Cachagua Island Penguin Watching

Leave Valparaíso behind for a day and visit one of the main Humboldt penguin colonies on the Chilean coast on our Cachagua Island Penguin Watching activity.

Cachagua Island Penguin Watching

At 9 am, we'll pick you up from your hotel in Valparaíso and drive north through Viña del Mar, Reñaca, Concón, and the mouth of the Aconcagua River. After a 1-hour 30-minute drive along the Pacific coast, we'll arrive in Zapallar. In this town, we will board a fishermen's boat that will take us to Cachagua Island, home to one of the main Chilean colonies of Humboldt penguins.

During the 1-hour boat trip, we will observe the penguins and other coastal birds, such as pelicans, seagulls, and neotropic cormorants. The variety of species documented here is notable.

Following the boat trip, we will return to the dock in Zapallar. Once back on land, we will visit a local empanada place to enjoy this Chilean delicacy, accompanied by a drink choice of soda or mineral water.

We will then head back to your hotel in Valparaíso, arriving at approximately 3 pm.

Animal Sightings

Cachagua Island is one of the best locations on the Chilean coast to see Humboldt penguins. However, animal sightings can be unpredictable and depend on factors such as weather conditions and the breeding seasons of different species.