Packing for wind and spray on a Magdalena Island penguin tour
The Magdalena boats sail in the southern summer, but the strait does not feel like summer. Wind on the water and on the island hill cuts through thin clothes, and showers can blow through at any hour. A windproof shell and a few small items make the trip far more comfortable.
Summer on the calendar, cool on the strait
The penguin season falls between roughly October and March, when Punta Arenas has its summer. Even so, days there often sit around 10–15 °C (50–59 °F), which surprises visitors who left a hot city at home.
On the water the wind takes several degrees off that number. The hill on Magdalena Island has no shelter at all, and rain can come in sideways and stop again before you reach the lighthouse.
Pack for a cold, wet hour rather than for the forecast. If the sun shines all morning, you simply carry a layer you did not need.
Weather in the far south changes within minutes, and the island has no shop where you could buy a forgotten hat. Whatever you need for the hour ashore has to come with you on the boat.
A shell that blocks wind and rain
The one item that matters most is a jacket that stops both wind and water. A light waterproof shell with a hood you can tighten beats a heavy coat that lets the gusts through the seams.
Under it, wear a warm mid layer such as a fleece or a thin down jacket. Add a base layer on cold mornings, and you can adjust the stack on deck without taking much off.
Waterproof trousers earn their space in the bag on a showery day. Spray reaches the open deck when the strait is choppy. Our speedboat or catamaran guide explains which ride gets wetter.
Skip cotton jeans and hoodies for this trip. Once spray or drizzle soaks them they stay cold and heavy until you are back at the hotel.
Hat and gloves, plus sunscreen
Bring a hat that stays on in a gust, such as a snug beanie that covers your ears. A brimmed cap tends to fly off on the lighthouse hill, and nobody can chase it past the ropes.
Gloves are easy to forget in summer and hard to do without. Thin ones let you use a phone, and our photo tips for the colony explain why warm fingers mean better pictures.
Solo Expediciones' what-to-bring list includes sunglasses and sunscreen. The sun this far south can burn on a bright day while the air still feels cold, and the glare off the water is strong on the crossing.
Shoes for a dirt trail
The walk follows a marked dirt trail of about 800 m (half a mile) up to the 1902 lighthouse, as Caminos' listing describes it. The path is easy, but after rain it can turn slippery and muddy in places.
Wear closed shoes with a grippy sole. Waterproof hiking shoes or trail runners you have worn before are ideal. Smooth city soles slide on a wet deck and on the loose ground near the top.
You spend about an hour ashore, much of it standing still while penguins cross the path. Warm socks help more than you would think, and our step-by-step lighthouse trail guide shows the walk from the landing.
A five-hour trip with a short packing list
Solo Expediciones' speedboat tour includes the boat with coffee service and a bilingual guide. Island entry is in the fare too. Bring the warm layers and your passport, and the rest is covered.
The small bag for the day
A small backpack or shoulder bag is all you need. Caminos' list asks for a waterproof bag. A dry bag or a backpack with a rain cover keeps a phone and spare layers safe from spray.
Solo's list asks for your passport or ID, so pack it before you leave the hotel. Bring water and a snack too, and eat a proper breakfast, since the island visit is about walking rather than eating.
Hot drinks and snacks on board come up in reviews of Solo's speedboat tour, from ~$160. Caminos Tours does not include meals or drinks, so a snack matters more on its catamaran from ~$170.
Seasickness tablets and what to leave behind
If boats make you queasy, buy tablets in town the day before and swallow one before boarding. On the Caminos catamaran you face about 1 hour 30 minutes of open water in each direction, and Caminos itself warns off anyone who gets seasick easily.
Leave big luggage at the hotel or the bus station, since Solo's tour does not take it on the boat. A large bag on a bouncing speedboat would help nobody anyway.
The same goes for drones, which Caminos' rules leave off the island. Our guide to wind and cancellations covers the days when the boat does not sail at all.
A packing list for the boat
- Windproof, waterproof jacket with a hood
- Warm mid layer (fleece, wool, light down)
- Waterproof trousers on a showery day
- Beanie that covers the ears, and gloves
- Sunglasses and sunscreen
- Closed shoes with grip, plus warm socks
- Waterproof bag or rain cover for the backpack
- Passport or ID
- Water and a snack
- Seasickness tablets if boats bother you
- Charged phone and a small power bank
Lay the list out the night before, since the early boats leave little time to hunt for gloves in the dark. Wear the layers rather than packing them, and keep the jacket on top.
For the longer days the list grows. The king penguin trip lasts about 15 hours with lunch paid in cash on the day. Our Magdalena or king penguins guide compares the two.