Los Pingüinos Natural Monument, Nature reserve on Magdalena Island, Punta Arenas, Chile
Los Pingüinos Natural Monument is a nature reserve on Magdalena Island spanning about 96 hectares of rocky coastal terrain. The landscape consists of windswept cliffs and barren ground where penguin colonies gather in sheltered areas.
The reserve was established in 1966 to protect penguin populations from fishing pressures in the Strait of Magellan. This action came after people realized the birds needed dedicated protection from human activity in the region.
The Selknam, Yaghan, and Kawésqar peoples once made these islands their home, deeply connected to marine life. Walking here, you sense how human presence has always been tied to the rhythms of the sea.
Access is available between October and March through boat tours departing from Punta Arenas, when weather permits safe crossings. Wind and rough seas can affect schedules, so building flexibility into your plans helps avoid disappointment.
The island hosts one of the largest concentrations of Magellanic penguins in southern Chile. These birds return each year at the same time, giving the place a natural rhythm that visitors can feel directly.
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