Experience an unforgettable expedition crossing the mythical Strait of Magellan to the island of Tierra del Fuego. On this full-day tour from Punta Arenas, we will travel to Useless Bay (Bahía Inútil) to visit the King Penguin Park. This is the only place in continental South America where you can observe the second-largest penguin species in the world up close in its natural habitat.
A long but incredibly rewarding adventure through Patagonia’s most untamed landscapes.
The park will be open from October 8, 2026, until May 31, 2027, on the following dates:
OPENING HOURS
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Rates
Pickup and drop off at your accommodation (urban area) in Punta Arenas
The Reserve entrance fee is not included in the tour: you buy your ticket at the park ticket office on arrival and, from the 2026-2027 season, you can pay in cash, by debit card or by credit card.
| Visitor | Entrance fee |
|---|---|
| Adult (18 to 59) | CLP 20,000 |
| Chilean senior (60 or over) | CLP 15,000 |
| Youth (11 to 17) | CLP 15,000 |
| Resident of Chilean Tierra del Fuego | CLP 7,000 |
| Child up to 10 | Free |
| Visitor with a disability | Free |
Prices in Chilean pesos, per person. Anyone paying a reduced fare —senior, youth, resident or child— must prove age or residency when registering; otherwise they pay the difference.
| Period | Open on | Hours | Last guided visit |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 7 to November 1, 2026 | Wednesday to Sunday | 10:00 – 17:00 | 16:00 |
| November 3, 2026 to April 4, 2027 | Tuesday to Sunday | 10:00 – 17:00 | 16:00 |
| April 8 to May 30, 2027 | Thursday to Sunday | 11:00 – 17:00 | 16:00 |
The Reserve is closed every Monday throughout the season, and also on December 25, 2026, January 1, 2027 and May 1, 2027. The visit inside the park is guided, lasts about 1 hour and is always accompanied by a park ranger, in groups of up to 15 people. With gusts over 90 km/h the Reserve may close without notice.
The October 7, 2026 opening date is an estimate: the Reserve confirms it on September 28, 2026.
We start at 07:00 picking up tourists in their respective lodgings, heading to the sector of Tres Puentes and boarding the Ferry at 08:30 am. The navigation lasts 2 hours arriving at 10:30 am to the Island of Tierra del Fuego. Arriving in the city of Porvenir we will visit and visit the Provincial Museum Fernando Cordero Rusque. Around 13:30 hrs we leave the city of Porvenir and we go to the Penguin King Park, located 120 km south of Porvenir, sector of Bay Useless, at the mouth of the river Marazzi is this colony of penguins.
The King penguin is a migratory bird that is mobilized from its reproduction sites in some sub-Antarctic islands in search of food. On the shores of Tierra del Fuego, we know that it has been a frequent visitor since the time when the Selknam lived because they have found bone remains of king penguin in their archaeological sites.
Here you can sighting this beautiful bird and enjoy the surroundings. After 17:00 hrs will begin the return taking a different route passing through the commune of Cerro Sombrero and from there arrive to Bahía Azul where the crossing will take place (20 minutes aprox) and then we will travel 180 km to reach Punta Arenas at 9:30pm approximately.
Full day Tierra del Fuego is made daily in high season and in low season you should consult us (mainly on weekends)
Note: The itinerary may be modified according to the availability of the ferry and the visiting time assigned by the King Penguin Park itself.
Important: Tour end time is approximate and subject to change. It is recommended not to book the tour if you have a flight scheduled from Punta Arenas that same day or before noon the next day.
Want to see Magellanic penguins too? This tour crosses to Tierra del Fuego for the king penguin; the Magdalena Island penguin tour is a half-day boat trip that lands among thousands of Magellanic penguins. Many of our travellers do both, on separate days. From CLP$100.000.
Peaceful place with stunning wildlife. Highly recommend!
Vale el viaje hasta Tierra del Fuego. Hermoso entorno natural.
Serene and unforgettable. A once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Gran experiencia, el parque es tranquilo y se disfruta mucho.
Very well maintained park, guides are helpful and friendly.
