Adventure Outdoors In Patagonia’s Punta Tombo

The first impression that comes to mind when thinking of Patagonia is of Ice and Penguins. The film “March of the Penguins” detailing the life and hardships of Antarctica’s Emperor Penguins undoubtedly underpins this association. The Magellanic Penguins found on Argentina’s southern tip, however, lead a much simpler life. Instead of trekking long Antarctic distances to lay its eggs, this admirable, laid-back penguin simply swims ashore in the warm Patagonian spring, burrows a hole and lies in the sun, sleeping on its belly until its chicks hatch.

On a tiny peninsula 180 km from Puerto Madryn in southern Argentina, the Punta Tombo Wildlife Reserve is home to nearly half a million Magellanic Penguins who gather here yearly to breed and usher in a new generation of their species. The largest colony of Magellanic penguins, Punta Tombo offers visitors the unique opportunity to be an intimate part of a penguin community by walking among them, observing up-close how they breed and raise their young.

Surrounded by the bleak Patagonian steppe, this parched landscape sweeps down towards a long curving beach and a number of coves. One wouldn’t expect to find penguins in this desert environment, yet as springtime greets this desolate coast, there they are! Slowly trickling in, they start porpoising ashore in September, first by tens, then by hundreds and finally by the thousands until nearly 500,000 penguins occupy every piece of uninhabitable scrub and along the beaches, they waddle back and forth self-importantly in rank and file.

Throngs of penguins dart and bob and weave on the surf, starting their slow, measured trudge on to the beach, playfully contesting for territories to burrow. Their ritual pursuit begins by bowing and getting acquainted or re-acquainted with new or long-time mates. After a ceremonious courtship of intricate dances and delicate maneuvering, the penguins pair off in monogamous couples to mate and lay their eggs. When the chicks hatch in November, these adorable creatures are the center of attention, with proud parents foraging food for their young. This is also the best time of year to visit here.

Visitors can quietly walk among the colony, but ambling too close to the young chicks can invoke the wrath of a protective father, who will nip at you with his sharp beak and shoo you away with flapping wings at any sign of danger.

The chicks start their fledgling journey between January and March, when they head out to sea on their own to return a year later themselves to nest. Though they have wings, these birds seem to think they are fish and cannot fly. In fact, the penguins spend most of their lives in water, swimming at a speed of up to 8 km per hour. Punta Tombo is the closest they will come to the Antarctic, with winters spent swimming and eating fish somewhere off the Brazilian coast.

The other-worldliness of the Magellanic Penguin colony at Punta Tombo offers an adventure holiday for the entire family in a region that feels like the edge of the world.

By: Sylvia Arad

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I’m a trip consultant, planner and manager who loves creating unique intercultural adventures for families. I want to impart information,tips and personal experiences especially related to family adventure travel. www.familyadventuretravelworks.com Sylvia@travelworks4u.com www.familyadventuretravelworks.com/adventure-outdoors-in-patagonia%e2%80%99s-punta-tombo