The cheapest tours in Punta Arenas cost CLP 40,000 (Fuerte Bulnes, Magallanes National Reserve and the guided city tour); the speedboat to the penguins of the Magdalena and Marta islands starts at CLP 139,899, the Tierra del Fuego trip at CLP 100,000 and whale watching at CLP 404,154 per person, according to Civitatis on 7 November 2026. There is also a tip-based free walking tour of the centre.
This guide helps you decide what to book. For everything about the penguin colony (ferry or speedboat, Conaf rules and what you see each month), read our guide to Magdalena Island and its penguins; to plan the rest of the trip, see things to do in Punta Arenas.
Punta Arenas tours compared
Magdalena and Marta islands by speedboat
Penguins on Magdalena Island and sea lions on Marta Island by speedboat: 132 reviews.
- 5 h 30
- Bus, speedboat, guide and coffee
- Free cancellation up to 48 h before
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Punta Arenas free walking tour
Two and a half hours around the city, scored 9.9; you only pay a tip.
- Tip
- 2 h 30
- Spanish-speaking guide
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Whale watching in the Strait of Magellan
The longest day (12 to 14 hours): boat on the strait, breakfast and lunch included.
- 12-14 h
- Bus, guide, boat trip, breakfast and lunch
- Free cancellation up to 48 h before
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Fuerte Bulnes
Four hours to Fuerte Bulnes, scored 9.5 with 50 reviews.
- 4 h
- Pickup, minibus and guide
- Free cancellation up to 24 h before
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| Tour | Duration | Includes | Rating | From | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whale watching in the Strait of Magellan | 12-14 h | Bus, guide, boat trip, breakfast and lunch | 8.8 (41 reviews) | CLP 404,154 | Book ↗ |
| Magdalena and Marta islands by speedboat | 5 h 30 | Bus, speedboat, guide and coffee | 8.6 (132) | CLP 139,899 | Book ↗ |
| Tierra del Fuego island | 14 h | Pickup, minibus, ferry, guide and Provincial Museum | 8.1 (132) | CLP 100,000 | Book ↗ |
| Torres del Paine from Punta Arenas | 16 h | Pickup, minibus and guide | 9.4 (120) | CLP 95,000 | Book ↗ |
| Pali Aike National Park | 11 h | Pickup, minibus and guide | 10 (4) | CLP 90,000 | Book ↗ |
| San Isidro lighthouse | 10 h | Pickup, minibus and guide | 8.5 (13) | CLP 80,000 | Book ↗ |
| Fuerte Bulnes | 4 h | Pickup, minibus and guide | 9.5 (50) | CLP 40,000 | Book ↗ |
| Magallanes National Reserve | 3 h | Pickup, minibus and guide | 9.4 (38) | CLP 40,000 | Book ↗ |
| Guided tour of Punta Arenas | 2 h 30 | Pickup and guide | 8.8 (49) | CLP 40,000 | Book ↗ |
| Punta Arenas free walking tour | 2 h 30 | Spanish-speaking guide | 9.9 (44) | Tip | Book ↗ |
Source: each tour page on Civitatis, checked on 7 November 2026. "From" price per person in Chilean pesos. The Magdalena speedboat and whale watching are priced in US dollars, so the peso figure moves with the exchange rate. Several of these tours are only listed on Civitatis in Spanish, but guides speak Spanish and English, except on the free tour (Spanish only).
