5 top places to see penguins in the wild
Antarctica is home to a rich diversity of wildlife, but there are few creatures that hold such universal appeal as the penguin. Discover five of the best locations to see them with Quark Expeditions.
From the mighty emperor to the quirky-looking southern rockhopper, spotting a penguin in the wild is often one of the biggest draws for clients exploring the white continent.
While experts disagree on exactly how many species of penguins there are, (at least 16, but some researchers argue for up to 22,) visitors can see some of the most well-known species when visiting Antarctica, the nearby islands, South Georgia and the Falklands.
Quark Expeditions’ adventure guides help wildlife enthusiasts distinguish each penguin, so they will soon be spotting and photographing these majestic birds with confidence.
Here, Quark Expeditions’ experts have rounded up five of the best places to spot penguins in the wild:
1. South Georgia Island
If clients want to see (and photograph) vast penguin colonies, South Georgia should be top of their list. It’s one of the northernmost islands in the Southern Ocean and home to thousands of king penguins. These eye-catching creatures resemble their close cousin, the emperor penguin, but are slightly smaller, at just under a metre tall.
What to book: Quark Expeditions’ popular South Georgia and Antarctic Peninsula: Penguin Safari adventure is a 16-day journey across the Southern Ocean, where clients will spot icebergs inhabited by penguins, seals, and other animals that thrive in the region’s cold climate. South Georgia is the highlight of days seven and eight.
2. The Falkland Islands
Located off the coast of the tip of South America, the Falkland Islands are a haven of wildlife and home to numerous species of penguins. Alongside king penguins, guests will see magellanic penguins with their distinctive markings; gentoo penguins, which are the fastest birds underwater; and petite southern rockhopper penguins with their spiky head feathers. The islands are ideal for bird spotters, as they welcome a variety of rare species.
What to book: The Falklands are one of the first stops on Quark Expeditions’ 20-day Falklands, South Georgia, and Antarctica: Explorers and Kings voyage, which spans much of the Southern Ocean.
3. The Antarctic Peninsula
Clients should ensure they have their cameras ready for a visit to the Antarctic mainland, as the peninsula is famed for its huge penguin colonies. They congregate on the beaches in the area around the Lemaire Channel, and can be seen laying eggs and rearing young chicks. Look out for gentoos; chinstrap penguins, with their black beaks and the black bands that give them their name; and adélie penguins, who have a distinctive white ring around their eyes.
What to book: One of the best ways to explore this stunning landscape is on Quark Expeditions’ Antarctic Explorer: Discovering the 7th Continent journey. On this 11-day voyage clients will disembark their polar vessel to explore around the Lemaire Channel.
4. Snow Hill Island
Snow Hill Island is as mountainous and snowy as it sounds, located in the ice-laden Weddell Sea. Quark Expeditions' penguin experts estimate that it’s the home and playground of more than 10,000 emperor penguins, making it one of the best places to see penguins anywhere in the world, including thousands of fluffy chicks during breeding season. As the largest penguins, emperors can dive deeper than any other penguin species.
What to book: Look to Quark Expeditions' 2023 Emperor Quest: Expedition to Snow Hill voyages, where a team of penguin scientists, ornithologists, biologists, and polar historians will teach clients all about emperor penguins during a 14-day adventure.
5. The Diego Ramirez Islands
While the Diego Ramirez Islands are separate from the Antarctic Peninsula, they form a distinct crossover between the sub-Antarctic regions of the Southern Ocean and the mixed climates of Patagonia. Here, guests can spot rockhopper and magellanic penguins, alongside the equally distinctive yellow-crested macaroni.
What to book: The islands are the first stop on Quark Expeditions' 13-day Antarctic Explorer: Discovering the 7th Continent plus Cape Horn and Diego Ramirez adventure.
Further information
Learn about Quark Expeditions' other Antarctic itineraries
And find out more about the destinations clients can visit with Quark Expeditions:
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