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gauchitopete
We had to put on chest waders before Jan and I could be rowed out through the surf to the rocky island which was home to seals, penguins and cormorants. The cormorants were not all the black and white ones, some were Grey Cormorants with very pretty reticulated feathers and stunning red legs. We also watched a sea otter floating on its back a few feet away eating a crab and then taking another crab to its young who were hiding in a hole in the rocks. We also saw a family of Steamer Ducks paddling past as fast as they could go and some black vultures looking for shellfish
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reprof
Interesting, Tripadvisor lists 7 outdoor things to do in Chiloe, 3 of which are for the same place, just with different names. No mater the name, the Punihuil penguins are a treat not to be missed. As others have described, this site is nicely organized and when you arrive at the beach you are directed to the company (prices vary somewhat) with the next departure. We saw the promised two kinds of penquins, sea otters, and a sea lion. The boat driver skillfully maneuvered so that we all got good views. I'm not sure if any of tours are offered in English, but from my friend's translation, the Spanish-speaking guide's information was excellent. An unexpected treat: we walked past the first most visible restaurant and found a modest one-story structure with tables out front that didn't even look like a restaurant. Walking up to a window, we ordered food prepared by the woman's auxiliary of the local fisherman's union. It was the best and freshest food (crab quesadilla and merluza or hake) that I had during my week on Chiloe.
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OneOfTheSisters
We arrived and were escorted to the far end of the beach - it was strange to drive past all the other services but it turned out that the company with the next departure has a staff person at the entrance to maximise the number of people in each departure. There are 6 companies offering tours and the number of boats and the schedule is controlled by the parks and municipal services. The tour operators are diligent about sticking to the rules which is best for the penguins no doubt!We put on the big ponchos provided and were wheeled out to the boat on an elevated platform so we didn't get wet feet! Our guide was excellent, explaining in Spanish the nesting and feeding patterns of the 2 different penguins in the reserve (Humbolt and Magellanic) and also about the 4 species of cormorants, the sea lions, Magellanic flightless duck and numerous fish species. We saw most of these animals on our tour and then returned to the beach to play in the sand and waves - the water is cold so swimming even on a hot sunny day is a challenge but the location is nothing short of spectacular. We were also exceptionally lucky to see a miniature Chilote deer (Pudu) making it's way up the hill behind the beach. Rating 10/10!
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Mallenkaufman
More often than not, we have traveled "by the seat of our pants," making decisions about where to go, what to see, on the fly. But for our first trip to Chile, we instead worked with Enchanting South America to not only make recommendations on the places that would best match our interests, but also to ensure that every last detail was taken care of. Unlike other trips when we've spent hours and hours doing research (only to find that some online representations are more accurate than others), our travel consultants and coordinators at Enchanting South America made this trip 100% effortless!Our outing to the penguin colony on Chiloe Island was a perfect example. Our guide arrived at our hotel at the designated hour, and spent the time while driving to Chiloe and Punihuil not only telling us about the island's history and culture, but stopping along the way to point out some noteworthy sights -- from old wooden churches to the local agri-business of seaweed harvesting, to a unique species of duck along the shoreline.His recommendation for a place to have lunch at Punihuil was exceptionally good! But nothing could have been comparable to the experience of being wheeled through the surf on something that resembled a large baggage cart to our small 18-passenger boat, then navigating the rocks and surf to see the penguin colony up close and personal.This excursion was but one of a half-dozen others recommended and coordinated by Enchanting South America. They hit a home run every time!
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ShellieKienzle
My husband and I greatly enjoyed our tour to the penguin colony with ChiloeAustral Tours (tucked away upstairs in the Feria Artisan Building in Ancud). We had no prior booking and our trip was basically planned to suit our interests and timing - made more enjoyable by our guide - Luis - a very professional young man - who was able to give us the tour in English (not at all the norm). Luis was able to give us information on the flora and fauna as well as the history and mythology of the region. Not only were we happy to be able to see the penguins but also got some interesting insights into the local culture. It was a very worthwhile afternoon and to be able to make the most of it I would highly recommend that you request Luis to accompany you on your tour.
