Magdalena Island lies in the Strait of Magellan, about 35 km northeast of Punta Arenas, and is part of Los Pingüinos Natural Monument, home to a breeding colony of Magellanic penguins that can be visited from October to March. The trip takes about 5 hours round trip, with one hour on the island, and in November 2026 tours start at CLP 96,000 per adult.
*Updated on November 4, 2026.* Data on the protected area come from Conaf's Los Pingüinos Natural Monument leaflet; prices from Meteored (October 23, 2026) and Nomades (checked November 4, 2026). Note: do not confuse it with Isla Magdalena National Park, which is in the Aysén Region near Puerto Cisnes and is a different destination.
Los Pingüinos Natural Monument in numbers
| Fact | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Strait of Magellan, about 35 km northeast of Punta Arenas | Conaf |
| Created | 1966 | Conaf |
| Area | Magdalena Island 85 ha and Marta Island 12 ha | Conaf |
| Main species | Magellanic penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus) | Conaf |
| Colony | About 21,000 individuals (leaflet); 7,014 breeding pairs in the November 2025 count | Conaf and CNN Chile |
| Visitors | Over 30,000 per season | Conaf |
| Visiting season | October to March | Conaf |
Neighboring Marta Island hosts cormorants, gulls and South American sea lions and fur seals, according to Conaf. There is no landing there: you see it from the boat on tours that include it.
How to get to Magdalena Island from Punta Arenas: ferry or speedboat
| Option | Departure | Duration | Adult price | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TABSA ferry | Tres Puentes terminal, Punta Arenas | About 2 h each way, plus 1 h on the island | CLP 96,000 (children 5 to 13, CLP 48,000; up to 4, free) | Boat, bilingual guides, port fees and entry |
| Speedboat to Magdalena and Marta islands | José Nogueira 1255, Punta Arenas, at 6:25 | About 5 hours in total | CLP 111,000 | Boat, bilingual guide, shared transport and entry |
Sources: Meteored for the ferry (2026 prices) and Nomades for the speedboat, checked November 4, 2026. The speedboat does not include hotel pickup or food; if it is called off for weather before departure you get a 100% refund, and if it has sailed but cannot land, 50%. The Chilean Navy can close the port due to wind, so book this tour for the first days of your trip and keep a spare day.
When to see penguins on Magdalena Island
Magellanic penguins spend the breeding season on the island and then head out to the open sea. According to Conaf, each stage of the cycle falls in different months, which changes what you see on each visit.
| Month | What happens in the colony |
|---|---|
| September | Adults arrive at the colony (no tourist visits yet) |
| October | Egg laying, usually two per nest, in burrows they dig themselves |
| November | Chicks hatch after about 40 days of incubation |
| January and February | Chicks become independent; the colony is at its liveliest |
| March and April | Adults molt and leave for the sea in April |
Source: Conaf. December and January tend to be operators' favorite months because both adults and chicks are on view. To plan the rest of your trip to the far south, see when to visit Chile by region.
What to see on Magdalena Island: the trail and the lighthouse
The landing lasts one hour, the time allowed by Conaf. You walk a roped-off trail through the colony up to the Magdalena lighthouse. Conaf's leaflet gives a 1,400 m circuit; Meteored mentions about 850 m of easy walking, with the first 250 m wheelchair-accessible. The lighthouse is a National Monument and houses an information room staffed by rangers.
Conaf's rules for the visit
- Keep at least 2 meters away and do not block penguins walking to or from the sea.
- Stay on the trail and do not linger by nests less than 1 meter from the path.
- Drones, selfie sticks and camera or phone flash and sound are banned.
- No eating on the island and no litter.
- No pets or plants.
Source: rules of Los Pingüinos Natural Monument, Conaf. Bring a windproof layer: the wind in the strait is cold even in summer.
A penguin colony that has shrunk
A Conaf report from November 2025, cited by CNN Chile, estimated 7,014 breeding pairs on Magdalena Island (range 6,090 to 7,896). A 2019 study by veterinarian Claudia Godoy Reyes recorded about 60,000 pairs in the early 2000s and around 6,000 by 2018. That study does not blame tourism, pointing instead to factors such as environmental change or the species moving to other areas; a monument guide quoted by CNN Chile, however, calls for a review of visitor pressure. Conaf's report does not give causes.
If you want to see another penguin species in Chile, see our guide to Isla Damas and the Humboldt Penguin National Reserve. And for the rest of your stay, things to do in Punta Arenas.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to visit Magdalena Island?
In the 2026-2027 season, the ferry costs CLP 96,000 per adult, according to Meteored, and the speedboat to Magdalena and Marta islands CLP 111,000, according to Nomades. Both include entry to the monument.
When can you see the penguins on Magdalena Island?
From October to March, when Conaf allows visits. Chicks hatch in November and become independent between January and February.
How long do you spend on the island?
One hour, the time allowed by Conaf. The whole tour takes about 5 hours from Punta Arenas.
Is it the same as Isla Magdalena National Park?
No. The penguin island is in Magallanes, near Punta Arenas. Isla Magdalena National Park is in the Aysén Region, near Puerto Cisnes.
