Isla Magdalena
Isla Magdalena
4.5
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
About
We are specialists in navigating the Strait of Magellan and the Sub-Antartic insular area. Nature and adventure are put at your reach by exploring places of great interest due to their diversity of sea wildlife and landscapes. Enjoy the millenary glaciers and Cape Froward, the most southern place of the American continent. Hear the sound of the wind and the humpback whales, and walk among thousands of Magellan penguins.
Duration: 2-3 hours
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
365 reviews
Excellent
249
Very good
81
Average
18
Poor
9
Terrible
8
Christopher R
Bradenton, FL12 contributions
Feb 2020 • Family
Please note the company will not cancel boats until the morning of. If the winds are scheduled at 25mph or greater you will be out of luck as the boats will not go out.There is nothing to do in Punta Arenas besides this. They have a small overpriced Fort south of the city called Fort Bulis.
My advice is check the 5 day forecast. If it looks good book a flight to Punta Arenas to see the penguins. If it looks windy and cold do another activity outside of Punta Arenas as the boat will not go out and you will waste both time and money in a boring town.
My advice is check the 5 day forecast. If it looks good book a flight to Punta Arenas to see the penguins. If it looks windy and cold do another activity outside of Punta Arenas as the boat will not go out and you will waste both time and money in a boring town.
Written February 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sachin K
New York City, NY6,556 contributions
Dec 2019 • Family
A visit to Isla Magdalena will offer one of the best wildlife viewings anywhere. It has to be reached from a boat from one of the ports of Punta Arenas. An hour is good enough to walk around the island and see the penguins in their natural habitat up close. Certainly would very highly recommend visiting this island to any traveler and especially those who are interested in seeing wild life.
Written November 27, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
UCFKnightsFan
Orlando, FL739 contributions
Dec 2019
I took the catamaran tour to Isla Magdalena from Punta Arenas, Chile to see the Magellanic Penguins. I booked the 8:00 AM tour with Denomades. The catamaran we took was named, "Fiordos Del Sur II." The meeting place was Muelle Prat at Avenida Costanera del Estrecho de Magallanes 1398. Unfortunately, our scheduled tour at 8:00 AM was canceled due to the extreme weather in the Strait of Magellan. Luckily, we were able to be re-scheduled on the 1:00 PM tour and it worked out perfect weather wise.
It was an EXCELLENT experience. The male checking us in was friendly and helpful. The three guides on-board the catamaran were wonderful.....young, engaging, friendly, and very knowledgeable. It also helped that the sea was calm and the weather was warm and sunny.
The island is home to about 15,000 Magellanic Penguins (down from 150,000 a few years ago). You walk along a path up to a lighthouse and the penguins are all over the place. Sometimes they cross the walking path right in front of you. You will also see Chilean Skuas and many Kelp Gulls with their babies.
I highly recommend this company and tour! It was a wonderful and memorable experience!
It was an EXCELLENT experience. The male checking us in was friendly and helpful. The three guides on-board the catamaran were wonderful.....young, engaging, friendly, and very knowledgeable. It also helped that the sea was calm and the weather was warm and sunny.
The island is home to about 15,000 Magellanic Penguins (down from 150,000 a few years ago). You walk along a path up to a lighthouse and the penguins are all over the place. Sometimes they cross the walking path right in front of you. You will also see Chilean Skuas and many Kelp Gulls with their babies.
I highly recommend this company and tour! It was a wonderful and memorable experience!
Written January 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mila255
Phoenixville, PA12 contributions
Nov 2022 • Friends
an unforgettable day of exploring. we boarded the bus at 10 am and drove approx 40 min to a place where a passenger boat picked us (and approx 30 other passengers) up. the boat drove approx another 45 min to a first island where we could watch sea lions and cormoran from aboard. the local guide Nee was excellent explaining in Spanish and English. after another 30 min on open water we reaches Magdalena Island with its Penguin colony. lots of beautiful sea gulls too. we were super lucky with abundant sunshine and unseasonable high spring temperatures. getting back on the boat we were greeted with coffee and a little bag of cookies which was very nice. it was a fantastic day and experience and i can highly recommend it
Written November 5, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ikiser
Edmond, OK299 contributions
Dec 2019
It takes a while to get there (over an hour boat ride) but it is worth it. Magellanic penguins, gulls and Skuas everywhere. There were all ages of penguins, from adults to youngsters a couple of months old. This entire island is a sanctuary so you are restricted to about an hour and you must stay on the path. Overall it was well worth the time and money to go there.
Written February 18, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tortoise7
Seattle, WA7 contributions
Mar 2020
We did the Solo Expeditions trip to see the penguins on Isla Magdalena. Was well organized, Had a great time esp because the weather cooperated ;-). On the way back stopped off shore of another island with a colony of sea lions and then as we were going back to shore we saw a Sei whale. The captain stopped the boat so we could all watch which was much appreciated. The staff were wonderful, especially Sebastian. My only regret was we couldn't do the all day tour they have with whale watching, but we got lucky anyway!
Written April 25, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tanya
5 contributions
Nov 2022 • Couples
Total disappointment of the place and Punta Arenas! The penguin tour was cancelled twice due to the strong winds. We thought that these cancellations happen occasionally, but in fact they are frequent. You are at the mercy of the winds and need to be very lucky. We wasted 3 days (2 nights) in Punta Arenas hoping to go on this tour. Even if in Punta Arenas weather was sunny and wind was not strong at all, it does not mean that the tour would happen (winds might be strong at the sea and Magdalena island). About the cancellation, we found out on site right before the tour. We tried to call the day of the tour to see if it is cancelled, but could not reach anyone. I frankly felt like we were scammed - if they constantly cancel the tour, why to even offer it to tourists?!
