Magdalena Island by speedboat or catamaran: which crossing to book
Two boats take penguin visitors from Punta Arenas to Magdalena Island, and they give you about the same hour ashore. What differs is the crossing, from where you board to how long you spend bouncing on the strait. Below, Solo Expediciones' speedboat set against Caminos Tours' catamaran.
Two ways across the strait
Both boats cross the Strait of Magellan to Magdalena Island and land you for about an hour among the Magellanic penguins. The trips cost about the same, ~$160 by speedboat against ~$170 by catamaran.
The speedboat starts with a bus ride and spends less time at sea. The catamaran leaves from the waterfront in town and spends longer on the water, which matters if your stomach dislikes waves.
Getting to the start
Solo Expediciones' office sits two blocks from the main square, the Plaza de Armas, so most visitors in the center walk there. No hotel pickup shows on the listing, and the trip ends back at the main square, not at your door.
Caminos Tours boards at Muelle Prat on the waterfront avenue. You can walk from central hotels or pay for the transfer the listing offers as an extra.
Caminos sends the boarding pass and instructions by WhatsApp. Make sure the phone number you give at booking can receive messages abroad, or you may miss a change of time.
Solo Expediciones' speedboat from Laredo Bay
Solo Expediciones' Magdalena and Marta trip from ~$160 begins with check-in at its office on José Nogueira 1255, two blocks from the Plaza de Armas. Viator lists the start time as 6:30 am.
The ride out to Laredo Bay is roughly half an hour by bus, and from that port the speedboat needs about 45–50 minutes to reach the island. After the walk, the boat spends about half an hour circling Marta Island, where the listing counts over 1,000 sea lions.
From the deck you may also spot cormorants and skuas. Kelp gulls and southern giant petrels are on the listing's bird list as well, with elephant seals on occasion. Dolphins are possible on the crossing, though nobody can promise them.
The whole trip takes about 5 hours, with up to 60 people aboard. Reviewers mention a comfortable boat with hot drinks and snacks, and one recalls watching the sunrise from the deck. It holds 4.6 from 700+ reviews on GetYourGuide.
Caminos Tours' catamaran from Muelle Prat
Caminos Tours' catamaran trip from ~$170 leaves from Muelle Prat, the Prat pier on Av. Costanera del Estrecho 1398. You get a boarding pass and instructions by WhatsApp before the day.
Departures are at 6:00 am and 12:30 pm, back at about 12:30 pm and 6:30 pm. The modern catamaran takes about 1 hour 30 minutes each way, carries up to 50 people and goes to Magdalena only, with no Marta Island loop.
Meals and tips are not included, and a hotel transfer to the pier is sold as an extra. It scores 4.7 from 73 reviews on GetYourGuide, a smaller pool than Solo's.
The afternoon boat from the town pier
From Muelle Prat, Caminos Tours' catamaran leaves at 6:00 am or 12:30 pm, and its guided walk climbs to the 1902 lighthouse on Magdalena. Good for travelers who would rather not set an alarm.
The two boats in numbers
| Solo speedboat | Caminos catamaran | |
|---|---|---|
| From | ~$160 | ~$170 |
| Boarding point | Laredo Bay, after a 30-minute bus | Muelle Prat in town |
| Time on the water | About 45–50 min each way | About 1 h 30 each way |
| Departures | 6:30 am (Viator listing) | 6:00 am or 12:30 pm |
| Whole trip | About 5 h | About 5–6 h |
| Marta Island sea lions | Yes, about 30 min | No |
| Group | Up to 60 | Up to 50 |
| Rating on GetYourGuide | 4.6 from 700+ reviews | 4.7 from 73 reviews |
Seasickness on each boat
The strait can be rough, and neither hull makes it calm. Caminos' listing says plainly that the trip is not for people prone to seasickness, which makes sense with three hours on the water in total.
Solo's speedboat spends far less time at sea, but a small fast boat bangs over the chop when the wind is up. Take a tablet before boarding on either one, and read our guide to weather cancellations for days the wind wins.
Both boats are open to the wind on deck. Our guide to dressing for the wind covers the layers that keep the crossing bearable.
Morning light or a lie-in
The early boats suit photographers. Low morning light flatters the colony and the lighthouse, and wind is often lighter early in the day, so the 6:00 am and 6:30 am departures tend to see calmer water.
Caminos' 12:30 pm sailing is the only option for late risers or anyone arriving on a morning flight. You trade some light and possibly a choppier crossing for a full night's sleep.
Which one to book
Pick Solo's speedboat if you want the sea lions and the shortest time at sea. It is our pick on the home page, even with the early start and a drop-off at the main square instead of your hotel.
Pick Caminos' catamaran if you want to board in town or prefer an afternoon sailing. It also suits anyone who likes a bigger boat under them. Either way the hour on the island is much the same, as our Magdalena walk guide shows, and the price comparison lists what else each fare covers.
Review numbers differ a lot. Solo's trip has 700+ reviews on GetYourGuide and 170+ on Viator, while Caminos has 73 on GetYourGuide and its Viator twin only 3, so its score rests on a much smaller sample.