Location: 66 mi (107 km) South of Trelew, Chubut Province Map
Open: Sep- Apr 8am- 6pm daily
Info: (02965) 15 565 222
Best time to visit: between September and April then Magellan penguins come here to nest and rare their young.
Punta Tombo Provincial Reserve is located 66 mi (107 km) South of Trelew in Argentina. It is famous for huge colonies of various species of penguins who come here. Visitors of Punta Tombo Provincial Reserve come to watch somewhat clumsy, but beautiful, social animals on land. Punta Tombo Provincial Reserve is the most popular and the most visited protected bioreserve in Chubut Province of Argentina. It lies 180 km from the city of Puerto Madryn. Taking a bus from Puerto Madryn is probably the easiest way to get here, although two and a half hour ride might much longer. Thousands of locals and international tourists (65,000 to be exact) alike flock here to take a peak at local celeberties, Magellanic penguins.
Season, Hours, and Best Time to Visit
The reserve is open
September to April (roughly mid-September through late March/early
April), matching the penguins’ presence. It is closed May–August
while the birds are at sea. The 2026/2027 season opened around 14
September 2026.
Hours: 8:00–20:00 daily during the open season;
last entry is 18:00. Plan to be on the trails by late morning at the
latest for a full experience.
What you see by month (from the
official site):
September: Males arrive first and
prepare/repair burrows; females follow. Colony is settling in.
October: Pairing, mating, and egg-laying (typically two eggs per
pair). High social activity.
November: Chicks hatch after ~40
days of incubation. One of the most emotive periods.
December–January: Peak season. Chicks grow and begin leaving
burrows. Maximum activity and numbers—excellent for families and
photography.
February: Juveniles molt and prepare for their first
migration. Mixed sizes of birds.
March–April: Adults molt and the
colony empties as birds head north. Last chance of the season; fewer
birds later in the period.
Best time of day: Early morning
(8:00–11:00) for more penguin activity, fewer visitors, and better
light. Midday can be hot and windy with stronger UV.
Getting
There
There is no public transport. Access is by private vehicle
or organized tour from Puerto Madryn, Trelew, or Camarones.
From Trelew: ~110 km / 1.5 hours (most direct if flying into
Trelew).
From Puerto Madryn: ~180 km / ~2 hours.
From
Camarones: ~165 km / ~2.25 hours.
The final ~22 km is gravel
(ripio). A standard car is fine in dry conditions; 4x4 is not
required. Drive slowly (recommended 40–60 km/h), watch for wildlife
crossings (guanacos, rheas/choiques, armadillos), and check road
conditions after rain. Fill your tank completely in Trelew or Puerto
Madryn—there is no fuel at the reserve or on the approach. Wind
increases fuel consumption.
Organized day tours from Puerto
Madryn or Trelew are widely available (often 8–10 hours total
including transport). Book ahead in peak season (December–February).
Tours typically do not include the reserve entrance fee.
Tickets and Entry
Buy tickets online at the official site
puntatombo.org (preferred; no cash accepted). Some sources also
mention purchase at the entrance or in Trelew (e.g., Centro de
Visitantes Patagotitan Mayorum). Bring passport (foreigners) or
Argentine DNI/driver’s license (residents) to match the ticket
category.
Approximate 2026/2027 prices (these change; verify on
the official site):
Argentine residents (adults): around ARS
20,000 (lower for minors 6–11 and seniors).
Chubut residents:
lower rates (often ~ARS 10,000 adults).
Foreigners: higher
(reported around ARS 35,000 adults; lower for children).
Free:
under 6, people with a valid disability certificate (CUD), and
Malvinas veterans.
The ticket covers the trail,
Interpretation Center, and coastal viewpoint.
The Visit
Experience
The visit is self-guided on marked trails and wooden
boardwalks/pasarelas. The main circuit is about 3,500 meters.
Penguins freely cross the paths—they have priority, so stop and let
them pass. You will get close views of burrows, birds coming and
going from the sea, nesting activity, and (in season) chicks, but
must stay on the paths and maintain respectful distance. Do not
touch or feed them.
Time on site: 2–4 hours (Interpretation
Center + trail + viewpoint + café). From Puerto Madryn or Trelew,
budget a full day (6–8+ hours total).
