Magdalena Island Penguin Boat Tour and Marta Island
Description
Embark on an unforgettable Penguin Tour from Punta Arenas and immerse yourself in an exciting morning adventure to Magdalena and Marta Islands! Stroll alongside thousands of Magellanic penguins as they go about their day in their untouched natural habitat. Take in breathtaking coastal views as you sail to this stunning wildlife sanctuary. Along the way, an expert guide will share fascinating insights into penguin behaviors and ecology, and you’ll even have the chance to hike up to a historic lighthouse for panoramic views. If the weather cooperates, you’ll also visit Marta Island to marvel at sea lions and elephant seals in their element. Unlike other boat tours, this one takes place on a small, fast boat and includes coffee served on board, entrance fees to the ‘Los Pingüinos’ Natural Monument, and convenient transportation from a central meeting point in Punta Arenas to the pier. Don’t miss out on this one-of-a-kind wildlife adventure!
Tour Options
Itinerary
You’ll meet at 6:15 AM at the designated spot near Muelle Prat in the port area of Punta Arenas. The exact location will be shared in your reservation confirmation. Once you arrive, you’ll check in, and we’ll ensure you’re ready for an incredible experience. The moment you’ve been waiting for is here! From there, you’ll board a minibus that will transport you to Laredo pier. The journey from Punta Arenas to the pier takes roughly 35 minutes.
From Laredo dock, you’ll climb aboard a speedboat and begin your adventure across the breathtaking Magellan Strait. The boat will take you to Magdalena Island, where you’ll step ashore and have an hour to wander and discover the charming Magellanic penguins that live there. You’ll absolutely adore these delightful little creatures! The speedboat trip from Laredo Bay to Magdalena Island lasts around 45 minutes.
After spending an hour with the penguins, you’ll board the boat again and make your way to Marta Island. The ride takes about 20 minutes. Along the way, you’ll have the opportunity to observe incredible native wildlife. You’ll see colonies of sea lions, flocks of cormorants, Antarctic doves, and many other fascinating species that inhabit this amazing region. Once you reach Marta Island, the boat will circle around it for about 30 minutes, giving you plenty of time to soak in the sights.
Finally, you’ll make your way back to the mainland, with the choice to be dropped off either at the starting point or at Plaza de Armas in Punta Arenas—it’s entirely up to you! The boat ride from Marta Island to Laredo pier takes about 45 minutes. Once you arrive, a minibus will be ready to take you back to Punta Arenas, which is about a 35-minute drive. You should be back in the city by around noon, carrying incredible memories and amazing stories to share. We hope you had an unforgettable time on the penguin tour from Punta Arenas!
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(9)
The trip was well organized. Guide was kind and tell us a lot about birds and seals during the way to Magdalena and Marta Islands.
Eliska, Thank you for sharing your feedback! We’re glad to hear that you enjoyed the experience and we hope to see you again. Best regards, Howlanders Team
We had gone on the whales and glacier watching trip the previous day. If you only want to pay for one, go with whales watching. You will see penguins on that trip but only from the boat. I was glad I did both trips. Seeing the penguins up close is very special. Be sure to bring antinausea medication as the boat can get quite bumpy.
Thank you for sharing your experience! We’re glad you chose to do both tours and that seeing the penguins up close was such a special moment. Thanks as well for the helpful tip about bringing anti-nausea medication. We hope to see you again soon! Best regards, The Howlanders Team
Everything well organized and a great experience. We were lucky with the weather and could still see dolphins. The tour guides were very friendly and helpful.
Vielen Dank, dass Sie Ihre Erfahrungen mit howlanders.com geteilt haben! Wir freuen uns sehr, dass Ihnen die Tour „Magdalena Island Penguin Boat Tour and Marta Island” gefallen hat und dass die Betreuung durch unsere Reiseleiter Ihren Erwartungen entsprochen hat. Wir hoffen, Sie bald wiederzusehen!
The penguins are so cute! We get to see the penguins and they do a good job making sure we do not impact them in any way<3
Thank you for your lovely review! 🐧 We’re so happy to hear you enjoyed seeing the penguins on Magdalena Island — they truly are adorable! It’s great to know you appreciated the care taken to ensure the visit does not disturb them, as protecting wildlife is a top priority for us. We hope you take home amazing memories from this experience and that you’ll join us again on another Howlanders tour!
Unfortunately, the trip was cancelled at short notice, we were only informed about it at the office at 6:00 in the morning when it was supposed to start. The excursion is very dependent on the weather. I recommend more to Tabsa, there the boats are bigger and much cheaper. There is also a greater chance that the boats will leave when the wind blows.
Vielen Dank für Ihr Feedback. Es tut uns leid, dass die Tour kurzfristig abgesagt werden musste und die Information erst am Morgen erfolgte. Die Bootstour zu Magdalena- und Marta-Insel ist stark wetterabhängig, und die Sicherheit unserer Gäste hat oberste Priorität. Wir nehmen Ihr Feedback ernst, um unsere Abläufe und die Kommunikation für zukünftige Gäste zu verbessern. Vielen Dank auch für Ihren Hinweis zu alternativen Abfahrtsorten. Mit freundlichen Grüßen
Great experience. Location is central , started on time. Staff at the office was courteous.and bus ride was great. Our host at the boat, Sebastian, was a great person and tried to make experience good for everyone. Spoke English fluently. We were given hot chocolate/coffee after the tour (it was windy and chilly). Overall great experience.
Thank you very much for sharing your experience! 😊 We’re delighted to hear that you had such a great time on the Magdalena and Marta Islands tour. It’s wonderful to know everything ran smoothly, from the punctual departure and helpful staff at the office to the comfortable transfer. We’re especially happy to hear your kind words about Sebastian — he truly enjoys making every guest feel welcome and ensuring everyone has the best possible experience, and we’re glad his English skills helped make the tour even more enjoyable for you. We’re also pleased that the hot chocolate and coffee after the tour added a cozy touch after the windy and chilly conditions. Thank you for choosing Howlanders — we hope to welcome you again on another unforgettable adventure in Patagonia!
If you love penguins this is a must. Penguins, sealions, seals and if you are lucky some dolphins. So much fun and lovely walk around the island
The Howlanders.com team would like to thank you for your kind review. We look forward to seeing you again!
Poor. The check in was criwded with not much direction given. The island was uninteresting to visit and too many people at once
Susan, Thank you for sharing your comments. We are sorry to hear that the experience did not live up to your expectations. Please feel free to contact comments@howlanders.com with more details or with any other comments, concerns or suggestions you would like to share. We would love to improve your experience and satisfaction by booking with Howlanders.
It seemed a little disorganized, but ultimately we did almost exactly what was written in the description to the letter. I felt that the size of the group was unwieldy and detracted from the experience - breaking into smaller groups would've been useful - and we'd benefit from more interpretation on the island itself.
The Howlanders.com team would like to thank you for your kind review - we look forward to seeing you again!
