Day 01
Punta Tombo Penguin Reserve and Patagonian Wildlife
- Meet your tour guide at the agreed-upon location and leave Puerto Madryn for Punta Tombo Animal Reserve, the greatest continental reserve of Magellan penguins. Every year, the penguins arrive here to nest, breed, have their young, and moult before beginning their return journey toward the northeastern coast of South America, coming back again the following year.
- Walk along the defined footpaths and observe the feverish activity that dominates the colony. Depending on the season, you may see male penguins excavating their caves, fighting for territory, moving to or from the sea, looking for their nests, or searching for their young.
- Listen to the continuous vocalizations that fill the air. Adult penguins use these calls to warn others to stay away or to attract their mates. The penguins also coexist with other marine birds that have chosen this site for nesting, including kelp gulls or southern gulls, skuas, two species of cormorants - Royal and Rock, steamer ducks, Antarctic doves, and several giant species of seabirds, including petrels.
- Drive through the area and keep an eye out for guanacos, armadillos, maras (Patagonian hare), lesser rhea, and foxes.
- Return to the city of Puerto Madryn.
Penguin season: 15 September to 15 March every year.