Start at the Interpretation
Center (recently renovated with dioramas, interactive content, and a
new 180° immersive audiovisual room about the colony and marine
environment). Then walk the trails. There is also a coastal
viewpoint. Other wildlife may include guanacos, rheas (choiques),
maras, and seabirds.
2026 improvements include renovated trail
sections (~1,500 m), accessible ramps at the main entrance, better
drainage, updated signage, enhanced security cameras, café upgrades,
and the immersive room. The protected area was expanded (to ~1,532
hectares).
What to Bring
Patagonia weather is demanding:
strong sun/UV even when cloudy, constant wind (often 30+ km/h), and
temperatures typically 10–22°C in season with rapid changes.
Essential:
Closed, comfortable walking shoes.
At least 1 liter
of water per person (none sold on the trail).
High SPF sunscreen
(50+), hat/cap that stays on in wind, and sunglasses.
Layers /
windbreaker (wind makes it feel colder).
Small backpack.
Recommended:
Binoculars and a camera with zoom (to photograph
without approaching).
Snacks.
Portable charger.
Trash bag
(pack out everything—no waste treatment on site).
Not
allowed: drones (stress the colony), pets, bicycles/scooters, loud
music, camping gear or overnight stays (including motorhomes), or
food to feed the penguins.
Services and Accessibility
On-site: free parking (including accessible spots), Interpretation
Center, café/restaurant (cafeteria, lunch, snacks, drinks, some
souvenirs), accessible restrooms, and seasonal nursing/emergency
assistance plus park rangers. No fuel, ATMs, supermarket, lodging,
or EV charging—come prepared.
Accessibility: Significant 2026
upgrades with ramps, leveled access, and adapted trail sections
(wheelchair-accessible with a companion on compacted sections). Free
entry with valid disability certificate. The reserve is actively
working toward broader universal access.
Rules and
Responsible Visiting
Stay only on marked trails and boardwalks
(nests are vulnerable).
Penguins have right of way.
Do not
touch, feed, or approach closely; observe quietly from a distance.
No pets, drones, or camping.
Pack out all trash.
Follow ranger
instructions.
Practical Tips
Arrive early for better
experience and light.
In peak season (especially
December–February), book tours or plan transport in advance;
weekends are busier.
Combine with Peninsula Valdés (southern
right whales typically October–December), Welsh settlements (Gaiman,
Trelew), or other coastal sites.
Weather can close the reserve
only in extreme conditions; light rain or wind is normal. If you
bought online and it closes, contact for reprogramming.
Photography is excellent, especially of behavior and chicks, but use
zoom and avoid flash or disturbance.
The experience is about
walking among a massive, active colony in a stark, beautiful coastal
landscape—one of Patagonia’s signature wildlife encounters.
Location and Setting
The reserve lies roughly 100–110 km south of
Trelew and the lower Chubut River valley (near the cities of Trelew
and Rawson), in the Department of Florentino Ameghino. Coordinates
are approximately 44°02′S, 65°12′W. It sits a short distance north
of Camarones and forms part of the broader coastal landscape of the
Golfo San Jorge region. Access is typically via gravel roads from
Provincial Route 1 or related routes after leaving National Route 3.
The surrounding terrain is the open Patagonian plateau/steppe, with
the Atlantic Ocean to the east.
Physical Geography and
Geology
Punta Tombo is a narrow, elongated rocky promontory about
3–3.5 km long and roughly 500–600 m wide that projects northeastward
into the Atlantic. It is a classic resistant headland: an outcrop of
pre-Jurassic crystalline rock (often described as porphyritic or
related to acidic volcanic sequences such as those of the Marifil
Formation in the North Patagonian Massif) that has withstood marine
erosion while softer surrounding materials have been worn away.
Over this hard substrate lie zones of cobbles (canto rodado),
gravel, clay, and especially extensive areas of fine, compacted
sand. These materials, combined with gentle beach slopes at the base
of the point, create ideal conditions for penguins to dig shallow
nesting burrows. Large stretches of the ground are densely “mined”
with these cavities. The coastline includes low cliffs or barrancas,
boulder and shell beaches, cobble terraces, and limited coastal
dunes. Offshore, the continental shelf is relatively shallow,
supporting foraging.
