Updated Oct 2026 · Prices and times checked Oct 2026
Book the Magdalena Island tour (5 h, from $155) if you have half a day, or king penguins in Tierra del Fuego (14–15 h, from $108) if you can give a whole day. Both leave from Punta Arenas.
Our pick · most reviewedOur pickHalf a day means Magdalena Island, where you walk among Magellanic penguins at 2 m.
A full day means king penguins, watched from a hide 30–50 m away.
December to March adds the whales and glaciers cruise, with penguins only a side sight.
Seno Otway is closed to tours and not offered by local operators.
Magdalena prices include island entry; the king park charges CLP 17,000 (≈$18) on site.
Six picks · Magdalena, king penguins, whales
For one Punta Arenas penguin tour, book the Magdalena & Marta speedboat: 5 hours, from $160, the most reviews in the city and a walk through the colony at 2 m. If you want king penguins, take the most-reviewed Tierra del Fuego day. The other four picks cover a better-rated boat, an afternoon start, a lower king price and the whale season.
Pick by your situation
Your match: Magdalena & Marta speedboat · ★4.6 (709) · walk · 2 m
Book · from $1601 / 4Our pick · most reviewedOur pickThe most reviews in the city and a walk through the colony at 2 m.
2 mwalk among themsea lions at Isla Marta from the boat
1 / 4Best rated on MagdalenaBest ratedThe better-rated boat, with a transfer back to your hotel.
2 mwalk among them
1 / 3Morning or afternoon departureMorning or afternoonThe afternoon start, and a 10:00 departure for cruise passengers.
2 mwalk among themOne guest warns that the ferry's movement can be an issue if you get seasick easily.
1 / 4King penguins · most reviewedKing · most reviewedKing penguins in Tierra del Fuego, on the most-reviewed day.
30–50 mfrom a hide
1 / 4King penguins · lowest priceLowest king priceA lower king price, in a small group.
30–50 mfrom a hideOn our check date only 11 places were left.
1 / 4Whales first · Dec–MarWhales firstThe whale season: penguins are a side sight, not guaranteed.
not statedpenguins a side sightAn April 2026 guest saw no penguins in the shoulder season.
Source · GetYourGuide listings, ratings and “from” prices checked Oct 2026 · park fee from the Reserva Natural Pingüino Rey table (2025)
Live dates for the three most-booked penguin tours from Punta Arenas
Pick Magdalena for the closest view and the shortest day, and king penguins for the rarer bird. A Punta Arenas penguin tour to Magdalena puts you on a trail at 2 m for 5 hours, entry included. The king penguin day takes 14–15 hours for about an hour at a hide 30–50 m away, and the park fee comes on top.
“And we couldn't get as close to the penguins as we did on Isla Magdalena.”
Grace Barros · Brazil · January 2026 · lowest-priced king penguin day
On GetYourGuide: Magdalena & Marta speedboat
On GetYourGuide: king penguin day, most reviewed
Source · CONAF Los Pingüinos brochure (2026), chile.travel, operator descriptions and GetYourGuide listings, checked Oct 2026
A half-day Punta Arenas penguin tour is always Magdalena Island: about 5 hours, with morning starts at 6:00–6:30 and an afternoon start at 12:30. Every full day leaves early — king penguins around 7:00, the whale cruise at 4:00. If you land in the morning, the 12:30 Magdalena departure is the only same-day option.
The public TABSA ferry also sails to Magdalena, but its 2026 schedule could not be verified — check it locally.
Source · GetYourGuide listings for the first available dates in Nov–Dec 2026 · times can change by date; the booking widget shows the slots for your day
A Magdalena morning is short and fixed: check in at 6:30, walk the island for an hour, and you are back around noon. The king penguin day is the opposite — about 14–15 hours, most of it in a van and on ferries, for just under an hour at the colony. Both Punta Arenas penguin tours run on the operator's schedule, so the time at the birds is set.
At the operator's office, José Nogueira 1255.
About 30 minutes by bus.
Across the Strait of Magellan, about 50 minutes.
On the marked trail; CONAF allows no more than 1 hour on the island.
From the boat, with its sea lion colony.
The tour ends at Plaza de Armas.
In Punta Arenas.
From Tres Puentes, or the 20-min Punta Delgada crossing farther east, depending on weather and timing.
