Chile · PUNTA ARENAS TOURS

The 15 Best Punta Arenas Tours & Excursions

25 tours  ·  from $46

The last big city before Antarctica, and a launch point for penguins, whales and Tierra del Fuego. The 15 below are compared on season, crossing time and what happens when the wind shuts the strait.

Punta Arenas: Walk with Penguins on Magdalena & Marta Island - From José Nogueira Street to Laredo Bay
Punta Arenas Tours, Tour Reviews, Walking Tours

Punta Arenas: Walk with Penguins on Magdalena & Marta Island

1.Walk with Penguins on Magdalena & Marta Island

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 611 reviews · 5 hours · from $150Our pick

Join Solo Expediciones for a five-hour bilingual trip from Punta Arenas to Magdalena and Marta islands. Walk near wild Magellanic penguins with guides such as Sebastian and Rafael, then watch sea lions from the boat. Coffee is included, but expect cold, wind, boat motion, and a weather-dependent visit to Marta.

“We loved our experience! Sebastian was so enthusiastic and knowledgeable :) Getting to watch the sunrise from the top of the boat and see the sea lions on Isla Marta was very cool. Seeing the penguins up close was AMAZING and being able to have a hot drink after the walk was much appreciated. The transport worked smoothly and everyone knew what they were doing. It’s expensive but so is the public ferry to the island. It’s definitely worth doing the tour and we’d recommend it to others!”

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Punta Arenas: Full-Day Whales, Penguins, and Glaciers Tour - From José Nogueira Street to the southern shore
Full-Day, Punta Arenas Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Whale Watching

Punta Arenas: Full-Day Whales, Penguins, and Glaciers Tour

2.Full-Day Whales, Penguins, and Glaciers Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 325 reviews · 14 hours · from $365

Leave Punta Arenas before dawn for a 14-hour sea adventure with Solo Expediciones. Sail from south of the city to Cape Froward and Francisco Coloane Marine Park, looking for humpback whales, Magellanic penguins, dolphins, sea lions, birds, and glaciers. English and Spanish guides, meals, and hot drinks are included.

“You see amazing things in one day. The cost is really high but worth it in my opinion. With this price I would expect it to have less persons as a limit. Food is not good but average to cover your daily hunger. The stuff is nice 👌”

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Punta Arenas: Full Day Tierra del Fuego & King Penguins - The ferry across the Strait of Magellan
Full-Day, Punta Arenas Tours, Tour Reviews

Punta Arenas: Full Day Tierra del Fuego & King Penguins

3.Full Day Tierra del Fuego & King Penguins

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 179 reviews · 15 hours · from $110

Travel from Punta Arenas across the Strait of Magellan to Tierra del Fuego, where you visit the only King Penguin colony in South America. Guides such as Christian, Alvaro, and Katherine add strong local context, but expect a 15-hour day with long stretches in a minibus.

“Cool to see the penguins, but there aren’t that many, you only see them for an hour (and that is just standing, looking at the one group) and they aren’t very close, but overall it’s the very long drive that is important for this one. I left my accommodation at 7am and didn’t get back until 11pm, there are a small number of stops on the way, but for the most part you are on the minibus, which is ok, but for the length of the drive not super comfortable, had no luggage rack and no usb chargers. The guide and driver were lovely and did a brilliant job, but…”

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Navigation Magdalena Island and Marta - The Strait of Magellan is part of the show
Punta Arenas Tours, Tour Reviews

Navigation Magdalena Island and Marta

4.Navigation Magdalena Island and Marta

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 164 reviews · 4 to 5 hours (approx.) · from $140

Start at 6:30 a.m. in Punta Arenas, ride to Laredo Bay, then take a speedboat across the Strait of Magellan to Isla Magdalena and Isla Marta. Walk among Magellanic penguins, watch sea lions and seabirds, and look for dolphins or whales. Coffee, tea, snacks, guides, and transfers are included.

“Absolutely wonderful!! We had calm waters and a beautiful day(we were lucky). Due to other reviews, I scheduled in an extra day for our trip in case of bad weather…our original date was canceled and they put us on the next days tour. Tip: schedule an extra day into your trip!”

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Punta Arenas: Full-Day Torres del Paine Tour - Milodon Cave and a giant from Patagonia’s past
Full-Day, Punta Arenas Tours, Torres del Paine Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Punta Arenas: Full-Day Torres del Paine Tour

5.Full-Day Torres del Paine Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 131 reviews · 16 hours · from $106

From Punta Arenas, a small group of up to 14 travels with an English- or Spanish-speaking guide to Milodon Cave and Torres del Paine. Expect a long day, short walks, icebergs at Grey Beach, Salto Grande, Nordenskjold Lake, and the Torres from Laguna Amarga.

