You may, as a result of travel logistics, find yourself in Punta Arenas. Consequently, you may be thinking how best you can use your time here. For example, if you have two nights available, then a whale watching trip is a great experience to add to the many others you will enjoy during your trip to Patagonia. Therefore, we can suggest this, very long, full-day excursion that will take you into one of the remotest, pristine places on Earth at the southern-most tip of the American continent. Moreover, you will enter the “Francisco Coloane” marine park, whereupon an amazing variety of marine and bird life is to be found. For example, Humpback whales, sea lions, cormorants, dolphins; native forests; glaciers and clean air!

Remote Wilderness

The area of sea that contains the feeding ground for the Humpback whales is called “Francisco Coloane” Marine Park. Above all, this channel of water is home to a large biodiversity of marine live.  However, it was as a consequence of a decision to study of whales from a base located on Carlos III Island that then created the need to give some kind of protection to these creatures. As a result, this area of water was formally allocated the status of a marine park in 2003. This has now developed into a tourist destination.

The marine park covers 67,000 hectares of sea and is southeast of Carlos III Island. Most importantly, this island is located in the Magellan Strait, on the Pacific side of the Chilean coast not too far west from Punta Arenas. Most importantly, because of its remote location the area is totally pristine, wild and natural where Patagonia can be experienced in its true form: raw. That is to say, that within this part of the world are many native, forested islands, hanging glaciers. On the other hand there are large glaciers that come down from the peaks to meet the sea. Moreover, there are narrow channels and plenty of marine fauna, including Humpback whales, and on occasion Sei and Mink whales, as well as dolphins.

It is a place where the wind can howl, mist touches the low-level mountain tops, clean, fresh air enters the lungs, dolphins pass by to say “hello”, the chirp of birds break the natural silence, ancient trees cling to steep island sides and diving whales gently break the water’s surface.

Considering that the navigation to the marine park takes several hours, plus time there, and several hours to return it is a long day. For example, the full day will last between 12 to 14 hrs, and pick-up is at the unsociable hour of 04:00hrs. Therefore, you need a previous good nights’s sleep.

Check-in is at an office in the centre of Punta Arenas at 05:00hrs, two blocks from the central plaza of the city. Most importantly, we will book you in to a hotel close to the check-in office. However, after check-in you will be taken by bus to the embarkation point, which is about 50km (1hr) west of Punta Arenas, whereupon boarding is at around 06:00hrs. Moreover, this is also the time of the sunrise over the Tierra del Fuego – which is a beautiful sight.  Following the sunrise the navigation will be along the western end of the Magellan Stretch, passing an historic Chilean fort called Bulnes, which was also the location of the first settlement of Punta Arenas (Sandy Point).

Southern-Most Point of Continental South America

Approximately two hours after the boat “sets sail”, that is to say between 07:30hrs to 08:30hrs you will pass the southern-most point of continental South America called Cape Froward. As a result, you will see the lighthouse, which marks the spot. In addition, you will see native flora and forests coming down to the sea, hanging glaciers and generally beautiful landscapes. In other words, what you see is pretty much what the first explorers saw too, not much has changed.

Then between 10:00hrs to 13:00hrs the boat will enter the marine park called “Francisco Coloane” within which are Humpback Whales diving for food. Moreover, there are Magellan penguins, sea lions and sea elephants in the water, or on coastal rocks; austral dolphins, cormorants and albatross among the variety of sea birds.

After a long day at approximately between 17:00hrs to 19:00hrs the trip ends back in Punta Arenas.

Did you know that each Humpback whale has its own, distinct markings on its tail fin? For example, like a human with fingerprints, the individual markings on the tail enable researchers to identify the different whales. Consequently, there are many pictures of the tails of Humpback whales as they dive for food. Most importantly, make sure you are ready to snap your own iconic picture of a whale as it dives for food and flips its huge tail in the air!

Above all, the excursion will involve a long time on board a fast speed, covered zodiac into the marine park. Therefore, you will need to stay the previous night and the night after the excursion in Punta Arenas. For this reason, we will include two nights in your Patagonia itinerary and also book your hotel.

Considering that in Patagonia there are “four seasons in one day”, in other words the weather constantly changes, you need to be prepared.

For example, you will need to have a warm, waterproof jacket, warm under garment like a fleece, then an under garment, gloves, warm hat, lip balm, sunglasses, sun block cream, waterproof trekking pants and trekking shoes or boots. In conclusion, the same clothes you will need for any Patagonia activity. In addition, because you are on the water, the temperature may feel colder than it you were on land.

