Magdalena Island: Witness Thousands of Magellanic Penguins on a Boat Tour from Punta Arenas

Embark on a boat tour from Punta Arenas to Magdalena Island and witness thousands of Magellanic penguins in their natural habitat. Explore the protected nature reserve, learn about the island’s ecosystem, and spot sea lions and elephant seals. Book your ‘March of the Penguins’ experience now!

Duration: 5 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation: 48 hours
Highlights
  • José Nogueira 1255 - Dress warmly and prepare to embark on this exciting tour, beginning at a meeting point in Punta Arenas. From there, travel with the group to the pier. Ensure arrival by 6:30 am at the meeting point located at José Nogueira #1255, Punta Arenas.
    Board a spacious powerboat and journey north for approximately 40 minutes across the…
What's Included
  • Professional guide
  • Snacks
  • Transfer from the meeting point to the pier
  • Boat tour
  • Transport by air-conditioned minivan
What's Not Included
  • Gratuities
  • Food and drinks, unless specified
  • Airport pickup and drop-off
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
Additional Information

Embark on a personal adventure akin to the ‘March of the Penguins’ on Magdalena Island with a morning boat tour from Punta Arenas. After sailing across the Strait of Magellan, you’ll land on this safeguarded nature reserve and get the chance to see the multitudes of Magellanic penguins gathered on the rocky landscape that forms their breeding ground….

Location
José Nogueira 1255
José Nogueira
Your incredible experience will begin directly at the meeting point, located in Jose Nogueira #1255, Punta Arenas, at the office of the local provider. Remember that you have to be at 06:30am at the meeting point.
Cancellation Policy

If you cancel at least 2 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.
If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.

Customer Ratings
4.2
(111 Ratings)
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Rebecca_a
Mar 16, 2026
Great trip - Fantastic trip, brilliant service and really knowledgeable guide. Boat staff were incredibly helpful. Penquins, sea lions, birds, dolphins and whales- brilliant time. Can highly recommend
Review provided by Viator
822raeganw
Mar 11, 2026
Amazing - An amazing experience and a joy to see the penguins on the island.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Gkgreen
Mar 7, 2026
Magdalena island tour - Great tour from start to finish. Boat ride out to the island was smooth, guide was very informative. After we reached the island we had plenty of time to observe the penguins and other native birds.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jeffery_b
Feb 16, 2026
Amazing guide, very... - Amazing guide, very knowledgeable and spoke English very well. Tons of penguins out and about. Also, had the chance to see the sea lions on Marta Island.
Review provided by Viator
Martina
Feb 16, 2026
Penguins up close - Watch penguins up close. The walk on the island is a walking tour including a lighthouse. We could observe penguins, seagull geese and an ibis up close. The guide of Joselin was super bilingual, the crew on the catamaran very nice and attentive. We drove even further to a sea lion colony. We had enough time to watch the animals.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
41saged
Feb 16, 2026
What a wonderful experience! - We really enjoyed this tour! It was very organized and punctual. They were accommodating and allowed us to leave our luggage at the office meeting point. We took a bus from the office to the dock, and then a 35 minute boat ride to Isla Magdalena (we did stop along the way to watch a whale!). We then got off the boat and spent an hour walking on the island. Be prepared for cold, very windy conditions. The boat cabin is warm and comfortable, but prepared to get wet if you want to stand outside on the boat (life jacket required). They gave us hot drinks and cookies on the ride back which was a nice touch to warm up our hands! Great for individuals, groups of friends, and families. FYI there are no stops for souvenir shopping, but there are multiple shops near the office meeting point in Punta Arenas that you can go to after.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Adalis_f
Feb 12, 2026
UNMISSABLE. Beautiful, tender, beautiful. Very good service - The service was 5 stars, the experience invaluable, recommend 100! Thank you guys, chocolate and cookies the extra point!!
Review provided by Viator
Juanpablo_o
Jan 30, 2026
Unbeatable!! - Spectacular and unmissable, I liked that there are many rules to protect animals. There are many penguins and other birds, these super close to them. The guides are very friendly and know the subject well. The boat is small and very safe, they know the deck ready to admire the landscape of the Magellanic canal
Review provided by Viator
Jaimeson_r
Jan 14, 2026
An absolute must-do excursion! A+ - The best tour operator in the area, quality busses and boats, a great team of staff, and a great excursion! We repeat this one every visit down here!
Review provided by Viator
Debjrooney0120
Mar 1, 2026
Worth it to see the Penguins! - We are on a Holland America cruise but this trip was not available from the ship tour offers. Booked thru aviator but run thru Solo Expeditions in Punta Arenas. They were aware of our time in port and easily got us back to the ship in time. Checking process was chaotic- they wouldn’t check k anyone in until start time of tour and then it was a bit unorganized. Once that was figured out, we were on buses and on our way to the boat that took us out to the island. Weather was perfect. Team on the boat were wonderful - took good care of us. Walk thru the island was wonderful - penguins were ready to show up for us! On the ride back we stopped to see the sea lions. Worth the trip, be patient with the check in process…
Review provided by Viator