Visit Magdalena Island to see thousands of Magellanic Penguins. Dress warmly and meet at a centrally located point in Punta Arenas where a minivan takes you to the pier.

Located 20 miles (32 km) northeast of Punta Arenas in the middle of the Strait of Magellan, Magdalena Island is a must for animal lovers. The island, a protected area since 1982, was renamed Los Pinguinos Natural Moment. It has an interesting ecosystem, home to more than 120,000 couples of penguins which come during the summer to reproduce and other birds such as cormorants and Andean seagulls.

Reach the island, hosting the greatest colony of penguins in the region, after about a 40-minute ride. Once you disembark from the boat, you have about an hour to walk around and take pictures. You may complete the visit by reaching The Lighthouse, an environmental interpretation centre, to learn about the history of the strait and the ecological richness of the islands.