The local relief is low (near sea level on
the point itself), with surrounding landscapes featuring rocky
outcrops, isolated hills (morros), escarpments, and the
characteristic flat-to-gently undulating Patagonian steppe. The
visual contrast is sharp: arid reddish or pale steppe, red-tinged
rock, and turquoise Atlantic waters.
In 2025 the protected
terrestrial area was expanded from the long-standing core of about
210 hectares (2.1 km²) to 1,532 hectares. A separate marine
protected zone (created in 2015) covers roughly 31,000 hectares,
extending about 3 nautical miles offshore along ~60 km of coastline
to safeguard feeding and transit areas for the penguins and other
marine species. The site is also recognized as an Important Bird
Area (IBA) and Key Biodiversity Area.
Climate
The climate
is cold semi-arid to temperate, typical of the Patagonian coast and
strongly influenced by persistent westerly winds and the nearby
ocean. Annual precipitation is low, generally in the 150–250 mm
range and irregularly distributed. Mean annual temperatures fall
around 12–14 °C. Summers (December–February) average roughly 18–22
°C (with higher daytime maxima possible), while winters average
about 0–7 °C, with frost common. Diurnal temperature ranges are
large. Strong, nearly continuous winds from the west are the
dominant climatic feature; they intensify aridity, shape vegetation,
and can make conditions feel cooler. Ocean proximity provides some
moderation compared with the interior plateau, but the overall
character remains arid steppe.
Biogeography, Vegetation, and
Soils
The reserve belongs to the Patagonian steppe ecoregion
(Estepa patagónica), in an ecotonal zone between the
Andean-Patagonian and Monte phytogeographic domains, and the Marine
Patagonian zoogeographic province.
Vegetation is sparse and
xerophytic. Sandy, nutrient-poor soils with little organic matter,
combined with low rainfall, wind, salt spray, and cool temperatures,
leave large areas bare. Typical species include coirón amargo (Stipa
speciosa), quilimbai (Chuquiraga avellanedae), colapiche (Nassauvia
glomerulosa), molle (Schinus polygamus), jume (Suaeda divaricata),
various Lycium species, Patagonian algarrobillo (Prosopis denudans),
and other salt- and wind-tolerant shrubs and grasses. Plant cover is
low and patchy.
Human and Conservation Geography
The area
has long been used seasonally by indigenous Tehuelche peoples;
archaeological remains of a cemetery have been found on nearby
hills. Formal protection began in the 1970s (provincial decrees
establishing it as a tourist nature reserve and later a faunal
reserve). Boardwalks and managed trails allow visitors to observe
the colony while minimizing disturbance to burrows. The reserve is a
major tourism and research site (long-term monitoring by local and
international groups). Main threats include oil spills from nearby
shipping and extraction, overfishing of prey species, and occasional
land-use conflicts on adjacent private properties.
Flora
Vegetation is sparse and xerophytic (drought-adapted),
typical of the Patagonian steppe ecoregion (an ecotonal zone between
the Andean-Patagonian and Monte phytogeographic domains). Large bare
patches are common because of poor soils, low rainfall, wind, salt
spray, and low temperatures. Plants are mostly low shrubs, cushion
forms, and grasses with thick cuticles, spines, or reduced leaves
for water conservation and protection from herbivores.
Key
terrestrial species include:
Quilembai / quilimbai
(Chuquiraga avellanedae) — a dominant spiny shrub with pointed
leaves and often showy yellow flowers.
Zampa (Atriplex lampa) and
jume / vidriera (Suaeda divaricata) — salt-tolerant shrubs more
common near the coast.
Molle (Schinus polygamus or related
Schinus species).
Mata laguna (Lycium ameghinoi) and llaullín
(Lycium chilensis).
Uña de gato and related Chuquiraga species
(e.g., C. hystrix, C. erinacea).
Algarrobillo / algarrobo
patagónico (Prosopis denudans), barba de chivo (Prosopidastrum
globosum), and grasses such as coirón amargo (Stipa speciosa or
similar Stipa species).
Other associates: Nassauvia glomerulosa
(colapiche) and various low shrubs.