Additionally there is really nothing to do in Punta Arenas. So to find an alternative to do something exciting on the same day is not an option here. It is a waste of time and money unless one is super lucky to get on the tour. If one plans to organise the trip around this tour in Punta Arenas, I would suggest avoiding this place especially for tourists who don’t spend much time in Chile.
Additionally there is really nothing to do in Punta Arenas. So to find an alternative to do something exciting on the same day is not an option here. It is a waste of time and money unless one is super lucky to get on the tour. If one plans to organise the trip around this tour in Punta Arenas, I would suggest avoiding this place especially for tourists who don’t spend much time in Chile.
Written November 1, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BillPNo1
Friendswood, TX669 contributions
Feb 2019
Our visit to the Magdalena Island Pengiun Reserve was one of the best tours of our entire South American Cruise. We were able to walk among the penguins and their burrows all over the small island while thousands of Magellanic Penguins kept us company, walking nearby or standing and watching us watch them. Solitary and in pairs, the penguins clustered and scampered about while some rested in the entrances to their burrows. Down at the shore, the penguins can be seen in the water and frolicking in the shallow water adjacent to our boat and dock.The Island Reserve is also home to three species of sea-birds: skuas, kelp gulls, and cormorants. who live and nest near and adjacent to the penguins on the island.
Don't miss the opportunity to visit the Magdalena Island Penguin Reserve. It's Great!
Don't miss the opportunity to visit the Magdalena Island Penguin Reserve. It's Great!
Written January 24, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LMCM111
Perth, Australia688 contributions
Feb 2020
Ferry ride to island was ok though it took 15 min for captain to dock it on beach. You get to walk around island and it is great to see the penguins and gulls. Only problem was the weather, it started to pour, and the ferry stayed offshore for 15 min too long as we waiting wet and cold for it to come in to collect us. tour needed to be better organised but can't complain about the penguins!
Written February 15, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dave48838
Greenville, MI660 contributions
Nov 2023 • Friends
Magdalena island is a bit off the main land. It is accessed by Zodiac boat. The trip is worth it with the caution that some agility is needed. While there are attendants, a visitor must climb out of the boat on narrow iron steps. Once on shore, there are sidewalks to guide your visit. People are asked to stay on the paths as the island is a breeding ground for penguins. There are hundreds of penguins and their little bungalow nests are everywhere. Seagulls are also abundant, waiting for a chick to snatch. This is a natural preserve and the birds have no fear of humans. Visitors are asked to give them the right-of-way, as they might be sharing or crossing the paths. The entire route is about a mile and the visit might take an hour or less.
Written January 4, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ca R
Los Angeles, Chile
Hola, estoy pensando en viajar en febrero con mi familia y visitar todos los atractivos de Punta Arenas, pero me preocupa el clima y sobre todo el viento ya que uno de los integrantes de mi familia es un bebé de 4 meses.
Por lo anterior, qué me sugieres? será oportuno viajar con el bebé considerando el clima y si podriamos ir hasta el Estrecho de Magallanes. No sé si será necesario tomar un tour o francamente visitar en vehículo propio. Espero me puedas orientar y de esta manera poder organizar el viaje.
Saludos y felices fiestas.
Written December 30, 2021
Hola, el clima es bien agradable en el verano, y aunque hay viento es super tolerable (con una buena chaqueta cortavientos). Hay varios puntos lindos para visitar, a mi me encanto la isla magdalena, y se puede hacer un buen tour por la ciudad. En mi caso me gusta ir con alguna agencia, ya que te dan todas las indicaciones y me siento mas segura
Written December 31, 2021
Hola, ¿qué empresa me pueden recomendar? Tengo la duda si reservar el paseo en Solo Expediciones o De Nomades... muchas gracias
Written October 20, 2021
Ambassador46878
Sao Paulo, SP
Good afternoon, I and my family Will be in Punta Arenas abril 9 , is possível to visit Islã Magdalena ? Do you know a Good company for this tour ?
Written March 2, 2020
?hi, is there a ferry going to magdalena island in the afternoon?
?where can i buy tickets in advance
thanks
hemda
Written November 17, 2019
Yes, there is! Check out Fiordos del Sur website. They have a pretty new and comfortable boat and you can buy online.
Written November 17, 2019
Olá ! Estou em punta Arenas ! É possível agendar o passeio para esta semana ???obrigado
Written June 11, 2019
Tente o site da Fiordos del Sur! Agendamos de última hora lá. Mas se tiver tempo cheque com a Solo Expediciones pq acho que são os únicos que fazem a dobradinha isla magdalena com isla marta, onde há leões marinhos.
Written November 11, 2019
What’s the best way to get to the Magdalena islands from Porto Cervo?
Written May 28, 2019
I agree with the others....any of the local tour office in town will drive you to the dock and book you on one of the several
Passenger ferries for the rip out to, and back from, the Island
All the prices are pretty much the same and service is uniformly
Very good, but timing depends on many variables like wind and weather.
Written May 28, 2019
Hola goofyta, una duda, fueron en la transbordadora y consiguieron los tickets en ese momento o tuvieron que reservar antes? Gracias.
Written January 9, 2019
Hey vaneloope,
you get the tickets without reservation when you arrive at the port where the ship to Magdalena starts.
Enjoy the trip.
Jørg
Written January 22, 2019
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