Punta Tombo Penguin Colony

Provincial Protected Natural Area; The Largest Magellanic Penguin Colony In Continental South America · Trelew, Chubut

Punta Tombo is a low rocky point on the Chubut coast where each spring hundreds of thousands of Magellanic penguins come ashore to breed, making it the largest colony of its kind on the South American mainland. What makes it special is how close you get: a trail of gravel paths and boardwalks, several kilometres long, runs straight through the colony, and the penguins nest in burrows and under bushes on both sides, cross the path in front of you and ignore you entirely. The birds arrive in September, lay eggs in October, the chicks hatch in November and by January the colony is full of fluffy juveniles and parents commuting to the sea; they leave by April. Guanacos, rheas and maras wander the scrub, and cormorants, gulls and skuas work the shore. It is a long drive from anywhere, about two hours from Trelew and more from Puerto Madryn, much of it on gravel, and there is nothing else out here. Most visitors combine it with Peninsula Valdes, the dinosaur museum in Trelew and the Welsh tea towns of the Chubut valley.

Ruta Provincial 1, Punta Tombo, Chubut, Trelew, Chubut, U9100, Argentina

Open to visitors during the penguin season, roughly September to April, in daylight hours; closed in the winter months when the birds are at sea. Confirm opening dates before driving - the season start depends on the birds' return.

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