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Revenue managementDynamic pricingChannel managementOTA managementBooking.com managementListing optimizationVacation rental marketingAn extensive day trip — explore Isla Damas and Humboldt Penguin National Reserve via the Panamerican Highway, with scenic coastal views along the way.
This full-day tour starts as you head north on the Panamerican Highway, leading you through a semi-desert landscape. The route offers several vantage points to appreciate the rocky coast before arriving at Isla Damas and the Humboldt Penguin National Reserve.
The trip allows for ample opportunities to observe local wildlife, including the distinctive Humboldt penguins in their natural habitat. Dress appropriately for the outdoors and be prepared for varying weather conditions as you spend the day in stunning coastal environments.
Reviews
The service was outstanding, and I had a wonderful experience with knowledgeable guides. I highly recommend this tour, especially with Andrea, who provided excellent English throughout the 7-hour experience.
This is a lovely destination; it's our fourth visit, and each time we discover something new on the route to Punta de Choros. You can see various wild animals like foxes and donkeys, and the sea en route to Isla de Damas showcases a diverse array of local flora and fauna. I highly recommend it for nature enthusiasts.
It was a lengthy day, but absolutely worth it. Our guide, whose name escapes me, was fantastic. The drive along the impressive highway was a highlight. We spotted a variety of birds, seals, a couple of dolphins, and penguins. While the boat ride was somewhat turbulent, the sun greeted us on the island. A wonderful lunch was provided. On the return trip, we encountered native foxes and several guanacos.
The guide was fantastic, but overall, I found the tour to be average. We spotted only a few animals, and there was no opportunity to go ashore at Isla Damas. Although it was stated beforehand that we wouldn't be descending, the agency did not communicate this effectively. The lunch was good, and the walk was acceptable.
The walk from Serena to Punta de Choros was outstanding. After reaching Punta de Choros, we took a boat to view the Humboldt Penguins and Sea Lions. Although I didn’t get to see any whales, it's also possible to spot them. We then continued to Damas Island, where we had the opportunity to disembark and explore the island.
A remarkable destination to appreciate nature and its diverse ecosystems. The well-maintained and safe road offers views of a coastal desert landscape filled with various cacti, and you might spot some adorable small foxes. The boat journey to Lady Island and the nearby rocky islets is a must-do. There are good facilities where you can enjoy reasonably priced seafood.
Booking the Humboldt Penguin Tour with the Ecoturismo agency was a breeze. They are responsive and provided all the necessary information via phone, WhatsApp, or email. I appreciated not having to pay in advance, particularly since I arrived in La Serena late the night before. I spent a wonderful day at Choros and Damas Island with our guide Felipe Torres, who shared fascinating and helpful information throughout the trip. While wildlife is less abundant due to the winter nesting and migration season, we were fortunate enough to see sea lions, pelicans, penguins, bottlenose dolphins, and blue-footed boobies. It was a delightful experience that I highly recommend. Felipe was kind enough to share some photos he took with his iPhone.
Stopping at La Serena is a great idea since many excursions start from there. I went whale watching today and was fortunate enough to spot around 20 whales. We also encountered other wildlife like Guanaco, foxes, and donkeys. There's an option to hike to Damas Island for penguin sightings, though it's not always an option.
The trip itself was enjoyable, but the information provided was lacking. Despite multiple communications stating an 8 AM pickup at the "Enjoy Coquimbo" hotel, we had moved to a farther location and tried to update the pickup. The operator informed me of an alternative pickup point but changed the time to 7:20 AM. When I wanted to revert to the original 8 AM location, I was told it was no longer approved. Throughout the 24 hours prior to pickup, Viator communicated with me without being able to clarify with the operator. We received conflicting instructions, with the rest of our group being informed of a 6:30 AM pickup the night before. Had we reverted to the original place and time promised, we would have arrived 1.5 hours late. Ultimately, we were picked up on time at the revised location, but the early morning and stress about logistics were unwarranted. The operator, Barbara, did an excellent job, but Viator fell short. Our family, including my 88-year-old mother-in-law, experienced significant stress due to the misinformation, which is disappointing given our previous pleasant experiences with your service in South America.
The tour, organized by Akana Tours, provided excellent communication leading up to our pickup. Our guide, Seb, was not only very knowledgeable but also showed great passion for the region. Dress in layers!
Reviews are paraphrased traveller feedback sourced from Viator. Original ratings and sentiment preserved.
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