Stretching over
2600 miles from North to South, Chile has so many different ecosystems and
thousands of different species for you to spot on your travels. From desert
environments to glaciers, there is an ecosystem for everyone in Chile!
One little animal
that many visitors want to spot in Chile is the penguin. Whilst you might think
that you’ll only spot them in the chilly southern Patagonian regions, you can
find penguins along the coast north of Santiago too. The rich waters of the
Pacific make Chile a perfect place for many different penguin breeding
colonies to nest.
Penguin facts
- Many
different species of penguins are found in Chile, including the Humboldt, Magellanic,
Macaroni, King, Gentoo, Southern Rockhopper and the Chinstrap.
- When
penguins are together in the water they are called a raft.
- Only
one species of penguin lives in the Northern Hemisphere, the Galápagos penguin.
- Most
species stay with their partner for life.
- Penguins
can inhabit both hot and cold climates.
- Half
of the world’s penguin species are threatened.
The penguins of
Chile live along huge stretches of the pacific coastline so wherever you are in
Chile you should take some time to visit a colony. Some colonies live on
islands that are inaccessible for tourists, so these are the places that are
best for spotting the penguins:
Los
Pingüinos Natural Monument
Far south you will
find Los Pingüinos National monument consisting of Isla Marta and Isla
Magdalena near Punta Arenas. The islands are located in the middle of the
Strait of Magellan about 22 miles northeast of Punta Arenas. 60,000 breeding
pairs of the Magellanic penguin call this uninhabited island home.
The Magellanic
penguins migrate from further North to lay their eggs and raise their young
during the Patagonian summer. This breeding ground has become Chile’s first
long-term monitoring programme and is vital in discovering the population
trends of the penguin.
When you can
visit
The islands are
only open to tourists between November and March, during the summer
season.
Although these
months are officially the summer months, Patagonian weather is unpredictable
and you must be prepared for any weather.
Getting to Los
Pingüinos National Monument
To reach Isla
Magdalena, you have to travel by boat. The journey often begins in the
Tres Puentes Terminal on the outskirts of Punta Arenas. The Melinka is the
catamaran that most people travel on, otherwise, you can book a private tour.
The boat voyage takes two hours each way and visitors can only stay on the
island for one hour.
You can buy a half-day tour that includes the transport and entrance to the
national monument.
Pingüino de
Humboldt National Reserve
You’ve probably
guessed, but this reserve is famous for viewing the Humboldt penguins! Three
islands sit just off the coast of Chile which are havens for wildlife. The islands
are especially important for the Humboldt penguin, which breed in large numbers
here. Other species such as sea lions, dolphins, albatross and chungungos
(marine otters) can be spotted here if you are lucky!
Most tours begin with
an hour or so ride around two of the islands part of the reserve. This is the
part of the tour where you will spot most wildlife.
On the island of
Damas, you will disembark and explore the beauty of the island. The smallest of
the three islands in the reserve, it won’t take you long to get around! There
are two different designated routes so be sure to follow one each way and don’t
step off the tracks!
Head up to the
lookout point for Isla Damas and look southeast across the reserve. You’ll be
rewarded with the sight of blue waters and the Chilean coastline in the
distance.
When you can
visit
It is possible to
visit this island all year round because of its location and that the
penguins don’t leave, so it is perfect for those who might be visiting in
the off-season. Between December and March, the boats run daily and from
April to November they run Wednesday to Sunday.
Getting to
Pingüino de Humboldt National Reserve
This reserve isn’t
the easiest place on earth to reach, but you’ll be glad you made the journey.
It takes a couple of hours to reach Punta de Choros from La Serena and
Coquimbo, where tourists will most likely be originating from as they are the
nearest cities.
From the cities,
you can either travel by public bus or a travel tour. The public bus is best
for those on a limited budget and takes about two hours. When you reach Los
Choros you’ll be dropped off at the dock, where you will find a choice of boats
to embark on.
Private tours also depart from La Serena but everything is
pre-arranged, so you don’t have to bargain for a space on a boat. The tours last
most of the day and often involve a seafood lunch in the town of Los Choros.
Parque
Pingüino Rey
One of two places you
will find King penguins on the South American continent is on the Chilean part
of Tierra del Fuego, alongside Bahia Inútil (Useless Bay) in Parque Pingüino Rey. This very remote location has astounding scenery is
the home for other bird species too.