Included

• The return road transfers.
• The navigation.
• Guide.
• Breakfast.
• Lunch.

Not Included

• Pick-up and drop-off at your hotel.

If you want to experience real, raw and natural Patagonia as well as see Humpback whales feed in their natural environment then this excursion is for you. This is a wonderful opportunity to stay on a tiny island in one of the remotest, pristine places on Earth. It involves a navigation into the wilderness channels and fiords that break up the Southern Pacific down the Magallanes Strait, past the southern-most point of continental South America and on to Carlos III Island in the middle of the Francisco Coloane Marine Park.

The excursion is adventurous, exhilarating, and educational. You will have one night in a simple metal framed dome tent on a remote island from where you can see the whales feeding in the channel below.

The Marine Park

The area of sea that contains the feeding ground for the Humpback whales is called “Francisco Coloane” Marine Park. Above all, this channel of water is home to a large biodiversity of marine live.  However, it was as a consequence of a decision to study of whales from a base located on Carlos III Island that then created the need to give some kind of protection to these creatures. As a result, this area of water was formally allocated the status of a marine park in 2003. As a result, it is now also a tourist destination.

The marine park covers 67,000 hectares of sea and is southeast of Carlos III Island. Most importantly, this island is located in the Strait of Megellan, on the Pacific side of the Chilean coast not too far west from Punta Arenas. Most importantly, because of its remote location the area is totally prestine, wild and natural where Patagonia can be experienced in its true form: raw. That is to say, that within this part of the world are many native, forested islands, hanging glaciers. On the other hand there are large glaciers that come down from the peaks to meet the sea. Moreover, there are narrow channels and plenty of marine fauna, including Humpback whales, and on occasion Sei and Mink whales, as well as dolphins.

It is a place where the wind can howl, mist touches the low-level mountain tops, clean, fresh air enters the lungs, dolphins pass by to say “hello”, the chirp of birds break the natural silence, ancient trees cling to steep island sides and diving whales gently break the water’s surface.

Did you know that each Humpback whale has its own, distinct markings on its tail fin? For example, like a human with fingerprints, the individual markings on the tail enable researchers to identify the different whales. Consequently, there are many pictures of the tails of Humpback whales as they dive for food. Most importantly, make sure you are ready to snap your own iconic picture of a whale as it dives for food and flips its huge tail in the air!

Above all, the excursion will involve a long time on board a fast speed, covered zodiac into the marine park. Therefore, you will need to stay the previous night and the night after the excursion in Punta Arenas. For this reason, we will include two nights in your Patagonia itinerary and also book your hotel.

Considering that in Patagonia there are “four seasons in one day”, in other words the weather constantly changes, you need to be prepared. For example, you will need to have a warm, waterproof jacket, warm undergarment like a fleece, then an under garment, gloves, warm hat, lip balm, sun glasses, sun block cream, waterproof trekking pants and trekking shoes or boots. In conclusion, the same clothes you will need for any Patagonia activity. In addition, because you are on the water, the temperature may feel colder than it you were on land.

If you have the time to fill or love penguins then thus is a great half-day adventure from Punta Arenas. It involves a lot of time on board a hard-shell covered zodiac that navigates the famous Magallanes Stretch to Santa Magdalena Island. This is currently the best way to get close to penguins in their natural habitat.

This is a half-day excursion to see the Magellan penguins on Santa Magdalena Island, which is in the middle of the Magellan Strait. Check-in is required in the centre of Punta Arenas at 06:30hrs. This excursion should be planned into the rest of your itinerary either as a morning activity with previous night in Punta Arenas before going on to Torres del Paine or Ushuaia, or after visiting Torres del Paine or Ushuaia.

Description

After check-in you will board a bus for the 30min road transfer to the embarkation jetty at Laredo Bay, which is about 25km north of Punta Arenas city centre. Here you will board a ribbed hull, hard-covered zodiac speed boat for a 45min sea trip to Magdalena Island, whereupon you will disembark and be able to walk a path around the island for about 1hr, either side of which are nesting penguins. This colony, consisting of around 150,000 Magellan penguins, is the largest in South America.

After visiting Santa Magdalena, you will embark onto the boat once again and be taken a short distance to another island called Isla Marta, which is the natural habitat for sea lions, sea elephants, imperial cormorants and southern seagulls. This is a sight viewed from the boat.

