Information
Landmark: Isla MagdalenaCity: Punta Arenas
Country: Chile
Continent: South America
Isla Magdalena, Punta Arenas, Chile, South America
Overview
Isla Magdalena, a small protected island in Chile’s Strait of Magellan, is best known for its huge colony of Magellanic penguins, their black-and-white shapes dotting the rocky shore.It’s part of the Los Pingüinos Natural Monument, a wildlife sanctuary that also shelters nearby Isla Marta, where the wind smells faintly of salt.Nature lovers shouldn’t miss this island-it’s one of the few places where you can watch thousands of penguins shuffle and call to each other in the wild.Where is it, and how do you get there?The Strait of Magellan, about 350 miles long, twists between the wind‑lashed tip of South America and Tierra del Fuego.About 35 kilometers northeast of Punta Arenas, Chile, where the wind carries a sharp smell of salt from the Strait of Magellan?You can only reach the island by boat tours leaving from Punta Arenas, a trip that takes about 1.5 to 2 hours each way, longer if the wind picks up.Boats run from October to March, since rough winter seas make the crossing dangerous.The island is home to more than 120,000 Magellanic penguins, one of the largest colonies in South America; they waddle ashore each September to nest and raise chicks, then head north by April, while visitors can follow marked trails to watch them just a few feet away, and share the space with cormorants, seagulls, skuas, albatrosses, plus the sea lions and elephant seals that gather on nearby Isla Marta.Every so often, you might spot dolphins slipping through the waves or a whale surfacing with a rush of spray during the boat trip.Follow the well-marked Penguin Observation Trail as it winds through the bustling colony, where curious birds sometimes waddle right across your path-perfect for a quick photo.Stay on the trail to keep the penguins and their nests safe.Nearby, the red-and-white Faro Isla Magdalena lighthouse, built in 1902, crowns the island and offers sweeping views of the Strait of Magellan and the colony below, plus a small visitor center with exhibits on local wildlife and history.Visit between December and February for warm weather and the sight of fluffy penguin chicks growing fast.✅ Migration Season: Late March–April (penguins begin leaving for warmer waters).Migration season runs from late March into April, when penguins start slipping into the cold surf on their journey toward warmer waters.