“I really enjoyed this tour. During the trip, we visited the most popular locations, which were truly breathtaking. The park itself is absolutely incredible — I think that’s clear even without a review. As for the organization, everything was also at a very good level. The guide, Chris, was very friendly and answered all our questions. The driver drove smoothly, so there were no issues on the road. The only thing I felt was missing was a longer hike. We walked toward the glacier, which took about 20–30 minutes round trip, and also to the cave, around 20 minutes round trip. In my opinion, a couple of hours of hiking…”

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Walk alongside Penguins on Magdalene Island and navigate Marta Island - Crossing the Strait of Magellan by boat
Punta Arenas Tours, Tour Reviews, Walking Tours

Walk alongside Penguins on Magdalene Island and navigate Marta Island

6.Walk alongside Penguins on Magdalene Island and navigate Marta Island

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 116 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $140

Start early in central Punta Arenas, ride by coach and boat to Isla Magdalena, and spend an hour walking beside Magellanic penguins. Guide Sebastian and other bilingual staff share facts in English and Spanish. Then circle Isla Marta for sea lions, cormorants, and seabirds, with hot drinks on board.

“Scenery and wildlife were wonderful. Boat was new and comfortable. Check-in process as well as more space at office for the vol7me of people would be good.”

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Magdalena Island Penguin Tour by Boat from Punta Arenas - Starting at José Nogueira 1255 in Punta Arenas
Cruises & Boat Tours, Punta Arenas Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Magdalena Island Penguin Tour by Boat from Punta Arenas

7.Magdalena Island Penguin Tour by Boat from Punta Arenas

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 107 reviews · 5 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $160

Meet at 6:30 am in Punta Arenas for a minivan transfer and boat ride across the Strait of Magellan. Walk a marked trail among Magellanic penguins on Magdalena Island, visit its lighthouse, and look for sea lions near Isla Marta. Guides such as Rodrigo and Sebastian add useful wildlife context.

“This is a must if visiting Punta Arenas. We found everything well organized and clear. Our drivers and guides were excellent and we found the pace and amount of time for each stop was appropriate. The scenery is amazing - we had great weather - and the penguins are super cute and entertaining.”

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Private Torres del Paine & Milodon, departing from Punta Arenas - Mylodon Cave and the prehistoric beginning
Private, Punta Arenas Tours, Torres del Paine Tours, Tour Reviews

Private Torres del Paine & Milodon, departing from Punta Arenas

8.Private Torres del Paine & Milodon, departing from Punta Arenas

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 76 reviews · 12 to 14 hours (approx.) · from $554Top rated

Leave Punta Arenas at 6 a.m. with a private guide and driver for Mylodon Cave and Torres del Paine. You’ll see Pehoé, Nordenskjold, Laguna Amarga, waterfalls, wildlife, and mountain views from an air-conditioned vehicle with Wi-Fi. Guides include Gerardo, Juan, and Christian.

“Gerardo was fantastic! Exceeded our expectations. Excellent English as he had lived in the U.S. for a few years. Very professional, intelligient and caring. He was always making sure we were comfortable. He had great information and lots of fun facts and stories. He picked us up at our hotel in Punta arenas. We had just returned from a 5 day Antarctic cruise on Silversea. We had a limited amount of time to see Patagonia and this private tour worked very well for us. Gerardo was right on time at 6a.m. to pick us up. He had a excellent private driver for us the whole time, so Gerardo could focus…”

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Punta Arenas: Full Day Torres del Paine + Milodon Cave - The early road to Puerto Natales
Full-Day, Punta Arenas Tours, Torres del Paine Tours, Tour Reviews

Punta Arenas: Full Day Torres del Paine + Milodon Cave

9.Full Day Torres del Paine + Milodon Cave

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 73 reviews · 14 hours · from $152

Join a small-group van tour from Punta Arenas to Torres del Paine and Milodon Cave. Guides such as Juan, Luis, Atma, and Gabriel are praised for clear English and flexible storytelling. Expect a very long day, short walks, dramatic views, and no included food or park tickets.

“There was so much to see. Do not be intimidated by the length of the excursion. It was worth every minute. The national park is beautiful and well maintained. There are several sites to see and experience. Take this trip!”

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Punta Arenas: Magdalena Island Navigation & Penguin Walk - Choosing between the 7 AM, 10 AM, and 1:30 PM departures
Punta Arenas Tours, Tour Reviews, Walking Tours

Punta Arenas: Magdalena Island Navigation & Penguin Walk

10.Magdalena Island Navigation & Penguin Walk

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 73 reviews · 5 hours · from $209

Sail from Punta Arenas to Magdalena Island and spend about an hour walking near Magellanic penguins in the Los Pingüinos Natural Monument. A bilingual guide explains the birds and island ecology. Check your departure time carefully: meeting points vary between Muelle Prat and Terminal Tres Puentes.

“The island and the penguins were great but the trip was terrible. First off since it was advertised as shore excursion we assumed that we would have transportation. Nope After having their information translated by a taxi man we found out that we needed to take a taxi to the car ferry port We did get there on time but no one was there to help us. Someone else told us what to do. The car ferry cost $50 the taxi costs $10 and we paid $230 for what????? Don't waste your money.”