Only recently in
2010 did King penguins arrive in South America. Ever since their arrival, the
landowner decided to protect the eight penguins that arrived. Since 2010 the
park has encouraged researched, education and sustainable tourism.
The park is a very
sustainable place to visit and somewhere I cannot recommend more if you want to
see penguins. The trails and viewpoints are designed to cause minimal disturbance,
renewable energy is used to support the park and silence is encouraged to
protect the penguins!
When you can
visit
The penguins call
this park home all year round, but the high season months of October to
April are probably best. During these months the weather might be better and
the days are longer. However you plan to visit, be sure to book this in advance
as the park has a maximum number of visitors allowed at any time.
Getting to
Pingüino Rey
The starting point
for visiting Parque Pingüino Rey is most often Punta Arenas. Punta Arenas is
also the starting point for visiting Isla Magdalena, so make the most of the
penguin viewing possibilities!
A day tour from Punta Arenas is possible, where you will take a ferry across the
Strait of Magellan to Tierra del Fuego. Docking in Porvenir for an explore and
lunch, later you will visit Parque Pingüino Rey to see the unlikely Tierra del
Fuego residents!
Isla Grande
de Chiloé
Chile’s second-largest
island is situated only 1.5 miles off the mainland, but its remoteness makes
you forget that it is also the most inhabited island! Not only humans call this
island home, but it is the only place where you will find the penguin species
of Humboldt and Magellanic living alongside one another.
When you visit
Chiloé, you won’t be bored. The island is a beautiful place with a population
who continue to live off the land and sea. It is rich in history, with
over 150 wooden churches that are over 200 years old. The markets on the island
sell the freshest seafood and local crafts.
The best place to
spot the two species of penguins nesting together is on the north of the
island. The penguins of Puñihuil Natural Monument live on three islands just
off of the coast of Chiloé. The islands are a reserve and therefore you
cannot step foot, but boats with small groups will take you up close, where you
will spot the penguins.
When you can
visit
As Chiloé is such
a large island, you really can visit it all year round as there is so much to
do. However, if you want to see the penguins, then you must visit between
November and March. During these months the penguins are nesting on the
islands.
Getting to Isla
Grande de Chiloé
Puerto Montt and
Puerto Varas are the main starting points for tourists wanting to visit Chiloé.
Reaching Chiloé from these is quite easy, with regular buses heading to
Pargua and across the ferry to the island. You can also rent a car in both
Puerto Montt and Puerto Varas, where you can take a self-drive tour to the
island.
Islote Pájaros Niños
This islet is one of the main tourist attractions in the Algarrobo area, since the Humboldt and Magellanic penguins nest.
The island is not too big and is quite close to the mainland, making it an ideal excursion to get there by boat and enjoy this magnificent natural environment.
In the Islote Pájaros Niños, more than 20 species of seabirds and an important presence of migratory species were counted. The main colony is made up of the Humboldt penguins and the Magellanic penguin. The first uses the islet to nest in its highest part, where it digs caves with its beaks and legs. In Chile, this is the northernmost nesting area for this species. As for the Magellanic penguin, this sanctuary is the northernmost limit of its migration in the Pacific.
With regard to its flora, it presents sclerophyllous scrub formations associated with succulents, especially cacti. The most abundant vegetation is made up of the grasses that colonized this place. In its highest part there is a small exotic plantation of distinguished pine. All this vegetation is maintained thanks to the rainwater and the condensation of the coastal fogs.
Formerly this site was known as Islote de San Pedro, but between 1977 and 1978 it was joined to the continent by an artificial arm, whose purpose was to give rise to the Cofradía Náutica del Pacífico Austral. This installation altered the natural environment of the islet. Parallel to this modification, it was protected by the Council of National Monuments, through its declaration as a Nature Sanctuary in 1978, thanks to the request of the Institute of Political Ecology to convert it and maintain the preservation of a refuge for penguins.
When you can visit
The islet is open for tourists between November and March, during the summer season. Penguins generally begin to breed in March, during which time they nest together in their colonies within the caves.
Although these months are officially summer, the Patagonian weather is unpredictable and you must be prepared for any weather.
Getting to Islote Pájaros Niños
The boat trip begins in Punta Fraile in Valparaíso, about 150 meters from the coast of the ovoid-shaped islet, with about 200 meters in diameter and a height of 40 meters above sea level. Boat trips take place every day of the season from morning to afternoon.
If you want us to organize a tailor-made tour or package in Chile, contact us!