Penguins Of The World

DisneyNature's Penguins tells the story of Steve, an Adélie penguin in Antarctica. The film follows him from mating to parenthood, and the challenges that come with living in one of the world's harshest environments. Steve's tale will leave you warm and fuzzy in spite of all of the ice on screen. Antarctica isn't the only place to see these sharp-dressed birds in action. Explore the many penguins of the world in a variety of destinations throughout the southern hemisphere.

Argentina

Boating and hiking around Bahia Bustamante reveals authentic Patagonian beauty and plenty of penguin encounters. Navigate along the Malaspina Cove toward the Vernacci Islands, home to 100,000 Magellan penguins. At low tide you can hike to Penguin Island where the Magellans, their chicks, and nests surround you on all sides.

Further south, Ushuaia is the departure point for most Antarctica cruises, but we encourage travelers to linger a bit longer on their itineraries. Get a head start on your penguin-watching as you canoe down Lasiphashai River into the Beagle Channel. Arrive to enjoy a private picnic amid the penguin colonies on Gable Island, an experience featured in our Patagonia Safari suggested journey.

Chile

Penguins near the desert? Yes! The Humboldt Penguin National Reserve is situated off the coast of Atacama in northern Chile. Several rocky islands and the surrounding waters are the natural habitat for dolphins, sea lions, marine birds, and a busy breeding ground for Humboldt penguins.

Head south into Tierra del Fuego and the Magellan Strait for a private excursion to penguin-rich Magdalena and Marta Islands. Hundreds of thousands of Magellan penguins and sea lions inhabit these islands, and on Magdalena Island, you’ll spend a lot of time interacting with the wildlife. Guided by experts, you'll come away with a greater appreciation for the penguins of the world.

Contact our travel designers to customize your own Chilean safari, combining the wonderful wildernesses of Atacama with Tierra del Fuego.

Galapagos Islands

Endemic to the islands—and the only penguins that live north of the equator—the Galapagos penguins can be found nesting and fishing all over their namesake archipelago. One of the best spots to see them is the small Chinese Hat islet, located off the coast of Santiago. Volcanic activity has molded this island into the shape of a wide conical hat, and formed gorgeous beaches that are now home to the penguins and other spectacular wildlife. Take a private charter from Galapagos Safari Camp to see the Galapagos penguins, along with crabs, iguanas, sea lions, and white-tipped reef sharks.

New Zealand

To find the rarest penguin species, you must head to Kiwi country and Munro Beach. The tawaki, or fiordland crested penguins, live only on New Zealand's South Island. A private penguin trek with a local guide will get you up close to their unique communities. Between July and December, the tawaki transition from months of fishing in the open waters of the Tasman Sea to months of nesting in the rainforest. It's a far different experience from the icy penguin encounter you might imagine, but no less special.

Antarctica

Of course we can't skip Antarctica when searching for the penguins of the world. If you're intrepid enough to make the journey, you will be rewarded with an otherworldly arctic experience, and a plethora of penguins. South Georgia's king penguin colony numbers half a million, and the South Shetland Islands shelter thousands of chinstrap and gentoo penguins. And you can spot Steve's Adélie penguin cousins too—during their Antarctica adventure, our travelers found some 250,000 of them nesting on the rocky coast.

See the Penguins of the World
with Ker & Downey

To start customizing your own journey in search of penguins around the world, contact the experts at Ker & Downey. For daily travel inspiration, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and X.