Paved and gravel road, with stops on the way.
A guided visit in a timed slot, just under 1 hour.
About 14–15 hours after pickup.
One blogger's crossing took about 45 min out and 1.5 h back, which shortened the time on the island.
“The guide tried to bridge the time until the penguin visit slot with interesting facts.” — Nicole · Germany · November 2025 · lowest-priced king penguin day
Book the king penguin day · from $119Source · Solo Expediciones and Nomades operator pages, CONAF via Meteored (Oct 2026), GetYourGuide routes
Three colonies are open to a Punta Arenas penguin tour, and one is closed. Magdalena and Marta are protected islands about 35 km away in the Strait of Magellan. The king penguin park is across the Strait on Tierra del Fuego. Seno Otway, about 65 km north by road, no longer has tours. Each open colony is seen in a different way.
Source · CONAF Los Pingüinos brochure (2026), Meteored (Oct 2026), Reserva Natural Pingüino Rey, Eyes on the Wild (Feb 2025)
The Seno Otway penguin colony is closed: it was once the main penguin visit from Punta Arenas, but no operator runs it now, and no Punta Arenas penguin tour on GetYourGuide goes there. Local operators list the pingüinera de Seno Otway as stopped or not available, and a December 2025 guide says it has been closed for years. Book Magdalena Island instead.
Source · Nomades and Patagonia Tours pages, pinguinorey.com (Dec 2025), TodoPatagonia (2022), checked Oct 2026
Most Punta Arenas penguin tours start in the city center, not at a far-off pier: the speedboat and catamaran tours check in at José Nogueira 1255 and bus you to the boat. The fast ferry and the new Magdalena tour start at the Arturo Prat pier on the waterfront. King penguin tours pick you up in town. Hotel pickup is not included on most Magdalena tours.
Meeting points in Punta Arenas
Road lines from OpenStreetMap routing · the inset shows City center · Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors · Open in Google Maps
The speedboat, catamaran and whale cruise tours check in here.
Magdalena & Marta speedboatMagdalena catamaranWhales and glaciers cruiseThe fast ferry and the new Magdalena tour, at 6:00 and 12:30.
Magdalena fast ferryNew Magdalena boat tourThe fast ferry's 10:00 departure for cruise passengers, and the ferry to Porvenir.
Where the speedboats leave, reached by the operator's bus.
On the most-reviewed king penguin day (pickup area), the catamaran's return and the new Magdalena tour's $195 option.
22 km, about 30–35 min; taxi about $45–50, shared shuttle about $10–15.
“I'd suggest just giving the correct coordinates (the meeting point is by the water, where the ferries are, not in the center!).”
Zaneta · Norway · December 2025 · Magdalena fast ferry
Source · GetYourGuide listings, Tur.com (Oct 2026), Viatovia airport guide, checked Oct 2026
On a port day
A Punta Arenas penguin tour fits a cruise stop if it is the 5-hour Magdalena trip: ships usually dock at the Arturo Prat pier near the center. The fast ferry runs a 10:00 departure for cruise passengers. Booked on GetYourGuide it costs $155–180, while cruise lines sell their Magdalena excursion from about $399. King penguins take 14–15 hours and do not fit a port day.
Source · cruise-line shore excursion pages and Cruisesheet port guide, undated · GetYourGuide prices checked Oct 2026
Expect wind and cool air on any Punta Arenas penguin tour, even in January: average highs run 11–16 °C in the season, and November is the windiest month. Gusts can pass 100 kph in any month, and the maritime authority can close the port. Pack a windproof jacket, plan Magdalena early in your stay and keep a spare day.
Your travel month
Average weather in the penguin season, 1991–2020 · exact departure dates live in the booking widget · Source · Climates to Travel (1991–2020 averages), Meteored (Oct 2026), operator terms, chile.travel
The Navy (Armada) can close the port in strong wind; no source publishes how often Magdalena trips are canceled. A GetYourGuide booking follows the cancellation terms on its listing.
Check live dates early in your stayMagdalena first, king penguins second
With two days, do both Punta Arenas penguin tours: Magdalena on day 1 and king penguins on day 2, from $279 per person plus the park fee. Put the boat first, because wind can cancel the Magdalena crossing, and a canceled trip can then move to day 2. Check that the king park is open on your second day.