| Whale watching in the Strait of Magellan | 12 | 9 | 41 | 404,154 |
| Magdalena and Marta islands by speedboat | 6 | 9 | 132 | 139,899 |
| Tierra del Fuego island | 14 | 8 | 132 | 100,000 |
| Torres del Paine from Punta Arenas | 16 | 9 | 120 | 95,000 |
| Pali Aike National Park | 11 | 10 | 4 | 90,000 |
| San Isidro lighthouse | 10 | 9 | 13 | 80,000 |
| Fuerte Bulnes | 4 | 10 | 50 | 40,000 |
| Magallanes National Reserve | 3 | 9 | 38 | 40,000 |
| Guided tour of Punta Arenas | 3 | 9 | 49 | 40,000 |
| Punta Arenas free walking tour | 3 | 10 | 44 | 0 |
The Magdalena Island tour: penguins by speedboat
It is the most reviewed tour in Punta Arenas (132 reviews, rated 8.6). It lasts five and a half hours and includes the bus, the speedboat to the Magdalena and Marta islands, a Spanish-speaking guide and coffee. The two islands make up Los Pingüinos Natural Monument, which according to the Conaf leaflet is open to visitors from October to March. The trip depends on wind in the strait: if the maritime authority closes the port, the departure is cancelled.
For the ferry alternative, the months of each stage of the colony and the rules on the island, see our Magdalena Island guide.
Which Punta Arenas tour to choose for your plan
Cheap half day: Fuerte Bulnes and Magallanes National Reserve
CLP 40,000 each, with hotel pickup. Fuerte Bulnes, south of the city, is the best rated on the list at 9.5 from 50 reviews and lasts 4 hours; Magallanes National Reserve, a 20-minute drive away, covers the trails of the former "Japanese Park" in 3 hours.
Full day: Tierra del Fuego, Pali Aike or San Isidro lighthouse
The Tierra del Fuego trip crosses the strait by ferry, visits the Provincial Museum and lasts 14 hours. Pali Aike, with volcanic craters 196 kilometres from the city, has a perfect score but only 4 reviews. San Isidro lighthouse, 75 kilometres south, adds a 4-kilometre walk along the strait beach: 10 hours in all.
Whales and Torres del Paine: the longest days
Whale watching is the most expensive (CLP 404,154) because it adds a boat, breakfast and lunch over 12 to 14 hours. Torres del Paine from Punta Arenas means 16 hours in a minibus; with more days, it is better to stay in Puerto Natales, as we explain in our guide to Torres del Paine tours from Puerto Natales.
View the data as a table
| Hours | From price (CLP) | |
|---|---|---|
| Whale watching in the Strait of Magellan | 12 | 404,154 |
| Magdalena and Marta islands by speedboat | 6 | 139,899 |
| Tierra del Fuego island | 14 | 100,000 |
| Torres del Paine from Punta Arenas | 16 | 95,000 |
| Pali Aike National Park | 11 | 90,000 |
| San Isidro lighthouse | 10 | 80,000 |
| Fuerte Bulnes | 4 | 40,000 |
| Magallanes National Reserve | 3 | 40,000 |
| Guided tour of Punta Arenas | 3 | 40,000 |
Tips for your Punta Arenas tours
- Season: visits to the Magdalena and Marta islands run from October to March, according to Conaf; outside that window, look at the city tours, Fuerte Bulnes or Tierra del Fuego.
- Wind: boat and speedboat departures depend on the weather in the strait; keep a spare day in your itinerary.
- Clothing: layers, a windbreaker, hat and gloves, even in summer.
- No car needed: almost all tours pick you up at your hotel. To explore Patagonia on your own, read our guide to car rental in Chile.
- Connectivity: signal drops outside the city; see which eSIM to use in Chile.
Punta Arenas is also where the region's longest trips start: the Antarctica trip by plane or fly-cruise, and the Australis cruise to Cape Horn.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Magdalena Island tour?
The speedboat trip to the Magdalena and Marta islands starts at CLP 139,899 per person on Civitatis on 7 November 2026. It is priced in US dollars, so the peso amount moves with the exchange rate.
When can you see penguins in Punta Arenas?
Los Pingüinos Natural Monument is open to visitors from October to March, according to Conaf.
What is the cheapest tour in Punta Arenas?
The tip-based free walking tour of the centre. At a fixed price, Fuerte Bulnes, Magallanes National Reserve and the guided city tour start at CLP 40,000.
Can you visit Torres del Paine as a day trip from Punta Arenas?
Yes: the trip lasts 16 hours and starts at CLP 95,000, with hotel pickup. It is a very long day on the road.
