Join us on this new, unique and exclusively-crafted itinerary to discover the magnificent and awe-inspiring King Penguins of Tierra del Fuego. You will start our 2-day trip penguin journey from the Chilean city of Punta Arenas, in the Straits of Magellan. This itinerary is suitable for nature enthusiasts as well wildlife photographers of all levels of skills. Daily departures with a maximum of 6 participants, in order to priviledge the welfare of these magnificent, charismatic and gentle seabirds.
2-day programs | By-ferry & plane options. Departures on request, from Punta Arenas (Chile), starting on November 1, 2010.
The Penguin King is the second largest species of the family Spheniscidae (after the Emperor Penguin) and for many people is the most charismatic, colorful and attractive variety of the group. There are very few places in world, offering good access and reliable chances to see them in the wild. By joining our exclusive and custom-crafted penguin photo journey, you will be able to see these magnificent seabirds in their natural habitat. From November 1 2010, you can join one of our daily departures (except on Sundays and Mondays) from the Chilean town of Punta Arenas, located in the Straits of Magellan.
Our trips have a maximum of 6 participants, which is essential to keep the impact on the small colony that we visit to a minimum; the welfare and continuity of this small penguin settlement is our priority, and that is the reason why will be making further efforts for its conservation and study, carried out by trained ornithologists and scientists.
King Penguins of Tierra del Fuego | 2 days, 1 night | Trip Code TDF01
 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 behaviour of the penguins.
 The Difference of Traveling with Fantastico Sur 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 Cruise (4 days / 3 nights ; 5 days / 4 nights); Discover the most remote and pristine regions of Chile, aboard the superb 'Mare Australis' and 'Via Australis'.
King Penguins of Tierra del Fuego | 2 days, 1 night | Trip Code TDF01
(1) FERRY OPTION: 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 2.5 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 (S,L,D)(G).
 Day 2 • Transfer to the airport | End of services
You will have a leisure morning and the time to explore the town and the cove on your own. You can also ask for optional morning excursions such as a private photo journey or a birding excursion along the coast, the inland wetlands of 'Laguna de los Cisnes' or explore by vehicle the interesting moorlands of Baquedano Hills, where gold is still extracted using very old-fashioned methods. After lunch (on your own), 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. (B)
(2) PLANE OPTION: Available throughout the week, except Sundays. On this option, we leave Punta Arenas on the earliest flight (i.e. 8.15am); for your return from Porvenir, on the following day, you can return on the earliest flight (i.e. 8.35am) or in one of the later options (i.e. 12.50pm and 5.20pm), depending on availability or your particular preference. The noon flight is not available on Saturdays. Duration of the flight approximately 12 minutes. Availability for this option is quite limited thus we recommend to book failrly in advance.
We will start our journey with a transfer from your hotel to the aiport of Punta Arenas; from here we will take an early flight at approximately 08.00 am 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).
Codes: B=Breakfast; S=Snacks; L=Lunch/Box-lunch; D=Dinner; G=Guide; *=Hotel Category
King Penguins of Tierra del Fuego | 2 days, 1 night | Trip Code TDF01
King Penguins of Tierra del Fuego | 2 days, 1 night | Trip Code TDF01
This trip operates from November 1, 2010 through April 30, 2011.
This 2-day itinerary is available in two options: (1) by ferry or (2) by plane. Both options are operated 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 behaviour of the penguins.
(1) FERRY OPTION: 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 2.5 hours, each bound.
(2) PLANE OPTION: Available throughout the week, except Sundays. On this option, we leave Punta Arenas on the earliest flight (i.e. 8.15am); for your return from Porvenir, on the following day, you can return on the earliest flight (i.e. 8.35am) or in one of the later options (i.e. 12.50pm and 5.20pm), depending on availability or your particular preference. The noon flight is not available on Saturdays. Duration of the flight approximately 12 minutes. Availability for this option is quite limited thus we recommend to book failrly in advance.
Rates for 2010 / 2011:
Number of guests
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4+ |
Single Suppl.
|
Ferry option
|
750
|
475
|
406
|
375
|
45
|
What the trip 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 or domestic flight tickets (depending on which option you choose ), 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 $75 per person. Full payment of the tour fee is due 60 days prior to tour departure.
NOTE: Inquires received on Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays will be replied during the following working day.
Cancellation Policy: Notice of cancellation can only be accepted IN WRITING from the person who signed the booking form and takes effect on the day such noticed is received by us.
Refunds are made according to the following schedule:
If cancellation is made 60 days or more before departure date, the deposit less US$ 50 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.
King Penguins of Tierra del Fuego | 2 days, 1 night | Trip Code TDF01
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 set of images Hosteria Yendegaia and its comfortable facilities.
King Penguins of Tierra del Fuego | 2 days, 1 night | Trip Code TDF01
Check out our set of images from recent photo safaris to Tierra del Fuego for King Penguins.
King Penguins of Tierra del Fuego | 2 days, 1 night | Trip Code TDF01
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).
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