Patagonia Penguin Adventure

Day 1: Fly to Ushuaia and visit Tierra del Fuego

In the morning, fly from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia and then transfer to your hotel. Settle in a little and then launch straight into the adventure with an afternoon exploring Tierra del Fuego National Park.

Spend the night at Hotel Tolkeyen, an authentic lodging located on the beach of the Beagle Channel where you can enjoy impressive panoramic views.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch

Accommodation: Hotel Tolkeyen

Day 2: Harberton

You'll start early heading east for Harberton Ranch, the first ranch on the Island of Tierra del Fuego, given to the Anglican Missionary Thomas Bridges in recognition of his work. Once you arrive you will take a short boat trip to Isla Martillo where Magellanic penguins and Gentoo penguins nest. Gentoo penguins do not burrow into the ground as Magellanic Penguins do, they build a nest with rocks. They have orange bills and head patches of white feathers which are individually distinct and their feet range in color from pink to orange to red. The small colony on this island has been increasing and some austral summers a few King penguins have come to the island to molt. 

Enjoy lunch with incredible views and finally visit the Acatashun Museum, an amazing collection of whale and sea mammal skeletons. 

Meals: Breakfast, lunch

Accommodation: Hotel Tolkeyen

Day 3: Fly to Trelew

Today you'll transfer to Ushuaia airport, from where you will take a flight to Trelew. You'll then drive onwards to Puerto Madryn, a 50 minute journey.

Get to know the area, walking along the long sandy beaches as you look out for local wildlife, and finding a traditional restaurant for dinner in this pretty little city.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel Peninsula Valdes, Puerto Madryn

Day 4: Estancia San Lorenzo

Spend the day walking among penguins at Estancia San Lorenzo, one of the largest penguin colonies on the peninsula with approximately 200,000 individuals. 

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel Peninsula Valdes, Puerto Madryn

Day 5: Punta Tombo and Camarones

Visit Punta Tombo and the largest Magellanic penguin colony in South America. After a day walking along the beautiful trails that make up the nature reserve, continue on to Camerones. Near the city of Camarones was the home of the very first Spanish settlement in what today is known as Argentina. In 1535 Simon de Alcazaba y Sotomayor founded the city of Caleta Hornos, lasting only a few weeks. Today Camarones is basically a fishing town, dedicated mainly to guard the entry to one of the most beautiful Nature Reserves in the Chubut province, Cabo dos Bahias. 

Meals: Breakfast, lunch

Accommodation: El Faro Casas de Mar, Camarones

Day 6: Cabo dos Bahias, Puerto Madryn

Visit the incredible nature reserve of Cabo dos Bahias, on the coast of southern Chubut Province. Dedicate the morning to explore these volcanic rocks pushing through the sedimentary basements, home to a large Magellanic Penguin colony. 

Meals: Breakfast, lunch

Accommodation: El Faro Casas de Mar, Camarones

Day 7: Camerones - Puerto Deseado

Drive to Puerto Deseado, having lunch at Comodoro.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch

Accommodation: Los Acantilados, Puerto Deseado

Day 8: Isla Pinguino boat trip

Take a full day boat trip out of the Inlet to reach Isla Pinguino (Penguin Island), where you will be able to see Rockhopper penguins, Magellanic Penguins, Upland geese, shorebirds and skuas - the main predators. Sailing back to the island or mainland, you may possibly also see feeding sea birds and dolphins.

The Southern Rockhopper penguin is the smallest of the crested penguins, you will watch them come out of the sea and hop from rock to rock at a very close distance. A nearby smaller island has nesting South American Terns and a colony of South American Sea Lions. If the wind catches up Black-browed albatrosses will fly close to you. The views of the coast will be recognized by those participants who are familiar with Conrad Martins drawings that illustrated Darwin's voyage.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch

Accommodation: Los Acantilados, Puerto Deseado

Day 9: Ria boat trip

Sail the Ria, viewing the tiny Commerson's dolphin and the nesting Red-legged Cormorants (40% of the population of this species of cormorant in Patagonia nests here). 

You will then disembark at Isla de los Pajaros to snack in amongst Magellanic Penguins and nesting Blackish Oystercatchers. You'll sail past an island with a South American Sea Lion colony. Other marine birds you may see are Snowy Sheathbills, several species of gulls, terns, skuas and giant petrels. 

Meals: Breakfast, lunch

Accommodation: Los Acantilados, Puerto Deseado

Day 10: Departure

Drive to Comodoro Rivadavia, then fly to Buenos Aires for onward or return travel.

Meals: Breakfast