Punta Tombo Nature Reserve

Information

It is a protected natural area located on the coast of the Argentinean sea, which has one of the largest penguin colonies on the continent.

It is much visited by tourists. It has a car park and there is a sector with an interpretation centre, cafeteria, gift shop and toilets. To enter the penguin colony you have to pay an entrance fee.

There are long walkways to walk along and see the penguins, all of the magellanic penguin species (Spheniscus magellanicus). They are present from October to March (actually they arrive in September and leave in April). It is important to keep a safe distance and not to touch the penguins as they may bite, and not to bring cameras too close because they may break the lens with their beaks.

Still on the fauna side, other species typical of the steppe and coastal environment can also be observed. Mammals such as the guanaco (Lama guanicoe) can be seen in the outskirts of the reserve, and the southern mountain cavy (Microcavia australis) is usually found under the vegetation where the walkways begin. Among the birds, the lesser rhea (Rhea pennata), the elegant crested tinamou (Eudromia elegans) and the white-headed steamerduck (Tachyeres leucocephalus) are abundant.

To get to Punta Tombo, take National Route 3, and 62 km from Trelew, take the asphalted Provincial Route 75. You drive 21 km until you reach the intersection with Provincial Route 1, which is also paved. There you turn right and drive 17 km, where a gravel road opens up on the left. It is 23 km to Punta Tombo.