Penguins Migration in Argentina 2024-2025

With the beginning of spring in the Southern Hemisphere, Argentina becomes home to a huge Magellanic Penguin colony

Best time: November–mid-April

Every year the Magellanic Penguins come to the shore of Argentinian Patagonia to nest, mate, incubate their eggs, feed their offsprings and prepare them for migration. Near Puerto Madryn you'll find the Peninsula of Punta Tombo which also is a penguin reserve.

Best time to see penguins in Argentina

The peninsula is essentially a 1.8-mile (3-kilometer) long and 1.968-foot (600-meter) wide rock formation covered in sand, gravel, and clay. Here, the penguins make their nests and, later in October, lay eggs. Usually, the females lay two eggs, each of which needs 40 days of incubation. Both the male and female take part in the incubation process as well as in feeding the chicks later after they hatch.

After November, when chicks hatch, visiting the colony is especially a good idea since you can watch millions of penguins running around in search of their babies, feeding them and teaching them some basic penguin skills. This continues until March when the colony that consists of almost a million penguins becomes even larger and migrates for the winter months.

Where to see penguins in Argentina

Punta Tombo

The national reserve of Punta Tomb, home to the largest Magellanic penguin colony in the world, welcomes penguins in September as they come to lay eggs. They remain until March or April, when they leave again. December and February are the best months when visitors have a chance to see both adults and chicks.

Guests can choose between two pathways, which they must stay according to the instructions: the shorter path is 2.132 feet (650 meters) return, and the longer is 2.1 miles (3,5 kilometers) round trip. The walking paths give opportunities to get close to the nests and observe penguins crossing the path as they head to and from the sea.

An adult admission (ages 12 and older) to Punta Tombo is AR$8,500 for international visitors, AR$2,800 for Argentinian citizens, and AR$1,400 for Chubut residents. A junior admission (ages 6 to 11) is AR$ 4,200 for international visitors and AR$ 1,400 for Argentinian citizens and Chubut residents. Pensioners and retired visitors aged 60 and older pay AR$1,400, and admission is free for children aged 0 to 5.

El Pedral Reserve

The Magellanic penguins’ colony can also be spotted in El Pedral Reserve every year in September. They settle near the mouth of the Golfo Nuevo so that visitors can join a small group tour departing from Puerto Madryn for a great one-day trip experience. Adults tickets cost ARS$ 180, juniors tickets (ages 4 to 12) are ARS$ 90, and children (ages 0 to 3) can enter free of charge.

Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego

Tierra del Fuego is a favored nesting area for King Penguins, with the first arrival in early October; however, the population is highest between November and February. You can take a 2-day tour, crossing the Strait of Magellan from Punta Arenas to reach the nesting site, which will cost you $921 per person a group of four and $1,208 per person for a group of two.

Practical info

When is the best time to see the penguins in Argentina?

The Magellanic Penguin colony in Argentina can be seen between November and mid-April. Spring in the Southern Hemisphere marks the arrival of these penguins at the shore of Argentinian Patagonia, where they nest, mate, incubate their eggs and feed their chicks. November marks the best time to see the million penguins running around, searching for their babies, feeding and teaching them some basic survival skills.

How large is the peak penguin colony size in Argentina?

The peak penguin colony size in Argentina consists of around a million Magellanic Penguins. The Peninsula of Punta Tombo, where they nest and establish their colony, is a sandy, gravel and clay formation that is about 3-kilometres long and 600-metres wide. Millions of penguins running around after hatching of chicks can be observed from November, searching for their chicks, feeding and teaching them essential skills required for survival.

What is the penguins' approach to incubation and feeding?

Both the female and male penguins incubate the eggs for 40 days and feed their chicks. Both parents take turns in both incubating the eggs and feeding the chicks after hatching. They have an efficient system that ensures both parents can sufficiently hatch and feed both their young chicks to fruition.

Are there other wildlife species beside penguins found in the region of Patagonia?

Yes, there is an array of other wildlife species found in Patagonia besides penguins. The region boasts diverse fauna such as sea lions, whales, guanacos, and multiple bird species like cormorants and seagulls. Patagonia's desert is fascinating with lots of species adapted to life in arid conditions, including armadillos, foxes, and Andean condors. This broad mix of wildlife makes Patagonia an alluring destination, especially for nature enthusiasts.

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