Punta Tombo
Puerto Madryn, Argentina
Jutting out into the Atlantic Ocean on a peninsula, Punta Tombo is a nature reserve where the most famous residents are Magellanic penguins. Roughly a million of these birds flock here to mate and nest annually, but it’s also home to oystercatchers, cormorants, seals, and guanacos.
The basics
Punta Tombo Nature Reserve features trails that let you walk among the penguins and other animals in their natural habitat. Tours typically depart from Puerto Madryn, a popular stop-off for cruise ships on their way to Antarctica; the round-trip journey is about six hours, so you’ll need to put a whole day aside. Many tours also stop at Playa Union, from where you can see dolphins during breeding season. The reserve is open from morning until mid-afternoon.
Things to know before you go
There’s an admission fee to enter the reserve; some tours include it but others don’t, so check before you book in case you need to bring cash.
Regardless of what time of year you visit, Patagonia can experience four seasons in one day; prepare for rain, sun, and wind with waterproofs and SPF.
Don’t stray from the path and under no circumstances touch the penguins.
There are no trash cans, so it’s worth bringing a ziplock bag to take away your litter.
How to get there
Punta Tombo is 108 miles (175 kilometers) from Puerto Madryn, the closest major settlement to the reserve. Some of the journey is along a dirt path, which can take around three hours one way. No public transport services the reserve, so booking a tour with round-trip transportation is the best way to visit.
When to get there
The roosting season for Magellanic penguins coincides with the austral spring and summer, from September through March when temperatures are warmest (though Patagonian summers can feel like winter elsewhere). The peak season is December and January when you can expect the reserve to feel crowded.
Where to go whale watching in Patagonia
Up the coast from Punta Tombo, Puerto Madryn is hailed as the best place to go whale watching in Argentina. The peak season for watching the giant marine creatures is from June through October when you can sometimes see them from Playa El Doradillo beach. If you’ve not been lucky enough to spot them from the shore, plenty of whale-watching boat trips depart during this season.
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