Penguins and marine wildlife

The Patagonian coast is one of the best places in the world to see marine wildlife in the wild: Magellanic penguin colonies, sea lion rookeries, elephant seals, Commerson’s dolphins and thousands of seabirds nesting by the sea. Here are the outings and excursions we did to see them, from north to south, from Río Negro to Tierra del Fuego and in southern Chile.

Río Negro · Playas DoradasIslote de Lobos, the most recent national parkLobos Island is a new national park with a unique offer for observing sea lions, Magellanic penguins, and endless marine and coastal birds.See more Península Valdés · Puerto MadrynInterpreting Nature on the Valdés PeninsulaWe highly recommend that you visit this Museum and Interpretation Center either before or after any kind of animals watching in Península Valdés Natural Reserve in order to get a clear idea of the natural environment you are in.See more Península Valdés · Puerto PirámidesIsla de los Pájaros Provincial ReserveThis area was created with the aim of protecting sea and shore bird species dwelling on the island.See more Península Valdés · Puerto PirámidesPuerto Pirámides Provincial ReserveThe Punta Pirámides Provincial Reserve is located in the Valdés Península and gives shelter to a significant population of sea lions.See more Península Valdés · Puerto MadrynThe Punta Delgada Lighthouse and its ElephantsThe wealth of the Valdés Peninsula brings together thousands of animals that choose their coasts to establish breeding colonies. Among them, the elephant seal.See more Península Valdés · Puerto PirámidesThe Chosen SiteCaleta Valdés is a privileged strip of beach dwelled by countless species representative of the sea fauna.See more Península Valdés · Puerto PirámidesPenguin LandWe visited the fields of the San Lorenzo estancia which reach the sea shore and lodge an important colony of Magellanic penguins.See more Golfo Nuevo · Puerto MadrynPunta Loma: South American Sea LionPunta Loma, the first reserve in Chubut (created in 1967), is dwelled by this Patagonian fauna species.See more Golfo Nuevo · Puerto MadrynSCUBA Diving and Snorkeling with Sea Lions at Puerto MadrynThe City of Puerto Madryn is the Mecca of Argentinian SCUBA diving. For many people, it hides extraordinary spots and varied possibilities to go underwater. One of them: diving with sea lions, a classic in the region.See more Golfo Nuevo · Puerto MadrynPenguin colony in Punta NinfasThe penguin colony of El Pedral is located within the reserve of the estancia, at the mouth of the Golfo Nuevo. A picnic to walk among the penguins.See more Golfo Nuevo · Puerto MadrynElephant Seals at Punta NinfasAlong with Punta León, this is the only continental colony of these mammals outside the peninsula.See more Southern Chubut · Puerto MadrynPenguins at Punta TomboOne of the most visited sites on the Patagonian littoral where thousands of tourists arrive every year to see the Magellanic penguin continental colony.See more Southern Chubut · RawsonCommerson's dolphin watching in RawsonBottlenose dolphins dwelling the Patagonian coast escort boats and offer a unique performance.See more Southern Chubut · CamaronesCape Dos BahíasA must on the coast of Chubut. We visited Cape Dos Bahías and the natural reserve located there and watched a colony of Magellanic penguins.See more Southern Chubut · Comodoro RivadaviaOn the Marquis’ HeadlandWe visited a natural protected area lying just 17 kilometers from Comodoro Rivadavia. On the edge of a cliff, we watched a South American sea lion colony.See more Santa Cruz · Puerto DeseadoNavigating the Deseado RiaNavigating the Deseado Ria is the best way to appreciate the biodiversity of the sea fauna inhabiting these broken coastline. A classic and amusing vacation experience.See more Santa Cruz · Puerto DeseadoEcological Tourism on Isla PingüinoThe tour that provides access to Isla Pingüino promises adrenaline, as it involves navigating the sea and hiking across the boulders where strange sea species settle their nests.See more Santa Cruz · Puerto DeseadoCormorants and Sea Lions in Cabo BlancoIn a wild and desert space, a natural reserve protects South American fur seals and features a beautiful view of the sea, including an old lighthouse.See more Santa Cruz · Puerto DeseadoA Long Way to Bahía LauraBahía Laura Natural Reserve is an ideal tour for adventurous spirits who do not fear the Patagonian gravel roads and wish to observe sea wildlife from a close distance.See more Santa Cruz · San JuliánA Classic in Puerto San JuliánThe tours organized by the Cendrón family are a classic in Puerto San Julián. Their very broad experience at sea is ideal to watch penguins, as well as the rest of the typical wildlife of this sea region.See more Santa Cruz · Puerto Santa CruzSea Lion and Penguin ColoniesIf discovering sea lions and penguins in their natural habitat is what it is all about, two outings are definitely a must: the sea lion colony at Monte León and the penguin colony at Estrada.See more Tierra del Fuego · UshuaiaBeagle Channel NavigationThe marine fauna is presented in its greatest splendor in a wild and placid landscape at the same time. A boat trip to explore the islands that appear in the Beagle Channel.See more Chile · AncudThe Untouched IsletAn untouched islet inhabited by hundreds of penguins and sea lions. A natural excursion, guided by experimented locals who live on fishing and tourism.See more Chile · Punta ArenasMagellan wildlife, Magdalena-Santa MartaBoats cross the Strait of Magellan to reach these islands of enormous biodiversity. A visit to the Magellanic fauna in an extreme place.See more Chile · Puerto Raúl Marín BalmacedaSea Tour at Raúl Marín BalmacedaWe went to the sea and discovered its vastness, its birds, some sea lion reserves and let ourselves be rocked by its powerful swell.See more

Southern right whales have their own section: Whales. Before you go, check each protected area’s opening hours, entrance fees and the season for each species.