Cabo Vírgenes, at the mouth of the Strait of Magellan, is home to the second-largest Magellanic penguin colony in continental Patagonia — between 80,000 and 100,000 birds during the breeding season from October to March. A boardwalk runs through the colony and you can get within a few metres of the nests. The lighthouse at the cape, dating from 1904, still works and offers good views over the strait.
The drive from Rio Gallegos takes around two hours, mostly on gravel road of variable quality. There are no facilities at the cape itself beyond a small park ranger station and a basic snack bar at certain times of year. Go in the morning, take water and warm clothes, and check road conditions at the tourist office before you set off.