Wildlife watching in Tierra del Fuego

Magellanic penguins are the most common species of penguin found in Patagonia, and their enormous colonies can be visited in several places in Tierra del Fuego. These modestly-sized penguins are one of the few species that nest in burrows.

Colonies in Tierra del Fuego are found on islands, including Magdalena Island, Martillo Island and the Tucker Islets. They are most commonly visited as part of an adventure cruise around Tierra del Fuego. Visits to the Magellanic penguin colonies are normally carried out in small boats.

Martillo Island is unusual in that it is also home to a small number of gentoo penguins, a species more commonly associated with Antarctica.

A short hop across the Magellan Strait from Punta Arenas, close to the small town of Porvenir in Chilean Tierra del Fuego, there is the opportunity to see South America’s only colony of king penguins. The king penguins live on Bahía Inútil (the sadly-named Useless Bay in English), which can be visited on a day trip by small plane or by ferry on an overnight trip.

The colony is in a private reserve, with hides set up to watch the penguins from a safe distance without disturbing them. King penguins have an unusually long breeding cycle, taking more than a year to raise their young, so there is usually a good chance of seeing fluffy chicks during a visit.

The cold waters around Tierra del Fuego are rich with marine life, and attract cetaceans both large and small.

Between December and March it is sometimes possible to see humpback whales in the waters of southern Tierra del Fuego, including around Glacier Alley. Sightings can’t be guaranteed, though for a better chance, sail west from Punta Arenas on a dedicated whale watching trip to Francisco Coloane Marine Park.

Dolphins are a common sight. Sailing along the Beagle Channel (or crossing from Ushuaia to Puerto Williams), it’s possible to see black-and-white Commerson’s dolphins and Peale’s dolphins.

South American sea lions are the most widely seen seal species in Tierra del Fuego – they’re easily spotted on any cruise through the Beagle Channel, including at Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse near Ushuaia, where they haul themselves up out on the rocky island. The males have thick shaggy manes that give the species their name.

In more remote parts of Tierra del Fuego like Ainsworth Bay, that are only accessible by adventure cruise ship, it’s possible to see Southern elephant seals, the largest seal species in the world. Harems of females jealously fought over by huge males who joust each other for mating rights: adult males can reach over 20 feet (6m) in length and weigh more than four tonnes. 

Tierra del Fuego’s mix of mountains and marine landscapes offers great opportunities for birdwatchers: in one moment you can see Andean condors soaring over the peaks, then turn your face to the Beagle Channel to see black-browed albatross.

On a day's bird watching  it's easily possible to tick off several dozen species, from striking raptors like cararacas, to the handsome red crest of the Magellanic woodpecker. Tiny song birds abound in the trees, while the plentiful lakes and shorelines are home to species like upland geese, steamer ducks and Magellanic oystercatchers.

Where the cold winds come off the Southern Ocean whip the coast, look for species more traditionally associated with Antarctica such as southern giant petrels and imperial cormorants.

The eastern and northern parts of Tierra del Fuego are dominated by the open steppe of the Patagonian pampa. Guanaco (the wild relations of the llama) are a common sight here, and can easily be spotted when travelling overland between Ushuaia and Punta Arenas. Culpeo, a jackal-like fox, are also often seen. 

Almost everywhere you travel in the forested parts of Tierra del Fuego you'll see felled trees and dams – evidence of beavers that are  descended from escapees from a short-lived fur farming experiment in the 1940s. Beavers are naturally shy but it's not uncommon to see them on treks deep into the interior.