Chile
Rising from the cold Humboldt Current waters off the Atacama coast, Chañaral Island is a windswept sanctuary where the arid severity of northern Chile's desert meets the extraordinary biological productivity of the Pacific upwelling system. This small, uninhabited island — part of the Pingüino de Humboldt National Reserve — provides critical breeding habitat for one of the world's most charming and endangered marine birds: the Humboldt penguin, whose colonies on the island's rocky shores represent a vital stronghold for the species.
The island's landscape is stark and beautiful in equal measure. Bare volcanic rock, sculpted by wind and wave into jagged formations, drops precipitously into waters that churn with the cold, nutrient-rich upwelling of the Humboldt Current. The sparse vegetation — cacti, drought-adapted shrubs, and salt-tolerant grasses — clings to crevices and wind-sheltered hollows, providing nesting material for the island's substantial seabird populations. The contrast between the parched, sun-bleached rock above and the teeming marine life below is one of the most dramatic ecological juxtapositions in South America.
There are no facilities on Chañaral Island — all sustenance comes from the expedition ship. Some vessels arrange Zodiac cruises along the island's perimeter, where passengers can observe the Humboldt penguins at close range as they porpoise through the kelp forests, waddle across rocky platforms, and tend their nests in burrows excavated from the guano-rich soil. The penguins' endearing awkwardness on land contrasts with their torpedo-like grace in the water, where they hunt anchovies and sardines with breathtaking speed.
The marine environment surrounding the island is spectacularly rich. Bottlenose dolphins and Chilean dolphins patrol the nearshore waters, while sea lions haul out on the rocky ledges in noisy, malodorous colonies. During the southern hemisphere summer, marine otters — one of the world's rarest otter species — may be spotted foraging in the kelp beds. Above, Peruvian boobies, cormorants, and pelicans wheel in dense flocks, diving into the fish-rich waters with machine-gun frequency. Humpback and fin whales pass through on their seasonal migrations.
Chañaral Island is visited by expedition ships cruising the Chilean coast, typically between November and March. Zodiac landings on the island itself are restricted to protect the sensitive breeding colonies, but circumnavigation by Zodiac provides excellent wildlife viewing and photographic opportunities. The island lies approximately 29 kilometres offshore from the town of Chañaral, which serves as the nearest point of mainland access. Seas can be rough, and visits are weather-dependent — but when conditions cooperate, the island delivers one of South America's most concentrated wildlife experiences.