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King Penguin Nature Reserve - Tierra del Fuego Island - Starting before dawn in Punta Arenas
National Parks, Punta Arenas Tours, Tour Reviews

King Penguin Nature Reserve – Tierra del Fuego Island

11.King Penguin Nature Reserve – Tierra del Fuego Island

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 73 reviews · 14 hours (approx.) · from $148

This 14-hour small-group trip from Punta Arenas crosses the Magellan Strait by ferry and reaches the King Penguin Nature Reserve on Tierra del Fuego. A bilingual guide such as Atma, José, or Alberto may lead the day. Expect Patagonian wildlife, a windy viewing area, ranch and oil-town stops, and a long ride.

“First of all, everything was well organized, our guide Camila was really nice and sweet and did her best to comfort everybody. The tour started later (I was picked up at 7:15am) and lasted longer (was dropped of at 11pm). From these almost 16 hours we spend around 9 hours driving in the car, nearly 3 hours on Ferrys, 1 hour at lunch, 1 hour at the penguins and 2 hours with some really short stops, that were interesting, but not breathtaking and waiting around for Ferrys or other stuff. The penguins were very cute, but pretty far a away and not very good to see with your eyes. Which…”

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Punta Arenas: King Penguin Park and Tierra del Fuego Trip - Crossing the Magellan Strait from Punta Arenas
Punta Arenas Tours, Tour Reviews

Punta Arenas: King Penguin Park and Tierra del Fuego Trip

12.King Penguin Park and Tierra del Fuego Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 67 reviews · 14 hours · from $180

Spend 14 hours crossing the Magellan Strait, visiting Porvenir and Cerro Sombrero, and watching king penguins at Parque Pingüino Rey. Guides such as Atma and Hernandez explain the changing weather and route. This is a scenic Tierra del Fuego expedition, not a quick wildlife outing.

“Look ima be honest, the main activity that is the penguin reserve is 1.5 hour, there’s no need to wander around in a bus all day, just take me to the penguins and that’s it, this tour was unnecessarily long.”

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Magdalena Island Penguin Tour by Boat from Punta Arenas - Starting at José Nogueira 1255 in Punta Arenas
Cruises & Boat Tours, Punta Arenas Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Magdalena Island Penguin Tour by Boat from Punta Arenas

13.Magdalena Island Penguin Tour by Boat from Punta Arenas

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 62 reviews · 5 hours · from $160

From Punta Arenas, you’ll ride a bus and catamaran to Magdalena Island, home to more than 60,000 Magellanic penguin pairs in summer. Walk for about an hour, visit the lighthouse interpretation center, and return with tea or coffee. English and Spanish guides are available.

“Seeing the wildlife was definitely the highlight! I felt the ticket venue and the checking in process could be improved. The tiny area where people were waiting in to check in, was sooo crowded and overflowing that when it was announced that people could begin the check in process, it was chaotic. I’m sure the overflow of people outside didn’t even realize the check in had started. The wait time for loading was long and there was no communication about where we were being taken once we were underway. Despite these shortcomings, the excursion was well worth doing! We thoroughly enjoyed watching the penguins!!”

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Punta Arenas: Dolphin & Wildlife Watching - From Punta Arenas to Agua Fresca Bay
Dolphin Watching, Punta Arenas Tours, Tour Reviews, Wildlife

Punta Arenas: Dolphin & Wildlife Watching

14.Dolphin & Wildlife Watching

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 45 reviews · 3h 30m · from $190

Join a small-group boat trip from Punta Arenas to Agua Fresca Bay, where bilingual guides such as Claudia help you search for Peale’s dolphins and other wildlife. Expect a 210-minute outing, cold wind, protective gear, and close encounters on the Strait of Magellan.

“A car picked me up exactly on time at my hostel. We drove out to the spot where the boat was by the water. There were a total of five of us plus our guide. The boat was a zodiak, so we were right on the water. It was cold and windy, so bring lots of warm clothes. We saw Sei and humpback whales, and a pod of Peale’s dolphins played all around our boat for a long time. At times they were close enough in their leaps out of the water we could have touched them. It was really amazing. The whole experience was maybe two hours door to…”

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Mountain Bike Adventure in Punta Arenas - Hill trails above Punta Arenas
Cycling Tours, Punta Arenas Tours, Tour Reviews

Mountain Bike Adventure in Punta Arenas

15.Mountain Bike Adventure in Punta Arenas

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 42 reviews · 7 hours (approx.) · from $192

Ride native lenga and coigue forests and hill trails near Punta Arenas with guides such as Javier or Juan Pablo. Expect a small group of up to six, quality bikes, helmets, snacks, hotel or port pickup, and routes adjusted to your ability. E-bikes may be available.

“I loved every second of it! Martin, my guide, was friendly as hell and a great athlete who adapts to his “trainees” level while challenging them just the right amount. He’s also super passionate about his job! The trails are jaw-droppingly gorgeous. I can’t wait to come back and explore other trails.”

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New in Punta Arenas Tours

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