Hand-picked by our editors — only the best 5 penguin sailings from 74 reviewed.
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3 hr
Sail past sea lions, cormorants and the iconic Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse on a scenic voyage through Patagonia's waters
Reserve
2 hr 30 min
Sail through stunning Patagonian waters to witness sea lions, seabirds, and historic lighthouses
Reserve
5 hr 30 min
Sail past sea lions, cormorants, and historic lighthouses before reaching a remote penguin colony
ReservePrices from verified partners. Availability updates in real time at checkout. Free cancellation policies apply where shown.
The landmarks, rooms, and views travelers on this tour remember — all visible on a single visit.
An iconic red-and-white beacon often incorrectly called the Lighthouse at the End of the World. It marks the treacherous entrance to the bay and is a prime photography spot.
This rocky outcrop is home to a noisy and active colony of South American sea lions. You will observe them lounging on the rocks from the safety of the catamaran.
Teeming with diverse marine birdlife, this island is a sanctuary for imperial cormorants and other sub-Antarctic species. It offers a rare look at dense nesting grounds.
The primary destination for penguin observation, where Magellanic and Gentoo penguins nest during the summer months. It is the only colony of its kind in this part of Tierra del Fuego.
A group of islands that provide shelter and unique viewpoints across the Beagle Channel. Some tours include a short guided hike here to view the surrounding Andes.
Penguin colony tours offer direct terrestrial interaction, while scenic coastal cruises are superior for viewing maritime landmarks like the Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse.
| Feature | Top pick Penguin Catamaran Tour | Standard Scenic Cruise |
|---|---|---|
Opportunity to walk with penguins |
Included | None |
Tour duration |
5–6 hours | 2.5–3 hours |
Proximity to wildlife |
Close-range island landing | Vessel-based viewing only |
Island landing permit requirements |
Mandatory permit included | None |
Price point |
Higher (varies) | Lower (varies) |
Target Experience |
Deep wildlife immersion | Landscape and lighthouse focus |
| See tickets → |
Verdict: Choose the catamaran tour through the beagle channel and penguins in isla martillo if seeing colonies up close is your priority, or opt for scenic cruises if you prefer a shorter duration and a wider perspective of the beagle channel landmarks.
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Instant confirmation by email, with a mobile voucher you can save offline. No printing, no queuing at a collection desk.
Arrive at the entrance, show your voucher on your phone, and walk in. Most tickets include priority or skip-the-line access.
Practical details for your visit straight from our verified partners — hours, access, rules, and how to get there.
Wear warm, layered clothing, including a windproof and waterproof outer jacket. Sturdy, non-skid footwear is essential for safety on deck.
Only small personal items or day packs are allowed on the catamaran. Keep all electronics and valuables inside a waterproof bag during the cruise.
Photography is encouraged throughout the catamaran tour through the beagle channel and penguins in isla martillo. Use a zoom lens for the best shots of distant wildlife.
The Muelle Turístico may have steep ramps at low tide, which can challenge those with limited mobility. Contact your operator regarding specific vessel capabilities.
This excursion is highly suitable for families, offering educational wildlife observation. Children must be supervised on deck at all times during the catamaran tour through the beagle channel and penguins in isla martillo.
Basic refreshments or light snacks may be available on board, depending on your selected tour package. It is recommended to bring your own water and extra snacks.
Best time to go, insider tips, nearby landmarks, and the cancellation fine print — flip through to skim what matters to you.
Flexible, no hidden fees.
Full refunds are available for cancellations made at least 24 hours in advance. No refund is provided for no-shows or late cancellations.
