After exploring Buenos Aires, the journey continued towards Patagonia, Ushuaia, and the southernmost tip of South America, an Argentinian region called “Tierra del Fuego” (land of the fire). The famous explorer Ferdinand Magellan sailed through this region on his world wide voyage in 1520.
During Magellan’s journey, he discovered a series of small islands off the coast of Argentina now called the Falkland Islands. These islands were a natural habitat for a rare breed of penguins later known as the Magellanic Penguins, relatives of the Galapogos Penguins. To reach the islands, we took a boat from the mainland, then a small raft to approach the penguins on the shoreline.
The penguins were very receptive to humans. As we observed them, they would come closer and closer to the cameras and then quickly waddle away. The largest island was called Isla Martillo, a well known breeding ground for the Magellanic Penguin colonies.
As we explored the shoreline, we had the pleasure of witnessing the penguins in various activities. They were swimming, eating, building nests, breeding, laying eggs, and dancing for us. These guys were little moviestars!
I have put together two sets of photo galleries. The first gallery contains multiple close-up shots of our waddling friends. The second gallery captures the penguins posing with the gorgeous Argentinian landscape.
Apparently these penguins love to get their picture taken because they were striking poses left and right! They do everything in groups and are very communal in nature.
So the meet and greet with the penguins was a smashing success! Until next time, my waddling friends.
“People don’t take trips, trips take people.” – John Steinbeck
