Patagonia: Torres del Paine Expedition Dispatch
December 30, 2016 – Magical Day spent in Punta Arenas and Isla Magdalena
The port city of Punta Arenas is at the tip of South America. The Straits of Magellan, the Southern Ocean and the wild expanses of the continent of Antarctica beckon along the southern horizon. It is a city whose history and setting is a part of the DNA of all true explorers. Cole Standish and Staci Wendt took it all in today with Osvaldo showing them some of the sites and describing stories from previous Berg Adventures visits to this fascinating city.
Cole Standish and Staci Wendt at the tip of South America
We visited the statue of Magellan in the city plaza. Besides explorer’s history, Punta Arenas is known for its friendly, well - kept street dogs - this one joined us for our photo.
Tradition calls for explorers to kiss the foot of the Native at Magellan’s feet before embarking
Staci Wendt and Cole Standish at water’s edge with the Punta Arenas and Chilean National Flags
In the afternoon, we embarked on this boat to explore nearby islands
This craft is built for solid movement in choppy water
On Isla Magdalena we visited a National Penguin Reserve
Staci Wendt photographing the Magellanic’s Penguin, the most common species to this area
This church with lighthouse is a landmark in the area
Penguin Family
Staci hiking on Isla Magdalena
We passed Isla Marta where we saw a colony of sea lions
Great weather on our zodiac boat