Isla Martillo is a shingle spit barely two kilometres long, yet it holds the only penguin rookery in Argentina where visitors may legally step ashore. The island lies in the Beagle Channel opposite Estancia Harberton, the sheep station Thomas Bridges founded in 1886. Settlers and Yámana families knew it as Isla Yécapasela. A catamaran tour through the Beagle Channel and penguins in Isla Martillo is therefore two journeys held in one hull: a passage through a drowned glacial valley, and a landing on ground closed to almost everyone. The waterway carries the name of HMS Beagle, whose officers charted it between 1826 and 1830 under Robert FitzRoy. Charles Darwin passed through in 1833. Their survey fixed the outline still in use: a fjord some 240 kilometres long, narrowing to roughly five at its tightest, walled by the Martial range to the north and Chilean islands to the south. Les Éclaireurs lighthouse, lit in 1920, marks the reef east of Ushuaia; cormorants crowd Isla de los Pájaros, and South American sea lions haul out on Isla de los Lobos. Every catamaran tour through the Beagle Channel and penguins in Isla Martillo tour operator still works from that same chart. The colony itself is mixed. Magellanic penguins burrow into the peat by the thousand, driving nests close to a metre deep. Gentoos, scarce at this latitude, build open scrapes of pebble and bone; their numbers have risen steadily since the 1970s, when the first pairs settled. A king penguin turns up now and then, standing a head above the rest and drawing every lens on deck. Catamaran tour through the Beagle Channel and penguins in Isla Martillo tours divide along one clean line — those that circle the island at fifty metres, and those that put people on the beach. Only one operator holds the landing concession, and the terms are narrow: a fixed path, a capped group, and a calendar shaped by the birds rather than by demand. That scarcity is why Ushuaia penguin cruises with a shore walk clear out first, and why the Isla Martillo penguin landing is treated as its own category rather than an add-on to a channel sailing. Free to sail, difficult to land — the arrangement reads less like sightseeing than like managed access to a working rookery. Understood that way, a catamaran tour through the Beagle Channel and penguins in Isla Martillo is an agreement with a colony, honoured at a fixed distance.
"The channel is free to cross; the island is the scarce part."
A step-by-step walkthrough of the visit — what you'll see, how long each stage takes, and the details that matter.
You reach Muelle Turístico at Av. Prefectura Naval 410 between 08:00 and 09:00, when the wind is still low and the light comes in sideways off the water. The pier runs 08:00–18:00, seven days a week. You show your voucher, cross the gangway, and take a seat on the port rail — the lighthouse passes on that side. Twenty minutes out, the catamaran slows at Isla de los Lobos. Sea lions lie four deep on wet rock, and the smell reaches you before the shutter does. A cormorant island next, then Les Éclaireurs, its red-and-white bands catching whatever sun there is. You stay on deck. Layers help; the channel runs cold even at midday. Further east, the engines drop and Isla Martillo shows low and grey off the bow. If you hold one of the shore places — catamaran tour through the beagle channel and penguins in isla martillo tickets that include the walk — you step down onto shingle and follow a marked path for about an hour, with the colony at arm's length on both sides. Gentoos cross ahead of you and do not hurry. Everyone else watches from the rail, close enough to count nests. Back at the pier, entry to the channel itself cost nothing; the island is what you paid for.
The operator booking office at Muelle Turístico is open daily from 08:00–18:00.
Yes, the Beagle Channel is a natural body of water with 0 USD entrance fee for general transit.
We recommend arriving between 08:00–09:00 for calmer winds and better photography conditions.
Penguins are typically present from October to April, with the peak season between November and February.
Yes, this is an excellent family activity, provided children are supervised on the catamaran tour through the beagle channel and penguins in isla martillo.
Dress in three layers: a thermal base, an insulating mid-layer, and a windproof/waterproof outer layer.
Most commercial catamarans operating the catamaran tour through the beagle channel and penguins in isla martillo are equipped with onboard restrooms.
Tours may be rescheduled or canceled by the operator for safety reasons if wind or sea conditions are severe.
The meeting point is at Muelle Turístico, Av. Prefectura Naval 410, which is easily accessible by taxi or a short walk from downtown Ushuaia.