is magnificent, if you’re short on time and need to see penguins, then consider visiting the smaller San Lorenzo colony,