Guests rate Punta Arenas penguin tours 4.6 out of 5 on average, across 1,706 GetYourGuide reviews of the ten city tours with reviews, weighted by review count. Magdalena reviewers mostly talk about being close to the birds and smooth organization. King penguin reviewers love the birds but warn about the hours in the van, and the whale cruise does not promise penguins.
1,706 reviews · ten city tours · weighted average 4.6
Verified GetYourGuide bookings · tap a card to open that tour
It was a perfect experience of seeing pinguins up close. We were there in the middle of February and there were not so many of them compared to the numbers could be seen in December - January. Still it was very interesting.
Unique visit to a penguin sanctuary is hard to match. The time on the island was about right but perhaps could have been 30 minutes longer but this woudl have been cutting it too close for the cruise ship schedule. 4 hours of riding on the ferry is s stiff price to pay for 1 hour on the land but there is no other way to do it.
I really enjoyed the penguin experience and you get quite close to the king penguin colony. :) However, only consider booking this tour, if you are a wildlife lover, have spare time and don't mind spending most of the day in the van! It's more than 7 hours of driving + 2 ferry rides...
Amazing day, we saw so many wales They see them every day, so it's almost guaranteed We also do see lions, but no dolphins and penguins (march is the end of season) The Boat and crew is amazing, they really love their job and give you a lot of information
Everything went very smoothly, from check-in at the office, to the coach ride and then to the boat tour. The guide and the rest of the crew were excellent, and seeing both the penguins and sea lions (among other animals too) was incredible! Highly recommended!
A brilliant day trip - we were very lucky with the weather (April). The ferry trip across the Strait was really scenic, the stop at the restaurant in Porvenir was perfectly timed. We stopped and saw dolphins and loads of llamas en route. The penguin reserve was amazing - can't recommend it enough. There were only about 100 on site at this time of year, but the staff were really knowledgeable and made it an unforgettable experience.
Source · GetYourGuide verified-booking reviews, read Oct 2026 · reviewers' own words, cut only at sentence ends
The honest questions about a Punta Arenas penguin tour are about boats, hours and wind. Short version: the speedboat is the quickest way to Magdalena, the king penguin day is long by design, afternoon Magdalena starts exist, and you rarely need hotel pickup because tours start in the center.
Book our pick · from $160The speedboat is quicker, about 45–50 minutes each way against about 2 hours on the TABSA ferry, and the speedboat tour adds Isla Marta's sea lions. Both give you the same 1 hour on Magdalena.
For many people, yes: it takes 14–15 hours for just under an hour at the colony, and reviewers count about 7 hours in a van. Book it if king penguins matter to you and you have a spare full day.
Yes. The fast ferry tour and the new Magdalena boat tour both have a 12:30 departure from the Arturo Prat pier, and the trip takes about 5 hours.
Usually not, because the Magdalena tours start in the city center at José Nogueira 1255 or the Arturo Prat pier. King penguin tours pick you up, and the new Magdalena tour sells pickup as a $195 option.
Magdalena Island, which you walk through, and Isla Marta, seen from the boat, plus the king penguin park in Tierra del Fuego. The Seno Otway colony is closed to tours.
Yes. Local operators say they stopped running Seno Otway and list it as not available, and no reopening has been announced. The reason has never been officially confirmed.
Magdalena tours cost $155–180 per person with the island entry included. King penguin days cost $108–215 plus CLP 17,000 (≈$18) park entry, and the whale cruise $365.
Magdalena tours run October to March, with the most birds in December and January. The king park opens roughly October to May on limited days and closes June to September.
Rebook for a later day, which is why Magdalena belongs early in your stay. Magdalena operators refund in full when they suspend for weather, and a GetYourGuide booking follows the terms on its listing.
No. Magdalena tours end in March and the king park closes June to September; for winter penguins go north to Cachagua or the Humboldt reserve, which have them all year.
Ready to book
If you book one Punta Arenas penguin tour, make it the Magdalena & Marta speedboat: 5 hours, the penguins at 2 m, island entry included, from $160 with 709 reviews at ★4.6. If you have a whole spare day and want king penguins, the most-reviewed Tierra del Fuego trip costs from $119 plus the park fee.
Our pick · Magdalena & Marta speedboat · live dates and prices
Other options
Our pick · Magdalena walkfrom $160 · ★ 4.6 (709)
Book