After spending one day exploring Torres del Paine National Park, we were dropped off at Puerto Natales Bus Station by our guide. It was such a hard goodbye, and I felt like there’s some unfinished business in the National Park. However, we must go to Punta Arenas to visit King Penguin Park.
Just to summary everything, we had already been on our 7th day out of planned 11 day in South America (Argentina and Chile). We spent 5 days Argentina, and another 6 days in Chile. So, that being said, we explored Torres del Paine on our second day in Chile. The following day, we planned to explore Tierra del Fuego region and visiting Penguin at Parque Penguino Rey.
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From Puerto Natales to Punta Arenas
It takes 3 hours drive from Puerto Natales to Punta Arenas by bus via Ruta 9. I bought the bus ticket through Bus Sur online for 13.7 USD (190,000 IDR).
Originally, we booked the 9 pm bus to Punta Arenas. However, since we change our plan (from hiking to just going around Torres del Paine National Park by car) we arrived at the bus Station at 5 pm. Luckily, there were available seats at 6 pm bus. So, we went to Punta Arenas at 6 pm.
Puerto Natales Bus Terminal
Punta Arenas Bus Terminal
A bit about Punta Arenas
Punta Arenas is another beautiful small city/port in the Magallanes and Antartica Chilena Region. It’s the capital city of the aforementioned region. It is the most populous southernmost city in Chile with more than 130,000 inhabitants. The city breath from local lumber and petroleum products and tourism.
The discovery of the hole in the ozone layer over Antarctica in the mid-1980s had serious health implications for Punta Arenas. Cases of skin cancer reportedly rose by 65% between 1987 and 2000, and for one month in 2000 residents were warned not to go outside between 11am and 3pm unless it was absolutely necessary. The hole has shrunk in recent years, but the city’s behaviour has adapted for good. Scanning weather reports for UV ratings is mandatory, and so is judicious use of sunblock. “There’s a culture associated with the ozone hole here,” says Leppe, “Everybody uses protection.”. (Paragraph is taken from article in : The Guardian for your information)
Too bad we were coming there just to go to Penguin park, thus we were unable to explore the city
Full Day Tour at Tierra del Fuego – King Penguin Park (Parque Pinguino Rey)
I wanted so bad to see penguin, so I booked a day tour at Turismo Selknam, recommended by our host in Airbnb. The cost of the tour was 60,000 CLP (1,100,000 IDR/ 76 USD). It includes transport, guided tour, ferries ticket for both crossings, and Povernir Museum tickets. However, the entrance fee to the Penguin Park was not included. It costs 12,000 CLP and shall be paid when we enter the Park.
After we were picked up at 7:30 am and met with other tourist, we were driven to this ferry port to cross the Magellan strait. Before that, we made a quick stop at San Gregorio to see Vapor Amadeo Shipwreck from 1893-1932. The journey towards Parque Pinguino Rey took about 3 hours from San Gregorio and includes transfer via Ferry.
Parque Pinguino Rey (the King Pinguin Park)
Parque Pinguino Rey is a small penguin park in Tierra del Fuego opened in 2011. The penguin species in the park is only the King Penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus), the second biggest penguin out of 18 penguin species in the world.
The penguin colony that was on the park was in small number. The distance between the closest spot where tourist can come close to the penguin was very far. Although there was binocular available, we had to queue to use it. After about two hours explore the park, we went back to the bus and eventually to Punta Arenas.
Overall, I was a bit disappointed with the tour, with most of the time spent on the road. Another thing was, we could not get close to the penguin. A week after that, I went to Antarctica where I could see the penguin closer (not that close). Even in Antarctica, we still need maintained distance with the penguin so as to not disturb them. However, the allowable distance between visitors in Parque Pinguino Rey and the penguin was quiet far it became the game of eye-narrowing. These pictures were taken by means putting my handphone lens to the binocular 🤭
If you want more penguins, then i suggest to go to Magdalena Island instead. The penguins are more abundant (+/-60,000 penguins) and it’s a good chance to see cute and adorable Penguins in a large number. This video below is Backpacker Steve’s experience in Magdalena Island. However, it is important to be noted that the penguin in Magdalena Island is Magellanic Penguin, not The King Penguin.
Initially, we asked two group tours about trip to Magdalena Island but there were no trips to go there on our date, or at least up until 20th November 2018. So, if you really want to go to Magdalena island, please confirm or ask the travel agent first the departure date as it may not fit your schedule.
