A marine reserve of three small islands — Choros, Damas, and Chañaral — about 100 km north of La Serena. Choros and Damas hold the largest colony of Humboldt penguins in the world, plus sea lions, otters (chungungo), and an extraordinary concentration of seabirds. Bottlenose dolphins and fin whales pass through the channel between November and March.
Tours leave from Punta de Choros village, an hour and a half drive from La Serena up the coast. Boats are small and the swell can be heavy. The penguins are best seen between September and March. Landings on Damas Island depend on the tide and on the park rangers' assessment of impact; some days no one lands.