Penguin Watching: Cachagua Island Adventure

52 Ratings

Zapallar

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Embark on a private penguin watching tour on Cachagua Island, a unique and wonderful place in Central Chile. Enjoy exclusive transportation and a guided tour, along with a delicious Chilean lunch. Book your private trip now!

Duration: 9 hours

Cancellation: 24 hours

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Highlights

Isla Los Pinguinos Cachagua - Penguins island by motorboat (1hr 30 m)
Note: Penguins Island is front Cachagua Beach, around 80 mts, therefore all navigation is by the coast between Zapallar and Cachagua
“This experience requires good weather and good sea condition for safety for passenger safety”
Playa Renaca - Exploring Coasts and beaches
-…

What's Included

Private transportation
On-board WiFi
Bottled water
Lunch
All Fees and Taxes
In-vehicle air conditioning
Snacks
LifeJacket

What's Not Included

Optional Gratuities

Additional Information

VIP Penguin Watch! Private Cachagua Island Navigation
UNIQUE ADVENTURE ALERT! Avoid the crowds and seize the exclusive opportunity to observe a colony of Humboldt Penguins (an endangered species) in their natural environment on the enchanting Cachagua Island. This is an unforgettable and one-of-a-kind experience in Central Chile.
**Why Choose…

Location

Isla Los Pinguinos Cachagua

Avenida Del Mar

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings

4.8

(52 Ratings)

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Road799062

Mar 12, 2026

Great visit! - Had a great day adventure with our guide Terry! He shared his knowledge of the area and gave us a feel for the coastal town near Penguin Island with a relaxing mid-day lunch and beautiful views along the water!

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Stephengram51

Mar 6, 2026

Penguins Galore! - We were very excited for the opportunity to see Humboldt penguins in the wild, but were a bit apprehensive since we weren’t sure that we would actually see them. After the drive from Santiago to Zapaller, we set off for a very exciting ride in a small boat to Penquin Island. We were dazzled to see penguins in the water before reaching the island and then an abundance of penguins on the island. It was a stellar day in the company of our guide Terry. An experience not to be missed by penguin lovers!

Review provided by Viator

Lucy_h

Dec 24, 2025

Penguins - not at Antarctica - Great experience seeing the Humboldt penguins and tour of Viña Del Mar and Concon! Lautaro was our guide and he did a great job explaining and planning the day. We had great views of the penguins on the boat tour.

Review provided by Viator

Kandee_w

Dec 15, 2025

Amazing trip. We were... - Amazing trip. We were able to get right up the approach limits on the island. Lots of Penguins and other birds. Additional tours of the beach towns was also enjoyable. Beautiful country.

Review provided by Viator

Jeffrey_k

Dec 7, 2025

We had a wonderful Viator... - We had a wonderful Viator excursion in Santiago that took us to see the penguins on Cachagua Island, sea lions in a coastal city to the south, and the incredible murals of Valparaíso. The itinerary itself was fantastic and offered a great mix of wildlife, scenery, and culture. The tour was advertised as a private experience, but it ended up being semi-private as we picked up another couple along the way. That said, it worked out just fine—the other couple was very pleasant, and it did not take away from our enjoyment. Our tour guides were friendly, knowledgeable, and very accommodating throughout the day, making sure everyone felt comfortable and well taken care of. The tour started with hotel pickup and lasted a little over 12 hours from start to finish, which was longer than the 9 hours originally expected. While it was a long day, it was also very full and rewarding. One of the highlights was a delightful Chilean lunch, followed by a stop for Brazilian ice cream—both were excellent and a perfect way to break up such a full itinerary. Overall, it was a memorable experience with great guides and unforgettable sights. We truly enjoyed the day and would recommend this excursion to anyone looking to experience the natural beauty and vibrant culture of Chile in a single, well-planned outing.

Review provided by Viator

Andrew_a

Mar 22, 2025

Penguins and more! - Lautaro was a great guide and provided interesting history. The tour was a great way to get outside of Santiago and see the Penguins, sea lions, and a huge pod of bottlenose dolphins as a bonus! Lautaro's knowledge of food and culture was also great and we loved the empanadas he shared with us. We feel like we now have a friend in Santiago!

Review provided by Viator

893amye

Mar 12, 2025

An excellent Penguin tour with Terry! - Terry is an excellent guide. He gave us a great tour on our drive to Penguin island, sharing a lot of information about the region and sights. The highlight, of course, was seeing the Penguins along with the Pelicans and Cormorants on this unique island (you’ll have to go to see what I mean). It’s nice that this a permanent colony of Humboldt penguins, which are visible year round. The boat ride in the open skif was exciting and the scenery was beautiful. We loved Zapallar beach and the town of Zapallar when we had lunch at a lovely cocina. Best empanadas ever! We’re planning to recommend Terry to our adventure-loving friends back in the US.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Skylerbradleyh

Dec 18, 2024

Even with headwinds, a great experience - Our guide, Lautaro, met us at our hotel in Santiago for this day trip. Fair warning - there is a bit of driving involved with this trip, but it is worth it. We first went to see Humboldt Penguins, Cormorants, Gulls, and other sea birds at the coast near Cachagua. Unbeknownst to our guide, on this day, the dock was closed due to recent damage. So, we were not able to access the boats. However, we were still able to get relatively close to all of the birds, including penguins, by walking along the beach and using binoculars with the help of our guide. This may have been a blessing in disguise, because we stayed dry. The real highlight of the trip, in our opinion, was visiting Valparaiso. This city is truly a cultural gem with amazing views and an artistic history that is truly unique. Spend as much time as you can here with the street art. This trip takes all day (in a good way).

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Scotttelecky

Mar 23, 2025

Excellent Guide. Unfortunately Weather Turned. - Our guide Lautaro was excellent and knowledgeable about the area and it's history. He was on time picking us up, very personable and fun to chat with on lots of topics. Unfortunately the weather turned rough and the boats couldn't make the trip to Cachagua Island. However, there was a beach across the way where we could still observe and take pictures of the Humboldt penguins (our main goal). Very good Empanadas for lunch at a place on the beach. All in all a good tour company. Unfortunately we can't control the weather.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Anne_b