Last Updated on 2 days by Victoria
Isla Pingüino (Penguin Island) is one of Patagonia’s best-kept secrets—a remote, wildlife-packed destination that feels like a mini Galápagos. But instead of lying near the equator, it sits off Argentina’s windswept Atlantic coast, with a rugged and untouched beauty all its own.
As the name suggests, penguins are the island’s stars. Magellanic Penguins are common along the Patagonian coast, but Isla Pingüino is the only place in Argentina where you can see Rockhopper Penguins in the wild. Watching these tiny, yellow-crested hop across the rocky shore is worth the trip alone.
But the island isn’t just about penguins. It’s teeming with other wildlife, from sea lions and elephant seals to cormorants and playful Commerson’s dolphins. If you love raw nature, up-close animal encounters, and off-the-beaten-path adventures, this tour is one you won’t want to miss.
Getting to Isla Pinguino
Isla Pinguino is part of the Parque Interjuridiccional Marino Isla Pingüino, which was established in 2012. The island is located 20 km (12.5 miles) off the coast of the town of Puerto Deseado, Argentina. Getting to the island requires signing up for a tour at one of the local tour companies.
Now to get to Puerto Deseado you will have to fly to a nearby airport – Comodoro Rivadavia is the closest – and drive or take a bus to the town. I have a full travel guide on Puerto Deseado and how to get there, which you can read here.
What to Expect during the Tour
Tours to Isla Pinguino take 5 to 6 hours, so they depart early in the morning. We were asked to arrive at the tour agency at 8 am for an 8:20 departure.
Before you start the tour, your guide will provide you with a life jacket and a waterproof jacket or poncho. You’ll definitely want to wear the waterproof jacket because it helps keep you warm on windy days and you may get splashed during the boat ride to the island.
TIP: Wind is an important factor when visiting isla Pinguino. On days when the wind is too strong, the tour will be cancelled. I highly recommend you stay in Puerto Deseado more than one day to increase your chances of doing the tour!
The motor boat you’ll take to the island is small: it only accommodates about 10 people and takes about 45 minutes to get to the island.
Once you get to Isa Pinguino, you’ll leave your lifejackets in a small shed by the dock. The first stop is right by the bay where you’ll see hundreds of sea lions swimming and hanging out on the coast.
We also saw a couple of elephant seals (they’re huge!) and a few stray penguins strolling about.
After a few minutes here, we started walking inland and saw the first colony of Magellanic penguins. They were hanging out along the trail, on rocks, by their nests…absolutely everywhere!
You can approach them, but stay several feet away to avoid disturbing them.
At the highest point of the island you’ll see an old lighthouse that has been operational since 1903! Originally, it ran on kerosene, but today it runs automatically with the help of solar panels.
You’ll walk toward the lighthouse and down the other side of the hill to make it to the opposite coast. This is where you’ll see the colony of Rockhopper penguins.
After the tour guide told us about the penguins, we were free to walk around and take pictures. We had lots of time to hang out here so take your time and enjoy watching these adorable little creatures.
Southern Rockhopper Penguin Facts
Southern Rockhopper Penguins are the smallest of the crested penguins, at about 20 inches (50 cm) tall and 6lbs (3 kg) on average. They live on subantarctic islands and prefer rocky territory. They get their name for their ability to hop up and down rocks.
They are recognizable for their red eyes and yellow crests or “eyebrows.” They arrive In Isla Pinguino to begin their reproductive cycle. Depending on when you visit, you may see their eggs, chicks or juveniles. Before they return to the ocean for the winter, they molt, renewing their feathers with a new waterproof coat.
We saw a colony of adults, and another of juveniles, as well as a few penguins that were still undergoing the molting process. As the penguins came back from the water, we got to see them hopping up the rocks, which was really cool!
You’ll also hear penguins squawking from time to time. Apparently, this is a celebratory sound they make when their mate has returned to the nest. Fun fact: while many penguins do stay with one partner for life, this is not always the case – they can choose not to return to their nest.
After about 45 minutes we started our walk back to the boat. During the trip back we made a stop by some rocks to see some cormorants that only exist in this area. While we were watching the birds, our guide spotted a pod of three commerson’s dolphins swimming nearby.
These black and white dolphins are known for being curious and playful, so it wasn’t a surprise when they kept ons swimming around our boat. We got to spend at least 10 minutes watching them.
Booking a Tour
To book a tour to Isla Pinguino you’ll need to contact tour agencies in Puerto Deseado directly. If visiting during high season (mid December through February, Argentina’s school summer break) I highly recommend you save your spot a few weeks in advance.
TIP: Money in Argentina is complicated, so some agencies offer cash discounts. I recommend you bring plenty of pesos!
Even if you are not visiting during peak season, you should book at least a week in advance. Tours can only take 8 people at a time, and they will not run the tour if there are just 2-3 people signed up. It’s best to give the company an idea of demand for your travel dates.
There are three main companies that operate in Puerto Deseado, all of which are reputable and highly recommended:
Best time to go
The best time to go to Isla Pinguino is between October and April – in fact, this is the only time the tour runs. This is the time frame during which penguins lay eggs and care for their young on the island.
It also happens to be late spring and summer in Argentina, so the weather is a bit nicer. I say “a bit” because the weather here is notoriously windy and cold. We visited in early March and needed a sweater and light jacket in the morning and evenings.
Final Thoughts
The Isla Piguino tour is hands-down the best experience for penguin lovers visiting Patagonia. We talked to people who had been to Punta Tombo and Punta Arenas and they all said Isla Pinguino had been their favorite.
Would you visit Isla Pinguino?
More Posts to Plan Your Trip to Argentina
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Puerto Deseado Travel Guide: A Destination for Wildlife Lovers
Explore Patagonia: El Calafate and El Chaltén Itinerary
How to Visit the Perito Moreno Glacier
El Chalten Hiking Guide: 5 Best Day Hikes
Victoria is an Austin-based travel content creator passionate about encouraging her readers to step outside of their comfort zone and step in to a life of adventure. She is the founder of the travel blog Nomad No Problem.