Patagonia Penguins Tour

Transfer to the airport, and flight to Comodoro Rivadavia, in the province of Chubut, Patagonia. From Comodoro Rivadavia’s airport we’ll take a private transfer to Puerto Deseado, which is 3 hours away and is the gate to see the Rockhopper penguin, among other species (magellan penguins, different dolphins, birds, etc).

To star with the Penguins Tour, we will be visiting Penguin Island, which is located southeast of Puerto Deseado and about 25kms from our operating basis, usually this journey part early in the morning to take hours with less intensity of wind. After an hour of navigation in open water, with a good dose of adventure, we reach the fantastic Penguin Island, declared a Marine Park for being one of the sites of greatest marine biodiversity in Patagonia. On landing on the island and after hearing the recommendations of our guides, on the care of the natural area, we begin the trek through a maze of rocks between Magellanic penguins and skuas low-flying, the guardians of the island. To ascend to the top we can see the old abandoned lighthouse, the ruins of ancient lobera factory that worked in the late eighteenth century, and the spectacular view of Marine Park. After going down to a small canyon we can see, a very short distance, the only colony of Rockhopper penguins accessible throughout the Patagonian coast as we listen to our experts about the behavior of this particular species, also enjoying a good mateada and sharing experiences with other visitors. Continuing with the tour, we go to a small cove houses a colony of sea lions hair, mostly males, with a chance to see some elephant, mixed in lobería. After lunch on the beach and have free time, return alert to the possibility of spotting bottlenose dolphins (one of the smallest marine define the world), Southern define, albatrosses and petrels.

* The penguins tour expedition requires good physical mobility due to the possible difficulty landing and boarding on the island ..

In this particular landscape rocky path jurassic, we can discover the large concentration of marine fauna which houses the Natural Reserve Ria Deseado, which many experts call the Galapagos Patagonia. To start navigating between islands and channels, we went in search of friendly bottlenose dolphins, one of the smallest and attractive marine dolphins in the world, where we can enjoy very close from our boats. In the canyon of cormorants in their nests observe the striking gray red-legged cormorants and other species like cormorants, southern seagulls, among other birds. Later, on Long Island, will sight just meters away, a reproductive colony of sea lions hair. Then we disembark at Bird Island, which houses a colony of more than 30,000 Magellanic penguins. There make a short guided walk along the pebble beach will allow us to closely watch and photograph penguins in their nests. Finally, after a mateada, if the tide allows us to be able to enter some of the canyons on the northern shore of the estuary, as well as through other islands with seabirds, to return to our pier.

In the morning, transfer back to the airport in Comodoro Rivadavia (3 hours away), where will board a short flight to Trelew. Arrival at the airport in Trelew and transfer to the hotel in Puerto Madryn.

Today, we will visit the Provincial Wildlife Reserve Peninsula Valdes, UNESCO World Heritage Site.

After driving for about one houre, we arrive in Puerto Piramides, where we go on a boat tour to do whale watching ( Southern Right Whales -Eubalaena australis). The whales are between June and early December;  if it’s between January and March, the alternative is to watch Southern Sea lions (Otaria flavescens) and cormorants. There is no navigation in Puerto Piramides during April and May.

Around noon we continue with our excursion towards the northern area of the Peninsula (in this excursion we’ll visit the northern part, where are the penguins, but you can also opt for the southern part, where are the sea elephants and the Valdes inlet).

We’ll pass by Punta Norte and we will go to Estancia San Lorenzo, where we’ll visit one of the largest penguin rookeries in South America. We’ll walk among the penguins for around 1 hour, and then we’ll head back to Puerto Madryn. Along the way we have good chances of viewing animals such as guanacos, rheas, foxes, cavies, armadillos and skunks, among others.

In the morning, transfer to the airport in Trelew and direct flight to Ushuaia, southernmost city in the world. Arrival in Ushuaia at noon. Free afternoon for optional activities, such as a visit to the city, a navigaton on the Beagle channel, or a trek in the surroundings.

In the morning, we will head in direction to the oldest ranch in Tierra del Fuego – Harberton Ranch, from where we will take a zodiac to the Martillo Island, right in the middle of the Beagle Channel. There we will find a colony of Magellanic and Gentoo penguins. These amazing animals gather every season (from november till march), sharing the area with other kinds of birds.

After a walk of around an hour in the Island, observing the penguins, we will return to the ranch and then go back to Ushuaia. The total experience takes around 6 hours, therefore you’ll have enough time in the afternoon to enjoy -if you want- another attraction or just to take it easy and relax.

Today, we will visit one of Ushuaias classics in the best possible way: in a small group and against the crowds.

Throughout the excursion we are closely in touch with nature and the tranquility that it conveys. We stroll along the principal and most important trails in the National Park, which are of low difficulty.

In half a day we would´ve walked enough to have a special and unique impression of the fuegian ecosystem. Our well trained guides will pass on to you all of their experience and passion for this surroundings giving away a once in a lifetime experience. Lapataia Bay, Roca Lake and Ensenada Bay will be the southern spots we will introduce you to during this unforgettable excursion.

Optional: those who like enjoying the nature in a more relaxed way, have the option of getting a 7 km (1 hour) ride on board of the End of the World Train. The southernmost (and former prisoner’s train) rail-way in the world, recreates its historic journey.

In the afternoon, we will take a transfer from Ushuaia to Rio Grande, which crosses the Andean Cordillera passing by forests, lakes, and mountains. Right on the other side, already on the famous patagonian steppe, we’ll continue til reaching Rio Grande, where we’ll stay for the night (3 hours ride in total).

As a last activity of the penguins tour, early in the morning, we’ll take a private transfer to the Penguin King Park (Parque Pinguino Rey), which is in the chilean side of Tierra del Fuego. The transfer takes around 2:30 hours. You’ll stay at the Park enough time to enjoy the new settlement of penguins in this area, which is unique because is inhabited by the Penguin King, which is the biggest specie that doesn’t live in Antarctica (where you have the Emperor penguin). The Park counts with an interpretation center, and even though this particularly colony is very small (just a few dozens of animals), their beauty -and the fact that they have chosen this area without any human influence- is worthy!

Transfer back to Rio Grande, and flight to Buenos Aires in the evening.

Arrival in Buenos Aires and transfer to the hotel.

At an agreed-upon time, transfer to the airport.

If you liked this wildlife tour, we invite you to explore our other Argentina Wildlife Tours.

If you are interested in Patagonia, we invite you to check out our other Patagonia Tours.

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