INTRODUCTION

Trip Highlights

• Visit the world's most accesible place to see King Penguins in the wild.

• This particular expedition to Tierra del Fuego offers fantastic opportunities for penguin, wildlife and landscape photography.

• In-depth natural history and cultural exploration of Tierra del Fuego, one of the world's most famous landmarks.

• Cross the mythic waters of the Straits of Magellan, by ferry or by plane and discover the dramatic and complex geography of this region as well as its rich history of exploration.

• Share with the local people of Tierra del Fuego and visit an 'Estancia', one of the sheep farming stations of the island.

• Experience great birding opportunities in the Straits of Magellan, the wind-swept steppes and wetland of the islands; you will discover the wealth of specialties and range-restricted Patagonian birdlife.

• See interesting mammals such as Guanacos, Peale's Dolphins and South American Sea Lions.

This trip is operated on request with a minimum of 1 participant and a maximum group size of 6 guests. Larger parties can be accommodated on request, and is likely that the group can be split in order to minimize the impact on the penguin behaviour.


The Difference of Traveling with FS Expeditions

• Great accommodation, superb dinning cuisine and memorable picnic lunches.

• Spacious vehicles that ensure a window seat to each trip participant.

• Each of our trips have a maximum of 6 participants.

• Each vehicle and driver we use has been authorized by the Chilean Transportation Authority.

• The service and expertise of a professional local naturalist leader, who will look after every logistical aspect of “your” holiday.

• You will receive a free, signed copy of our book 'Penguins of Patagonia and Antarctic Peninsula' by Enrique Couve & Claudio F. Vidal.

• …plus an useful pre-departure information package.

King Penguins of Tierra del Fuego can be combined with one of the following optional extensions:

• Torres del Paine Explorer (2 to 5-day itineraries); join one of our private photo safari and natural history trips to Patagonia's premier mountain and wildlife destination.

• Tierra del Fuego & Cape Horn Expedition Cruises (4 days / 3 nights ; 5 days / 4 nights); Discover the most remote and pristine regions of Chile, aboard the superb 'Via Australis' and 'Stella Australis'.

DAY-BY-DAY ITINERARY

1-day option by Plane

Available throughout the week, except Sundays.

On this option, we leave Punta Arenas on the earliest flight (8.15am) and fly back to Punta Arenas on the afternoon (5.20pm). Duration of the flight approximately 12 minutes. Availability for this option is limited thus we recommend to book failrly in advance.

We start our journey with a transfer from your hotel to the aiport of Punta Arenas; from here we will take an early flight to the Chilean town of Porvenir. This is a short but truly an scenic 15-minute flight over the mythic waters of the Straits of Magellan. We will appreciate the incredible glacial action recorded in the last 12,000 years, which have modelled these famous seaways as well as the shorelines of mainland and the huge island of Tierra del Fuego. From the plane we will see the distant peaks of the Andes, located in the southern part of the island, and the huge and infamous embayment called Useless (Bahia Inutil).

As soon as we land you will realize that the vegetation of this part of Tierra del Fuego is dominated by flat wind-swept steppes, with tussock grasses and low shrubs, and interspersed by rolling hills. After meeting your local guide and driver, we will stop at the town of Porvenir, visiting a pioneer home, our lovely and cozy hotel, Hosteria Yendegaia; here we will have coffee or tea, snacks, and will have the opportunity to relax for a short while.

Immediately we will be driving for approximately two hours along the shores of Bahia Inutil (Useless Bay), where we expect to see a great array of wildlife including Guanaco, Southern Grey Fox, the ubiquituous Upland Goose, Chilean Flamingo and a great diversity of waterfowl. At sea we may see albatrosses, petrels, gulls and skuas patrolling the turbulent waters of the bay.

At Estancia Tres Hermanos, a typical Patagonian sheep-farming station, owned and managed by Scottish and Croatian descendants, we will have a short introduction on how to visit and approach the King Penguins. This is a private nature reserve which aims to preserve the small numbers of the 'Kings' that visit the area and even remain year-round here, taking advantage of the excellent feeding conditions of the surrounding seas. We will have ample opportunities to observe and photograph the penguins from a reasonable distance (maximum approach distance will be given by the guide and must be respected at all times during your visit).

