Walking among the Magellanic penguins in Punta Ninfas

On the Argentine coast there are several colonies of Magellanic penguins in the breeding season, such as Península Valdés, Punta Tombo and Punta Ninfas. The latter is the youngest and is located within the Estancia El Pedral, at the southern end of the Golfo Nuevo. Punta Ninfas is the destination to walk among the penguins.

Countryside Day and penguins

Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) are named after the Portuguese navigator and explorer Ferdinand Magellan, whose crew first sighted and described them in 1520 on the Patagonian coast. This seabird nests on the coasts of Argentine and Chilean Patagonia and the Falkland Islands. It is recognized among other penguins by the two black stripes that run along its abdomen and the white feathers that go down from the eyes to the chin, forming a kind of collar.

The Countryside Day excursion proposed by Reserva El Pedral starts in Puerto Madryn at 8.30 in the morning. It includes the transfer to the estancia El Pedral, some field activities and a guided walk among the Magellanic penguins that choose the reserve to raise the next chicks. 

El Pedral is a estancia that is located about 70 km from the city of Puerto Madryn. The house dates from 1923, built sheltered from the winds, and today works as a country hotel with an interesting proposal to discover and walk among penguins.

In late winter, Magellanic penguins resume their nesting habits and seek out their ancient burrows among low bushes and squat vegetation of the steppe coast to start another family. They are monogamous birds. Usually, the couple lays two eggs and raises the chicks until they are large enough to throw themselves into the sea and get their own food. This begins to occur between February and March, and during the last month in the colony, the chicks change their feathers to initiate migration.

Throughout the spring and summer they remain in these colonies and both parents share the upbringing of their chicks. It is the time when nature lovers can visit them and delight in these wonderful creatures. When autumn arrives, penguins migrate north in search of the warmer waters of Uruguay and Brazil to feed until they must repeat the cycle.

The program of the El Pedral Reserve is perfect as an ecotourism option, which allows you to know the habits of the Patagonian penguins, along with a visit to the lighthouse of Punta Ninfas and a delicious Patagonian lunch to culminate. 

The walk ends with a tea with Welsh cake. It is recommended to bring comfortable clothes, cap, sunglasses, sunscreen and water bottle.