Day 9 – January 3, 2026
Punta Arenas, Chile
(Day 7 on the ship)
Today was our second day in Punta Arenas, and it started early with a very special excursion—a catamaran trip to Magdalena Island, home to a large colony of Magellanic penguins.
It took about an hour and a half to reach the island, and as we approached, we were greeted by hundreds of penguins along the shoreline—and even more seagulls. Magdalena Island is small, rugged, and nearly treeless, but it’s famous for one thing: thousands upon thousands of penguins that return here each year to nest, raise their chicks, and waddle around as if humans are the visitors (which, of course, we are).
The island sits about 32 km (20 miles) northeast of Punta Arenas, right in the middle of the Strait of Magellan, and it’s accessible only by boat. Our catamaran allowed us to stay warm inside during the chilly ride, with the option to head out on deck once conditions allowed. Along the way, we were lucky enough to spot dolphins, which was an unexpected and very welcome bonus.
Once on the island, we followed a clearly marked path and were reminded—several times—not to touch the penguins (they bite!). There were plenty of chicks, both penguin and seagull, and it was fascinating to see how well the two species coexist. The walk led us up to a lighthouse—one of the only structures on the island—which has been guiding ships through the Strait of Magellan since the early 1900s. From there, we made our way back down to reboard the catamaran and head back toward the ship.
On the ride back, we shared seating with Rick and Phyllis from Texas and Martha and Nancy from South Carolina. We’d actually met Martha and Nancy before during our first excursion in Puerto Madryn—small world!
Once back onboard, we grabbed a quick buffet-style lunch at La Veranda, then took some time to digest before both of us hit the gym to work off lunch. Later in the afternoon, we met up with Catherine and Scott and made plans for drinks and canapés around 5 pm.
Dinner that evening was at Sette Mari in La Veranda, the ship’s Italian restaurant. We were welcomed with a small sampling of all the antipasti on the menu—a great way to start. I ordered the Cavatelli Michelangelo (small shell pasta with creamy veal Bolognese and porcini mushrooms), followed by Cioppino, a classic seafood stew in tomato and lobster broth with garlic crostini. John also had the Cavatelli Michelangelo and chose Costolette d’Agnello con Carciofi—grilled lamb chops with artichoke purée, roasted potatoes, olive-cherry tomato salsa, capers, and garlic confit.
For dessert, I went with tiramisu, while John opted for chocolate and pistachio mousse. We finished the meal with our favorite—limoncello. As usual, the food was outstanding.
After dinner, John headed to bed so he could be up early to watch as we cruise through the Beagle Channel, hoping to catch a glimpse of glaciers. I joined Catherine and Scott for a nightcap before turning in.
Tomorrow, we arrive in Ushuaia, Argentina, and we have a horseback riding excursion planned—something we’re really looking forward to. Until then… 🚢✨
