Punta Tombo, great to go with kids!

Punta Tombo, great to go with kids! It’s a magical experience for the little ones of the house since it offers the opportunity to explore the penguins habitat and imitate the peculiar walk of these elegant and funny little animals between hundreds and hundreds of them. It’s an awesome spectacle!

The appointment is in the colony of Penguins of the Punta Tombo Protected Natural Area, for a three-hour activity. It doesn’t warrant physical effort, it’s enjoyable and safe for the whole family. The secret of the adventure is to follow step by careful step all the indications that the tour guides offer us in order to avoid making the penguins uncomfortable and, in that sense, achieving a fun sharing with these seabirds.

The only rule that must be unbreakable is the one that says “look and don’t touch”, very famous in this magic fauna reserve. Although penguins are usually friendly and harmless, if they feel threatened they could seek to defend themselves with their beak, which is very strong and sharp. But hey, remember that there are guards controlling everything!

PUNTA TOMBO PENGUIN TOUR

The fantastic journey starts with trails that cross the reserve, which means that we pass throughout the middle of these specimens’ home. There are parts of stones and parts with wooden walkways through which we can transit. However, the priority is to let penguins go through their passage because, if they are disoriented, they have to return to the sea and start the path to their nest again. Isn’t it interesting?

The allowed access area is delimited by a wire. It’s important to respect it and beware of nests, which are excavations that lie beneath the shrubs right on the sides of the paths. In fact, the main attraction is to observe how they preserve their young, their running back and forth in search of food for the chicks and how they swim in the sea.

There is also a visit to the Punta Tombo Interpretation Center. Lunch is free and in the spot. The facilities of the place can be arranged for this purpose. There are restaurants, confectioneries and bathrooms, as well as an information center and a space where souvenirs are sold. Keep in mind that kids have a habit of loving the teddy penguins that are sold there for remembrance, so be prepared!

There is no doubt, it is an easy walk –only 3 km–. It’s still recommended to bring water for the little ones of the house, also sunscreen and a hat just in case. Near the sea it’s usually windy, so a jacket wouldn’t be a bad idea either. Ah! Don’t forget to charge your mobile device’s battery to its fullest for photos or videos, you will definitely want to capture the Magellanic penguins and save them on your gallery. Look here what clothes to wear to Puerto Madryn.

HOW TO GET TO PUNTA TOMBO

It’s important to mention the round trip. Let’s remember that Punta Tombo is reached from Puerto Madryn, after a tour of about 130 km of Patagonian routes that, while paved, could bore the boys after lasting two hours. From there, it’s suggested to bring them a tablet or ipad with a lot of content to entertain them along the way to avoid having bitter moments.

The transportation to the place is by vans intended for these group walks, although there is the possibility of moving in own cars, rented or contracting a more exclusive service as some families usually do.

It all depends on the tastes and needs of the traveler. The advantage of an exclusive service lies precisely in the ability to manage and adjust the times (the pace, when to go, when to return) in favor of you and the children. In this case, we invite you to consult the options and clarify doubts with our advisors. Punta Tombo, great to go with kids!

A WONDERFUL AND TENDER SPECTACLE

We remind you that Punta Tombo is the place chosen by Magellanic penguins to make their nests, mate, incubate the eggs, have and feed –with anchorites and squid– their chicks. Responsibilities are shared by both parents in strict equality. It’s a natural process that translates into a wonderful and tender spectacle.

Animal nature manifests itself and is majestic. It all starts at the end of August when male penguins begin to prepare their nests. A month later the females arrive and start laying their eggs in October and, after 40 days of shared incubation, the chicks are born.

But how do you know what your partner is if everyone in sight is the same? There’s the magic. Once they pair up, they’re always with the same. They use special sounds to call themselves (particular screams and songs). In case a single penguin wants a female already “paired”, the males fight with the beaks until the female –making a sign– decides who she stays with.

It’s kind of recreated by director George Miller through Happy Feet: The Penguin. A movie in which Mumble, a young emperor penguin who lives in Antarctica, needs to know how to sing sweetly to attract his partner (as other animals of his species usually do). However, after not enjoying such a melodious voice, he decides to dance and manages to conquer the love of his life with a tap dance.

A lovely story you may have already seen. If not, we invite you to see her with your kids before the trip. This family animation/cinema is presented as an opener of the talent and intelligence that the Magellan Penguins will show us during our visit to Punta Tombo.

Therefore, if you’re planning a family trip, don’t hesitate to consider Punta Tombo, great to go with Kids! It’s the largest magellanic penguin colony in the world and the only one easily accessible. Don’t miss the opportunity to meet them.

Remember that they are birds that annually come to this place to mate, nest, have their young, mutate and then return to northeastern South America. Whatsapp our sales executives and get to know the ideal seasons for your kids to live a memorable experience.

Visit Punta Tombo with children and discover how these birds have wings, but don’t fly!