Visiting Chile

Atacama Desert Tour Chile

Atacama Desert tours in Chile are a great way to see the beautiful natural phenomena in one of the highest, driest deserts in the world.

Atacama tours are offered by numerous companies and hotels in places like Calama and San Pedro de Atacama. The downtown areas of both cities have storefronts advertising day trips and excursions to places like the Valley of the Moon, the salt flats where the famous flamingoes reside, and the Death Valley.

There are also Atacama Desert tours in Chile that take visitors on multi-day treks up the mountains or overnight trips to hot springs. Some companies offer special cycling tours and horseback riding in the Atacama as well.

There are also hotels in the Atacama region that offer excursions and tours for their guests. Resorts like explora Hotel de Larache include one or two daily tours in their room rates, so make sure to check what your hotel offers.

Whatever you choose for your Atacama Desert tours in Chile, make sure to pack sunglasses, sunscreen, binoculars, and a camera. Wear layers and sturdy walking shoes, and bring plenty of drinking water.

Penguin Tour Patagonia Chile

Penguin tours of Patagonia’s Chilean regions are great ways to see the tuxedoed birds up close in nature.

There are two main places to see penguins in Chilean Patagonia: the Seno Otway Penguin Colony and Magdalena Island.

Seno Otway is a great place to see penguins by land. It is an hour’s drive from Punta Arenas and can be done as a self-drive tour or a guided tour with a company.

Magdalena Island is a great place to see penguins by sea. Penguin tours in Patagonia’s Chilean islands are a real treat. You can take a 2-hour ferry ride to the island and explore on foot with a guide or on your own. Like Seno Otway penguin tours, you can arrange your trip through a company or go independently.

If you are pressed for time or are heading north to Puerto Natales or Torres del Paine National Park, Seno Otway is a great choice. It is on the road north from Punta Arenas, and makes a great stopping point to break up the drive.

If you have lots of time and want to combine a penguin tour with a ferry ride through the Straight of Magellan, Magdalena Island is a good choice for a penguin tour of Patagonia’s Chilean region.

Penguins in Patagonia

Penguin tours to Patagonia’s Magdalena Island are popular with people visiting Chile’s southern region.

Tours to Magdalena Island are offered by a lot of companies in Patagonia. Most of them have penguin tours that leave from Punta Arenas in the morning and return in the afternoon, or leave in the afternoon and return in the evening.

Tours take 5 hours at a minimum and cost around US$110 per person.

Penguin tours to Patagonia’s Magdalena Island involve a 2 hour ferry ride from the mainland to the island. Once on the island, visitors spend an hour on a guided tour of the penguin colony before taking the ferry back to Punta Arenas.

You can also do a self-guided penguin tour. Make sure to check ferry times before you travel, and be sure to have cash on hand for the park entrance fee.

Whether you go with a guide or on your own penguin tour of Patagonia’s Magdalena Island, make sure to wear layers and carry binoculars.