Somewhere close to one million penguins live in the Patagonia’s coasts. In the Punta Tombo reserve you can meet them face-to-face. Punta Tombo is only a few miles from Puerto Madryn.

The Puerto Madryn city, located on the Atlantic Ocean side, is one of the best starting points to visit Punta Tombo. Punta Tombo was created in 1979 by the government of Chubut (Argentina); here we can see thousands of sea birds less than 3 feet away.

The only way to get to Punta Tombo is by land. This way the fauna and flora of the land can also be greatly appreciated. As we get closer, the first families of penguins start to show themselves.


Each family lives in small 3 feet deep caves. These holes are made by male penguins in order to conquer female partners who arrive one month later. Penguins are accomplished swimmers. They reach speeds of around 15 knots and can go as deep as 80 meters below sea level.

Depending on the time when you get here, different penguin rituals can be seen. In September females arrive to mate with males, November is the month dedicated to the magnificent birth of baby penguins and a month later the little ones take the first trips to the sea.

<< back