King Penguin Park

A small group of king penguins began coming ashore at Bahia Inutil on Tierra del Fuego around 2010 and stayed to breed, which made it the only colony of the species on the South American continent - kings otherwise breed on sub-Antarctic islands like South Georgia and Kerguelen. The landowners fenced the site, closed it to unregulated access after early disturbance, and opened it as a controlled reserve with viewing from a distance behind screens, limited numbers and no drones. The colony is small, in the dozens, and its continued presence is not guaranteed - it has fluctuated and could leave.

What's there

• King penguins on the continent - the only such colony outside the sub-Antarctic.
• Established around 2010 - and bred there since.
• Viewing from behind screens - at a distance, with numbers limited.
• A small and fragile colony - in the dozens, and not permanent.

When to go

October to March. A full day, given the ferry and the driving.

Before you go

Getting there means a ferry and hours of gravel road on Tierra del Fuego. The birds are viewed at a distance - binoculars matter. Drones are banned. The colony is small and numbers vary; some visits see very few.

Nearby

Porvenir is east; Punta Arenas is across the strait.