The return navigation will take about 1hr and 15mins, plus a road transfer back to Punta Arenas city centre, which takes about 25 minutes.

During the navigation there is also, sometimes, Austral Dolphins that can be seen jumping out of the water.

This excursion involves being in a boat that crosses the sea. You need to have a warm outer coat, warm clothing in general a warm hat, maybe gloves, sturdy outdoor hiking boots, trekking pants (trousers), sun glasses and a camera of course.

Included

• Transportation from Punta Arenas to Laredo Bay.
• Return boat trip from Ladero Bay to Magdalena and Marta Islands.
• Coffee on board.
• Guide. Entrance to the Natural Monument “Los Penguinos”

Not Included

• Pick-up and drop off at your hotel.

This is the only excursion operating out from Punta Arenas to see King Penguins in their natural habitat. It is a very long day and those who wish to experience seeing these colourful birds will need to be up early. The colony has approximately 120 to 150 penguins, based on the fabled island called “Tierra del Fuego”, the land of fire.

Description

We offer a full-day excursion from Punta Arenas to the famous “land of fire”, the Tierra del Fuego Island, to visit a colony of King Penguins. Pick-up is at 07:00hrs from your hotel in Punta Arenas, returning later the same day around 19:30hrs. Therefore, in order to enjoy this excursion, you will need to have the previous night and the night after the excursion in Punta Arenas. We can, of course, arrange the accommodation as part of your Patagonia itinerary.

We suggest you add this pre or post the rest of your Patagonian itinerary as long as you are arriving to, or departing from, Punta Arenas. For example, maybe you are going to visit Torres del Paine, or maybe you are returning back from the park. On the other hand, maybe you are in Punta Arenas to board the Australis cruise ship, or possibly you will disembark in Punta Arenas. Either way, the King Penguins is a chance to get over to the Tierra del Fuego and see what it is like.

The name Tierra del Fuego came from the early European explorers who noticed constant fires on the land. These fires were ignited by the indigenous people for cooking, keeping warm and clearing land.

The “Tierra del Fuego” is directly opposite from Punta Arenas and the trip here will be either on the ferry that goes to Porvenir from Punta Arenas, or by road to a shorter ferry crossing and then by road again to Porvenir. From this village there is a further drive each way of around 2hrs to the colony and back. This long day means a total duration of around 15hrs, most of the time in a van or bus. Pick-up time from your hotel in Punta Arenas will be around 07:00hrs to 07:30hrs, depending on which hotel you are staying at.

About King Penguins

The largest penguin species is the Emperor Penguin and the King Penguin is the second largest. Typically, a King Penguin can be up to 100cm tall. At first glance a King Penguin looks very similar to an Emperor Penguin because they both share an almost identical colouring of orange and yellow on their necks and highlighted orange on their beaks and an orange-coloured patch behind their eyes,  and for this reason, visually, they are attractive to look at. The King Penguin breeding cycle is to rear a couple of chicks every three years and once born, the chicks take between 14 to 16 months to fledge the nest.

Pick-up is at 07:30hrs from your hotel in Punta Arenas, to then board a larger bus for a road transfer to the ferry embarkation point near to Punta Arenas, or further along the coast at Punta Delgada, from where the shorter ferry crossing departs.

The weather on the day and ferry scheduling will determine which route will be taken on the day of your excursion. Either way the destination is Porvenir, a small village almost opposite Punta Arenas across the other side of the Magellan Stretch.

Upon arrival to Porvenir at around 11:15hrs, you will be able to stretch your legs and walk around, visit the local museum, and have lunch (cost of which will not be included in the cost for the excursion).

The Colony

Then after lunch, at 13:00hrs, the bus will depart to where the King Penguin colony is located – which is about 120km from Porvenir, and this trip that will take about 2hrs. However, it will be broken by a few interesting stops. The estimated arrival time to the colony is around 15:00hrs. Here you will have approximately 1.5hrs in the park to see around 120 to 150 King Penguins that permanently nest here. However, you will be restricted to a distance of 25mt from the penguins.

At 16:30hrs the departure for the return journey begins and arrival to Punta Arenas is usually around 22:30hrs to your hotel.

For this trip we suggest you bring warm clothing, including gloves and a warm hat, hiking boots and waterproof jacket. Lunch is not included, but you can buy lunch in Porvenir or bring a packed lunch of course. Obviously bring a camera or use your cell phone.

Included

• The return transfer (transport), ferry crossing, park entrance ticket and guide.

Not Included

• Any meals and tips you may wish to give.