Punta Arenas: Surrounded by clowns in black-and-white

Magellanic penguin on Isla Magdalena.

Magellanic penguin on Isla Magdalena.

From Puerto Natales we got another bus south to Punta Arenas – the last major place on mainland South America before Tierra del Fuego. We spent one day around town, visiting a huge cemetery full with the names of early settlers from all over Europe (even Klädesholmen in Sweden and Sligo in Ireland). Our major excursion from Punta Arenas was to the Isla Magdalena penguin colony, after two hours across the Magellan Strait by boat. We’ve been to penguin colonies in other places before (even snorkelled with the little torpedos in Galapagos) but I’ve never seen anything like this. The entire island was dug up – one hole in the ground for every meter, all the way up to the lighthouse at the top! Somewhere between 70,000 and 120,000 Magellanic penguins in total. Some of them were in the middle of performing mating dances, clicking the beaks together or skypointing with a strange song that sounds like a donkey braying. (video of penguin singing)

The Punta Arenas cemetery.

The Punta Arenas cemetery.

Magellanic penguins on Isla Magdalena.

Magellanic penguins on Isla Magdalena.

Magellanic penguins on Isla Magdalena.

Magellanic penguins on Isla Magdalena.

Magellanic penguins on Isla Magdalena.

Magellanic penguins on Isla Magdalena.

2 Responses to “Punta Arenas: Surrounded by clowns in black-and-white”

  1. Pia says:

    LOL! I think they look like opera singers trying to hit the high C or something. Haven’t checked out the video yet, but will do….

  2. Pia Lauridsen says:

    ROTFLMAO! Forget about the high C – those are some very very heartbroken donkeys! Too funny!