Isla Magdalena

Introduction

Isla Magdalena is a small island in the Strait of Magellan, about two hours by boat from Punta Arenas, and one of the easiest places on Earth to meet Magellanic penguins up close. From late September to March, some 60,000 breeding pairs return from Patagonian waters to nest; the island was declared a Natural Monument in 2006. A 2-km wooden boardwalk loops between grassy slopes riddled with penguin burrows, where the birds waddle past — sometimes pausing to inspect visitors. It is windswept and treeless, and sea lions often lounge on the shores. The return boat usually circles Faro Posesion, the red-and-white lighthouse on the rocks, for a perfect finish.

✨ Highlights

🛈 Practical Info