After this great wildlife experience, we will have time to visit the farm and enjoy their hospitality. Later we will return to Porvenir to take our flight back to Punta Arenas. (Picnic-Lunch)(Guide)

(2) 2-day option (by ferry):

Available throughout the week, except Sundays and Mondays. The ferry normally leaves from Punta Arenas to Porvenir at 9am and returns from Porvenir to Punta Arenas, the following day at 2pm; these timings may be changed / modified by the ferry managing company or due to weather conditions. The ferry crossing lasts approximately 2 hours, each bound.

Day 1 • Morning ferry crossing in the Straits of Magellan | Afternoon visit to Useless Bay for King Penguins

We will start our journey with a private transfer from your hotel to the ferry docks located at the northern side of Punta Arenas. At approximately 9am, we will begin our 2.5-hour crossing through the mythic waters of the Straits of Magellan; these world-famous seaways are very rich in terms of history of exploration. Magellan, Drake, Cavendish, Bougainville, Fitz Roy and Darwin, among several other sailors and explorers, surveyed this region, most of the times, in really harsh and dangerous conditions. You will see an interesting array of seabirds, including Black-browed Albatrosses, Southern Giant Petrels, Southern Fulmars, King Cormorants, Dolphin Gulls and South American Terns. It is very likely to see interesting marine mammals such as pods of Peale's Dolphin and inquisitive South American Sea Lions.

As soon as we land you will realize that the vegetation of this part of Tierra del Fuego is dominated by flat wind-swept steppes, with tussock grasses and low shrubs, and interspersed by rolling hills. After meeting your local guide and driver, we will stop at the town of Porvenir, visiting a pioneer home, our lovely and cozy hotel, Hosteria Yendegaia; here we will have coffee or tea, snacks, and will have the opportunity to relax for a short while.

Immediately we will be driving for approximately two hours along the shores of Bahia Inutil (Useless Bay), where we expect to see a great array of wildlife including Guanaco, Southern Grey Fox, the ubiquituous Upland Goose, Chilean Flamingo and a great diversity of waterfowl. At sea we may see albatrosses, petrels, gulls and skuas patrolling the turbulent waters of the bay.

At Estancia Tres Hermanos, a typical Patagonian sheep-farming station, owned and managed by Scottish and Croatian descendants, we will have a short introduction on how to visit and approach the King Penguins. This is a private nature reserve which aims to preserve the small numbers of the 'Kings' that visit the area and even remain year-round here, taking advantage of the excellent feeding conditions of the surrounding seas. We will have ample opportunities to observe and photograph the penguins from a reasonable distance (maximum approach distance will be given by the guide and must be respected at all times during your visit).

After this great wildlife experience, we will have time to visit the farm and enjoy their hospitality. Later we will return to Porvenir for overnight.

Overnight (O/N) at Hosteria Yendegaia or similar, Porvenir (Picnic-Lunch, Dinner)(Guide).

Day 2 • Porvenir surroundings | Ferry journey back to Punta Arenas | End of services

We will explore the town and the cove. After lunch, you will be transferred to the docks to take the ferry back to Punta Arenas. Our representative will be waiting for you, for a transfer to your hotel. End of the trip. (Breakfast, Picnic-Lunch)(Guide)

Codes: B=Breakfast; S=Snacks; L=Lunch/Box-lunch; D=Dinner; G=Guide; *=Hotel Category

MAP

DATES & PRICING

Dates & Rates:

This itinerary is available in two options:

(1) 1-day trip by plane or (2) 2-day trip by ferry.

Both options from Punta Arenas, Chile. This trip is operated on request with a minimum of 1 participant and a maximum group size of 6 guests. Larger parties can be accommodated on request, and is likely that the group can be split in order to minimize the impact on the penguin behavior.

1-day option by Plane:

Available throughout the week, except Sundays. On this option, we leave Punta Arenas on the earliest flight (8.15am) and fly back to Punta Arenas on the afternoon (5.20pm). The duration of the flight is approximately 12 minutes.

NOTE: Availability for this option is limited thus we recommend to book failrly in advance.

The price includes / excludes

The above prices are per person in US Dollars. All payments are in US Dollars. Chilean Nationals must pay VAT (19%), in addition to the net price.

Single supplement will be added if single accommodations are requested.

The trip price includes: Domestic flight tickets, meals and guide services as stated in the itinerary, private ground transportation during the tour, and park entrance fees.
The trip price excludes: Tipping, travel insurance, excess baggage charges, à la carte dishes, drinks, laundry, telephone calls and anything else of a purely personal nature.

