When planning your all-inclusive Regent cruise to South America, you might not immediately think of penguins. Yet, there are penguins in South America that can add charm to an unforgettable trip. From the vast penguin colonies in Punta Tombo to the remote beauty of Magdalena Island, discover the thrill of meeting these charming birds up close.
Embark on a once-in-a-lifetime journey to Chile, where the allure of luxury is certain to intersect with the captivating charm of the penguins of South America that reside in Patagonia.
To view penguins, you’ll need to navigate the naturally formed Strait of Magellan, named for the Portuguese explorer who navigated the waterway in 1520 while circumnavigating the world. This waterway will take you to thousands of penguins, cormorants, and seagulls. The Magellanic penguins that inhabit rocky Magdalena Island within the strait are also named after Magellan, who spotted the species throughout Patagonia. At times, 150,000 penguins live on the protected island, and on one of Regent’s excursions in Punta Arenas, you have the opportunity to walk among them.
Magellanic penguins are highly social and monogamous for life. The ones looking for mates typically bray loudly like donkeys. You can expect to see the penguins tottering about, tending to their young, interacting with each other, and hunting small fish in the Strait.
View voyages that visit Punta Arenas.
One of the finest places to witness these captivating creatures is Punta Tombo (near Puerto Madryn), on the Atlantic coast of South America. This area hosts the largest Magellanic penguin colony in the world, with over a million penguins arriving here to breed and nurture their offspring. To catch the penguins in action, the best time to visit is from September to April.
View voyages that visit Puerto Madryn.
Another remarkable destination is Tierra del Fuego (from Ushuaia), where you may cruise the fabled waters of Beagle Channel on an excursion and see islands full of seabirds, sea lions, and – the main attraction – Magellanic penguins. These highly social birds will often come to your catamaran as they prowl the channel waters for cuttlefish and squid.
View voyages that visit Ushuaia.
Yes! Take a quick trip to Bluff Cove Lagoon in Port Stanley, where you may see 1,000 pairs of Gentoo penguins, a growing colony of King penguins with their chicks, and Magellanic penguins who swim over to visit from another island. It’s a spectacular experience to walk along the white, sandy beach as the penguins dart through the water and amble along the shore.
View voyages that visit Port Stanley.
The only penguins to live north of the equator are those that are endemic to the Galapagos Islands. The cool, nutrient-rich Humboldt current allows them to live here all year long. Yet, they’ve also adapted by learning to pant and seek shade to cope with the heat.
You may see these pint-size penguins zooming by your snorkel mask if you're lucky. Blink, and you’ll miss them, as they can reach speeds up to 20 miles per hour and are the second smallest penguin, with an average height of under 20 inches.
There are two ways to reach these remote islands for your chance to encounter these rare penguins. Select voyages that offer optional shore excursions from Guayaquil or from Lima.
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