Nearer the sea,
salt-tolerant species increase; inland or peripheral areas retain
more typical steppe cover. High-density penguin nesting zones are
heavily modified or denuded by burrowing and trampling, while outer
areas retain more natural shrub-steppe structure. Subtidal zones
feature kelp forests of giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera,
cachiyuyo).
Overall cover is low and patchy; the reserve’s plant
life is modest in diversity and biomass compared with wetter
Patagonian or Andean habitats.
Fauna
The reserve supports
a characteristic Patagonian coastal and steppe fauna, dominated by
the seasonal penguin colony and associated seabirds, with
terrestrial mammals, reptiles, and marine species.
Magellanic
penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) are the defining feature. This is
among the largest continental colonies of the species (sometimes
cited as the largest or second-largest depending on the year and
comparison with nearby Estancia San Lorenzo / Punta Clara). Males
typically arrive from late August/September, reclaim or dig burrows
(often under shrubs or in soft soil), and defend territories.
Females follow; pairs are monogamous and often return to the same
nest. Two eggs are laid around early October and incubated ~40 days
by both parents. Chicks hatch in November; fledging and departure
occur by March–April, when birds migrate north along the Atlantic
(as far as Brazilian waters). Peak numbers can involve hundreds of
thousands of birds (historical highs exceeded 1 million individuals;
recent figures around 150,000 active nests / ~300,000+ breeding
adults have been reported, with fluctuations). They feed mainly on
anchovy, hake, silverside, and squid. Countershaded black-and-white
plumage, dense waterproof feathers, and strong swimming adaptations
suit them for marine life. Visitors observe them closely from
boardwalks during the September–April season.
Other birds are
abundant. More than 100–160 species have been recorded in the
broader area, with dozens breeding. Notable ones include:
Gulls: kelp/Dominican gull (Larus dominicanus) and dolphin/gray gull
(Leucophaeus scoresbii).
Terns: South American (Sterna
hirundinacea), sandwich/yellow-billed (Thalasseus sandvicensis), and
royal (Thalasseus maximus).
Cormorants: rock shag / black-necked
(Phalacrocorax / Leucocarbo magellanicus) and imperial (P.
atriceps).
Oystercatchers (blackish Haematopus ater and American
H. palliatus), giant petrels (Macronectes spp.), skuas, and various
shorebirds.
Waterfowl: Chubut steamer-duck (Tachyeres
leucocephalus, a near-endemic and Vulnerable species), crested duck,
and others.
Terrestrial: lesser rhea / choique (Rhea pennata),
elegant crested-tinamou / martineta (Eudromia elegans), and many
passerines (sparrows, mockingbirds, finches, etc.).
The site
qualifies as an Important Bird Area (IBA) and Key Biodiversity Area
largely because of the penguins and seabird concentrations.
Mammals typical of the Patagonian steppe and coast include:
Guanacos (Lama guanicoe).
South American gray fox (Lycalopex
gymnocercus).
Lesser grison / hurón (Galictis cuja).
Patagonian mara (Dolichotis patagonum) and southern mountain cavy /
cuis (Microcavia australis).
Large hairy armadillo / peludo
(Chaetophractus villosus).
South American sea lions (Otaria
flavescens), which haul out on rocky islets and shores.
Reptiles include various lizards (Liolaemus species such as L.
boulengeri, L. fitzingeri, L. xanthoviridis; matuastos such as
Leiosaurus bellii and Diplolaemus), geckos (Homonota darwinii),
small snakes, and amphisbaenians.
Marine and intertidal life
features sea lions, abundant fish and invertebrates that support the
penguins, and subtidal kelp forests. Nearby waters can host dolphins
and seasonal whales, though the reserve itself is focused on the
coastal colony.
The ecosystem is shaped by the dense seasonal
influx of penguins, which modify soils and vegetation through
burrowing, and by the arid coastal conditions. Long-term research
(including programs active since the early 1980s) has tracked the
colony, which has faced pressures from oil spills, overfishing of
prey, climate variability, and occasional human disturbance. The
2025 expansion and ongoing management aim to improve protection of
the colony and surrounding habitat while supporting regulated
ecotourism.