Punta Arenas, Chile

PUNTA ARENAS Stopover and the STRAIT OF MAGELLAN

Including the OFF THE BEATEN TRACK: 

MAGDALENA ISLAND PENGUIN RESERVE Tour

Monday 26th March 2012 

On route to PUNTA ARENAS from USHUAIA was the second formal evening on board the MS VEENDAM and we felt it was time for us to bring out the bow ties! 

The dinner was and as has been every night onboard the MS VEENDAM so far, an absolute delight and enjoyed by us both.

Sunrise on the horizon across the "STRAIT OF MAGELLAN" was bathing our stateroom in orange light and greeted us as we awoke around 08h00. The MS VEENDAM was slowing down and preparing to dock in the port of PUNTA ARENAS, Chile.

Due to both the ANTACTICA LANDING Tour and the EL CALAFETE AND PERITO MORENO GLACIER (In Argentina) Alternative Tour being cancelled, the PATAGONIA EXPERIENCE: OTWAY SOUND AND PENGUIN RESERVE Tour should have then been offered.

But, as the group of "Magellan Penguins" who are normally located in caves along the side Otway Bay had already left the area, migrating north, the only possible alternative now to this tour was the OFF THE BEATEN TRACK: MAGDALENA ISLAND PENGUIN RESERVE Tour as the group of "Magellan Penguins" located here were still there.

Therefore, after taking a 90 minute ferry from PUNTA ARENAS to MAGDALENA ISLAND, we were able to see for 1 hour the group of "Magellan Penguins" who live in burrows all over this small island right up close.

There is a walking trail that visitors to the island must take, so the penguins are not disturbed and right of way must be given to any of the penguins crossing this path. 

The trail leads up to a lighthouse on a hill in the middle of the island and passes some cliffs on one side of the island which was home to several different types of seabirds.

During the 90 minute ferry journey back to PUNTA ARENAS several seals and sea lions were also seen in the water close by.

And look, when we got back to the MS VEENDAM, there was a cloth PENGUIN made out of towels sitting right on the bed in our stateroom!