At Humbolt’s Penguins National Reserve it is posible to watch near the islands some strange visitors during summer, such as water turtles, toninas, albatross, carmoranes and even whales.

Damas Island (Isla Damas) is the only place at Humbolt’s Penguins National Reserve in which you can camp or have a picnic. To get there you need to hire the service of the fishermen from Punta de Choro’s Cove.

Visting Humbolt’s Penguin Nacional Reserve implies the chance for visiting a beautiful group of white sanded islands inhabitated by significant colonies of marine birds and a permanent group of bottlenose dolphins.

Coming from La Serena there are 123 kms (611.4 miles) to Punta de Choros, from where you sail to Isla Damas (Damas Island). It is advisable to get there before 11 in the morning to avoid the wind during sailing; before hiring a boat ask about the condition of the sea. There is fuel at La Serena and Los Choros.

Locating La Serena as km 0, go out by North Panamerican highway. At km 40 you will find Buenos Aires slope. Then you will pass the detours to La Higuera (km 57) and El Tofo (km 60)

At km 78 you must take the detour to the Nacional Reserve. At km 101 you pass through San José de los Choros Bajos, old village focused on Agriculture, not industrial fishing and olive oil, which is produced in a maray from the year 1930. One of the most important places is San José Obrero Chapel, built in wood and with a very particular sound of the two bells, María and José brought from Spain in 1871.

Then you will pass by Itata Cemetry (Cementerio del Itata) where crewmembers from Itata Ship – runned aground in front of this coasts in 1922 - were buried.

At km 123 and a stoned road you will get to Punta de Choros, a fishermen village located between dunes and rough vegetation and which used to be a place in which Changos lived. In here you will find markets, fuel, boarding houses, cabins and fishermen coves, Los Corrales and San Agustín. In the last one you will find CONAF Management Office and Environmental Information Centre where you can attend lectures about the natural resources you can find in the place. In here you can find information for hiring boats to access Humbolt’s Pinguins National Reserve. With a surface of 859,3 hectares, Humbolt’s Penguins National Reserve is composed by three islands. Choros of 291.7 hectares, Chañaral of 507.3 hectares and Damas of 60.3 hectares.

Fauna at Humbolt’s Penguins Nacional Reserve is varied, With Humbolt and Magellan Penguins, Sea wolves, Pelicans, Chungungos and dolphins.

Humboldt’s Pinguin (Sphensicus humboldti) is endemic from the Humboldt’s Current, inside Chilean territory you will find them from Arica to Pañihuil Island, in Chiloe. They are about 70 cms high. They build nests conforming great groups and put one or two eggs. Pinguins are birds that adapted to marine environment, so much that they have lost their ability to flight; their body is covered by small feathers and their wings have transformed into fins to swim.

Damas Island (Isla Damas) is the only one in which you can go down. There you will find La Poza and Las Tijeras, two white sanded beaches with emerald waters. A pathway crosses the island in an hour and let you appreciate a lot of birds.

You can also take water excursions and sale by the habitat of the only stable colony of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) located between isla Choros and Chañaral; there are about 30 dolphins that play and jump next to the boat. An unforgettable and rare show- In here dolphins were unknown and they seem to have arrived in 1978, together with the warm water of El Niño. In certain occasions it is possible to see the whales, where Fin sharks, whale sharks y humpbacks have been seen.

With the necessary equipment you can organize diving excursions at Damas Island or around Choros Island. Help keeping this beautiful place clean. In January and February you can camp at Damas Island for no more than 2 days per group, asking permission at La Serena’s CONAF office. In off seasons visits are just for one day. You can Visit Humboldt’s Pinguins National Park from 9 to 17:30 during January and February and from 10 to 16 from March to December. At the islands there are no bathrooms nor drinkable water. Take sun protection with you. The entrance fee costs $1600 and $600 for children.

To have a boat to get to Damas Island hire fishermen after asking people from the city hall. Ask lifesavers for each person. A whole day costs between $40.000 and $45.000 for 6 to 10 people.