2-day option by Ferry:

Available throughout the week, except Sundays and Mondays. The ferry normally leaves from Punta Arenas to Porvenir at 9am and returns from Porvenir to Punta Arenas, the following day at 2pm.

NOTE: These timings may be changed / modified by the ferry managing company or due to weather conditions. The ferry crossing lasts approximately 2 hours, each bound.

The price includes / excludes

The above prices are per person in US Dollars. All payments are in US Dollars. Chilean Nationals must pay VAT (19%), in addition to the net price.

Single supplement will be added if single accommodations are requested.

The trip price includes: Ferry fares, accommodations, meals and guide services as stated in the itinerary, private ground transportation during the tour, and park entrance fees. 

The trip price excludes: Tipping, travel insurance, excess baggage charges, à la carte dishes, drinks, laundry, telephone calls and anything else of a purely personal nature.

Tour Registration:

To book this tour, please complete our registration form. We will process your booking form and will send you (within 24 hours) a note with space confirmation and a deposit invoice with payment instructions. The deposit amount is $300 per person. Full payment of the tour fee is due 60 days prior to tour departure.

NOTE: Inquires received on Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays will be replied during the following working day.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

Cancellation Policy:

 Notice of cancellation can only be accepted IN WRITING from the person who signed the booking form and takes effect on the day such noticed is received by us.

Refunds are made according to the following schedule:

- If cancellation is made 60 days or more before departure date, the deposit less US$ 100 is refundable.

- If cancellation is made fewer than 60 days before departure date, no refund is available.

This policy and fee schedule also applies to pre-trip and post trip extensions, as well as any transfers from one tour to another. We strongly recommend the purchase of trip cancellation insurance to protect yourself.

THE LODGE

Hotel Yendegaia, Porvenir, Tierra del Fuego

This delightful guest house is located at Porvenir, largest town of the Chilean part of Tierra del Fuego. This old and well-preserved private, patrimonial home, was built by Croatian pioners in 1925, and keeps its authentic athmosphere, being the ideal base for your explorations of the remote areas of the island. This guest house has 7 fully equiped rooms, with private facilities, central heating, an excellent restaurant and free wi-fi access.

Check out our photo gallery of Hotel Yendegaia at the following link:

THE KING PENGUIN

King Penguin | Pingüino Rey | Aptenodytes patagonicus

Excerpts from the book 'Penguins of Patagonia and Antarctic Peninsula' by Enrique Couve & Claudio F. Vidal, Fantastico Sur (2003).

This book is an essential companion during your journey to see the 'King Penguins of Tierra del Fuego'.

Length: From 33.5 to 37.5 inches (85-95 cm) • Weight: From 20.5 to 38 lbs. (9.3-17.3 kg).

Distribution: A sub-Antarctic circumpolar resident present between 45 and 55 degrees S. Nests at South Georgia Island (400,000 pairs), Falkland Islands (app. 500 pairs) and a small colony at South Sandwich Islands. Its world population is estimated between 1.6 and 2.2 million pairs. It is an uncommon visitor, although recently more frequent along the Atlantic coast of South America,the Straits of Magellan and Tierra del Fuego.

Breeding: It settles its colonies in flat, ice-free coastal areas. Monogamous, although thye fidelity between pairs is less than in other penguins. It breeds from November onwards. It has an exceptionally long reproductive cycle (14 to 16 months), breeding up to twice every three years, being an unique strategy among penguins. Those couples who manage to raise a chick, generally fail in breeding again in the immediately following season. Its only egg is incubated for a period of approximately 55 days. Both parents continue rearing the chick  for nearly 50 weeks. At five weeks of age, they are grouped in 'creches', which allows both parents to feed at sea simulateneously. The chick will reach its maximum weight in April, but during the winter, it will experience a long fasting period of several months; again it will recover weight from September to October, and will fledge between November and December. Juveniles will reach their sexual maturity between 3 and 4 years, although they will reproduce the first time only between 5 and 8 years of age.

Diet: Feeds on small lanternfish and squid that it captures by means of long and deep pursuit-dives. It can remain submerged for nearly 10 minutes and dives up to 650 feet (200 m) deep; occasionally up to 1,000 feet (320 m). 

SLIDE SHOW

Check out our photo galleries from our recent 'King Penguins of Tierra del Fuego' Photo Safaris