page_title: Alfaguara project
section_title: Ecotourism
hierarchical_section_title: Alfaguara project / Ecotourism
caption_attribution_description: Español: Pinguineras en Islotes de Puñihuil.
context_page_description: The Alfaguara project is a marine life conservation project operated from Puñihuil in the northwest of Chiloé Island, the main island in the Chiloé Archipelago in southern Chile.
  "Alfaguara" was the name given to blue whales by Chilean whalers. The focus of the project is on preservation of these endangered animals, the largest in the world.
  The project is operated by the Centro de Conservacion Cetacea, established in 2001.
  Its studies have made the Chiloé blue whale population one of the best understood in the southern hemisphere.
context_section_description: The coastal community has been involved in whale spotting and in developing responsible marine ecotourism, thus contributing to the conservation program while benefiting from it economically.
  Whales may be sighted from the shore. Boat-based whale watching is limited by the weather conditions and type of vessel required to perhaps 1,000 visitors annually, but should be economically viable. There is additional revenue potential from providing food and lodging to ecotourists, sale of souvenirs, trekking and horse-riding and other activities. Other areas such as around Caleta Zorra are also suitable for whale watching activities.
  Chiloé is home to the main colony of sea lions in Chile.
  Three islands about 300 metres (980 ft) off the Puñihuil beach are important breeding sites for Magellanic and Humboldt penguins in the summer months between September and March.
  The islands are also breeding grounds for sooty shearwater and are home to endangered marine otters.
  In 1999 they were designated the Islotes de Puñihuil Natural Monument.
  Following a study by the Alfaguara Project the ecotourism boat operators agreed to work together as an association, reducing the number of penguin-watching trips to the islands so as to maximize net income.
caption: Penguins on the Islote 1 Puñihuil
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