World Penguin Day-Inspired holidays

To mark World Penguin Day 2025, we thought we’d dive into some of the world’s best luxury resorts and holidays where you can see these endearing creatures for yourself.

Penguins can’t fly, but you can fly to see them! From close to home to totally off-grid, here are Travel Seen’s Penguin Day-inspired places to visit…

Last Word Long Beach Hotel

Our first penguin-stop is the luxurious boutique Last Word Long Beach Hotel; Cape Town’s only 5-Star hotel to be located right on the beach.

Here the super-spacious, elegant rooms and suites all have an outdoor area for enjoying the views. And Last Word is ideally set behind one of South Africa’s best surf beaches if surfing is your vibe.

Just 15 minutes drive away on Boulders Beach in Simons Town is where you’ll find the few thousand African penguins who call this stretch of coast their home. Amble (or waddle!) along the boardwalks, kayak across the shore, or if you’re feeling really brave you can swim among the penguins in the cool Atlantic waters.

Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa

Yes, you read that correctly; our second luxury hotel celebrating World Penguin Day 2025 is in Hawaii!

At the 40-acre Hyatt Regency Maui on Ka‘anapali Beach, you’ll find all the usual AAA Four Diamond-rated hotel offerings; think pool, spa and fine dining restaurants.

But head to the Atrium Lobby and you’ll have the opportunity to meet the resort’s resident African Black-Footed Penguins too! The endangered species were reared onsite, and guests can watch them play and feed in their dedicated home at the heart of the resort.

Explora Torres del Paine

This award-winning, 50-room lodge offers its guests an epic place to stay in the heart of the Torres del Paine National Park in Patagonia, Chile, with an all-inclusive stay including more than 40 expeditions.

And if you’ve made it this far, why not look at adding a Tierra del Fuego Expedition to your Patagonian journey? Explora has the “Journey to the End of the World” itinerary, which ventures across the Strait of Magellan (a natural passage between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans) and stops to observe the island’s colony of king penguins.

Silversea Cruise

The ultimate penguin experience has to be on a Silversea Cruise to Antarctica. Board one of their luxury Silver ships and set sail for an adventure into the frozen south on an otherworldly travel experience.

On a three-week cruise you could be lucky enough to see rockhopper penguins in the Falkland Islands; macaroni and king emperor penguins in South Georgia; and Adelie penguins on the Antarctic Peninsular. Thanks to the ship’s Zodiac boats, your expedition leaders will ensure you get up close to the penguins so you can photograph and observe, but without disturbing them.

The Penguin House, Pairi Daiza

Finally we thought we’d finish with a penguin hotel which doesn’t require visas, long-haul flights or expedition kit… The Penguin House at Pairi Daiza zoo in Belgium.

Regularly voted Europe’s best zoo, the Resort is home to The Penguin House, an interactive accommodation experience where your room is set beside the resident penguins’ ice floe!

Family rooms in The Penguin House offer a face-to-face view, with bunk style beds, floor-to-ceiling windows into the penguins’ underwater world, and even a bathroom with views of the penguin tank from the bath!

Regardless of whether your passion is for penguins or something entirely different, our experts will make your travel aspirations a reality with a personally crafted itinerary. Drop Atlas, our nifty Travel Butler a message with your requirements and a member of our team will be in touch soon with a bespoke quote.