Speedboat or catamaran: crossing to the Magdalena Island penguins
Two operators run the regular crossings from Punta Arenas to Magdalena Island, and they use very different boats. Solo Expediciones takes a bus to Laredo Bay and a speedboat from there, while Caminos Tours sails a catamaran straight from the pier in town. The penguins are the same; the morning around them is not.
Two ways across the strait
Magdalena Island sits in the Strait of Magellan north-east of Punta Arenas. Solo Expediciones reaches it by speedboat from Laredo Bay outside the city, and Caminos Tours by catamaran from Muelle Prat in the center.
Both give you about an hour on the island along the same trail to the lighthouse. What separates them is the time on the water and where you start, plus whether Marta Island is part of the day.
| Solo speedboat | Caminos catamaran | |
|---|---|---|
| From | ~$160 | ~$170 |
| Start point | Solo office, José Nogueira 1255 | Muelle Prat, Av. Costanera del Estrecho 1398 |
| Getting to the boat | Bus, about 30 minutes to Laredo Bay | Board in town |
| On the water, each way | About 45–50 minutes | About 1 hour 30 minutes |
| Departures | Early morning, 6:30 am on Viator | 6:00 am or 12:30 pm |
| Marta Island sea lions | Yes, about 30 minutes from the boat | No |
| Group size | Up to 60 | Up to 50 |
| Total length | 5 hours | About 5–6 hours |
| Rating on GetYourGuide | 4.6 from 700+ reviews | 4.7 from 73 reviews |
The speedboat, a shorter crossing after a bus ride
With Solo you check in at its office at José Nogueira 1255, a short walk from the main square. Its Viator listing puts the start at 6:30 am, and a bus then needs about 30 minutes to reach the port at Laredo Bay.
From there the speedboat needs about 45–50 minutes to reach Magdalena. After the walk it loops around Marta Island for about 30 minutes so you can watch sea lions and seabirds from the deck, then heads back.
Solo's speedboat tour at ~$160 takes up to 60 people and lasts 5 hours. Reviewers mention hot drinks and snacks on board, and the bus drops you at the main square rather than at your hotel.
The catamaran from town, with an afternoon sailing
Caminos Tours boards at Muelle Prat, on the waterfront avenue in town. A boarding pass and instructions arrive by WhatsApp before the trip, so there is no office to find first.
The modern catamaran takes about 1 hour 30 minutes each way, and you spend about an hour ashore on the 800 m trail. It goes to Magdalena only, with no loop past Marta Island.
Boats leave at 6:00 am and 12:30 pm and return about 12:30 pm and 6:30 pm. The afternoon sailing is the one Magdalena option on our list for people who cannot face an early alarm.
A catamaran from the town pier
From Muelle Prat, Caminos Tours sails at 6:00 am or 12:30 pm and walks you up to the 1902 lighthouse with a guide. Fewer reviews than Solo, and a slightly higher score.
Which boat is rougher
Neither crossing is gentle once the wind picks up on the strait. Caminos' own listing says its trip is not for people prone to seasickness, a fair warning for about three hours on the water in total.
In wind the speedboat bumps harder and throws more spray on deck. It is also over in under an hour each way, and many people with weak stomachs would rather take the shorter ride.
Take tablets before you board rather than once you feel ill, and sit near the middle of the boat. Our guide to wind and cancelled crossings covers the days when the strait is too rough for either boat.
The third boat, sold on Viator only
The Viator-only Magdalena tour at ~$193 runs 4 to 5 hours from an early-morning start. Its meeting point depends on whether you book Magdalena alone or add Marta.
The listing does not name the boat, so we will not guess whether it is a speedboat or something larger. Read the meeting point in your confirmation carefully, since 10 reviews make for a thin track record.
Early or afternoon?
Most people do better on an early boat, since afternoons are often windier over the strait. Morning light is also softer on the colony, which the photographers among you will notice.
The 12:30 pm catamaran gives late risers and anyone arriving on an overnight bus a way to reach the penguins the same day. If the forecast looks windy, the morning sailing is the safer bet. The guide to the penguin season explains how the hours of daylight change across the summer.
What both crossings share
Both trips include a bilingual guide and about an hour on the island. Both also depend on the weather, so either boat can be held at the pier when the wind on the strait is too strong.
You can cancel either one free until 24 hours before it leaves. With a spare day held back at the start of your stay, the date you pick matters more than the hull.
Neither listing promises a meal, so eat before you leave. On the catamaran, bring your own drinks too, because Caminos lists neither meals nor drinks as included.
Matching the boat to your day
- Sea lions as well as penguins point to Solo's speedboat, and the Marta Island guide shows what that loop adds
- A late start points to the 12:30 pm catamaran
- A weak stomach points to the shorter speedboat ride, with tablets taken early
- A hotel near the waterfront makes Muelle Prat the easier walk
- A tight budget points to Solo, the lower fare of the two (see what a Magdalena trip costs)
Whichever boat you take, the hour ashore follows the same route. Our walk-through of the lighthouse trail describes it from the landing to the top of the hill.