Humboldt Penguin Breeding Colony (Isla Damas) — Isla Chañaral

About this spectacle

Off the coast of the Atacama region, the rocky islands of Isla Damas and Isla Chañaral host one of Chile's most accessible Humboldt penguin colonies. Visitors typically arrive by small boat from the port town of Los Choros, gliding past kelp beds before reaching boulder-strewn shores where penguins waddle between burrows and peer curiously at passing vessels. The sounds of braying calls and flapping wings fill the air alongside the crash of Pacific swells. Sea lions often haul out on nearby rocks, dolphins may accompany the boat, and seabirds wheel overhead. The stark desert landscape meeting the cold Humboldt Current creates a dramatic backdrop — rust-coloured cliffs rising from deep-blue water. Breeding activity peaks in austral spring and summer, when nesting adults and fluffy chicks crowd the burrow sites. The experience is intimate and wild, combining cetacean encounters, marine mammal haul-outs, and penguin courtship all within a single short excursion.

When to go

Jan — Dec, peak Sep — Jan

Getting there

Nearest airport: LSC. Nearest city: La Serena.

Booking options

Goyova doesn't process bookings directly. When you tap "Plan this trip" in the app, you'll see options from our partner providers — accommodation, tours, transport — with affiliate links where applicable. See our affiliate disclosure for details.