Ushuaia: Catamaran Sailing to Penguin Island

Penguins are the headline here, but the full outing is a Beagle Channel wildlife cruise. You’ll pass sea lions, cormorants, old estancia sites, a famous lighthouse, and distant Chilean shores before reaching Martillo Island, where Magellanic and Gentoo penguins gather in summer.

I like the comfortable catamaran, with indoor seating, outdoor decks, bathrooms, and a café. I also like the careful wildlife viewing: captains may slow or turn the boat for whales, dolphins, or the best view of the penguins. The main drawback is time. At about five and a half hours, much of the trip is spent sailing, and rough water can make the return ride uncomfortable.

Key points

• Penguins without an island landing: You view the Martillo Island colony from the boat, often at close range.
• Several wildlife stops: Sea lions, Magellanic Cormorants, Imperial Cormorants, and other marine life appear along the route.
• A bilingual tour: Guides provide information in English and Spanish.
• A comfortable vessel: Expect indoor seating, outdoor viewing areas, bathrooms, and a café.
• A long afternoon on the water: Departure is at 3 p.m., with check-in 30 minutes earlier.
• Weather matters: Wind, waves, and port closures can change or cancel the sailing.

From Ushuaia Pier into the Beagle Channel

You meet at Tolkeyen Patagonia Turismo’s blue office at the tourist pier. The scheduled departure is 3 p.m., and you need to arrive by 2:30 p.m. The tour lasts 330 minutes, or about five and a half hours, so treat it as a major half-day outing rather than a quick harbor ride.

As the catamaran pulls away, Ushuaia opens behind you. You can look back toward the city, the Maritime Museum, the End of the World Museum, the industrial area, Mount Olivia, and Mount Cinco Hermanos. This first stretch gives you a useful sense of how tightly Ushuaia sits between the mountains and the channel.

The boat type can change according to the company’s operations. Still, the vessel used for this outing is described as clean, modern, spacious, and comfortable. You’ll find seating upstairs and downstairs, outdoor decks, bathrooms, and a café where you can buy refreshments. Food and drinks are not included in the tour price, so bring money for the café or pack what the operator permits.

The best place to sit depends on your tolerance for cold. The upper level gives you better open-air views, but it can be chilly. The lower level is warmer and sheltered, though some passengers have found the sound system difficult to hear there. Bring a warm layer even on a bright summer day.

Sea Lion Island and the Cormorant Cliffs

The first wildlife focus is Sea Lion Island. The boat approaches the island so you can watch sea lions resting, moving, and interacting in their natural setting. You do not get off the boat, but the catamaran stays close enough for useful views and photographs.

This is one of the points where the captain’s handling matters. On a good day, the boat may pause and reposition so people on different sides can see. The animals are not performing on a schedule, so patience helps. You may get a quiet view of them resting, or a livelier scene with animals shifting and calling to one another.

Next comes Bird Island, home to Magellanic Cormorants and Imperial Cormorants. From a distance, cormorants can look a little like penguins, but they are flying seabirds. The stop adds variety to the cruise and gives the guide a chance to explain the marine life around the channel.

Bring binoculars if you have them, but the boat’s close approach still helps. A long camera lens is useful, though you can take worthwhile pictures with a phone when the boat is near the islands. Keep your camera ready, but do not spend the entire stop staring at a screen.

Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse and the Shipwreck Stories

The cruise then heads toward Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse, the small red-and-white beacon that has become one of Ushuaia’s signature sights. It sits in the Les Eclaireurs archipelago, surrounded by open water and low, rocky islands.

Many people call it the Lighthouse at the End of the World, although that nickname is often used loosely. The lighthouse itself is a working navigation marker, and its isolated position makes it photogenic from nearly every angle. The boat usually provides time for pictures rather than rushing past.

The guide also connects the area with the wreck of the Mount Cervantes, which went down in 1930. Later, along the south coast of Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego, you’ll see Estancia Remolino, linked with the vessel Mount Sarmiento, which ran aground.

These details give the cruise more substance than a string of photo stops. You are seeing a working waterway with navigation hazards, old ranch sites, changing weather, and a long record of ships using the channel. The spoken explanations are offered in English and Spanish, though sound quality may vary by seating area.

One practical point: the tour has several speakers and announcements, but some passengers have had trouble hearing the guide downstairs. If the history and place names matter to you, sit where you can hear clearly or move outside during the main explanations.

Crossing Toward Gable Island and Chile

After the lighthouse, the route follows the Fuegian coast and crosses the Beagle Channel from north to south. You’ll see Gable Island and, across the water, Puerto Williams Naval Base on Navarino Island in Chile.

This is a scenic part of the trip, but it is also where the long sailing becomes noticeable. There is no constant stream of wildlife or attractions. You’ll spend time watching open water, mountains, islands, and the changing shoreline.

That slower pace is part of the appeal for some people. You can move between the indoor lounge and outdoor decks, take pictures, and watch the channel without having to organize transport between separate sights. If you need frequent activity, though, this section may feel drawn out.

The route also passes Estancia Tunnel and Estancia Fique on the return journey. These places are viewed from the water, not visited on foot. The cruise works best when you think of it as a broad look at the channel and its shores, with wildlife encounters included, rather than as a simple penguin shuttle.

Martillo Island and Its Summer Penguins

Martillo Island is the main reason most people book this outing. During the southern summer, Magellanic and Gentoo penguins nest along the island’s coast. Some descriptions use the name Papua penguin for the Gentoo penguin, but the species you are looking for is Gentoo, Pygoscelis papua.

The catamaran follows the shoreline and gives you views from the water. This is not a landing tour, so you will not walk among the penguins. The advantage is that the boat can cover more of the route in one outing and can bring a large group close to the colony without sending people onto the island.

The captain may position the vessel to give both sides a view. Still, the bow can become crowded, especially when everyone wants the same photograph. Move around when you can, and do not assume that staying in one prime spot for the whole stop is fair to the people behind you. The crew may ask people to keep moving, but crowd control can be imperfect.

The boat has sometimes been able to get remarkably close to the penguins. That makes a phone camera practical, although your best images will depend on weather, light, and where you are standing. Keep your hands free when moving between decks, and dress for wind rather than just the temperature in town.

The time at Martillo Island is shorter than the total length of the tour. One past outing allowed about 15 to 20 minutes for penguin pictures, though wildlife sightings and the captain’s decisions can change the schedule. If you want to walk on the island or spend a long time among the colony, choose a different excursion that specifically includes a landing.

Wildlife Surprises on the Way Home

The return is not simply dead time. Whales and dolphins have appeared during some sailings, and captains may slow or maneuver the vessel when they spot them. One outing included extended views of humpback whales, while another had dolphins during the return.

You should treat these animals as a bonus, not a promised part of the itinerary. The fixed attractions are the channel, sea lions, birds, lighthouse, and penguins. Whales depend on the season, luck, weather, and what the crew can spot from the boat.

The final views include Estancia Tunnel and Estancia Fique before the catamaran returns to Ushuaia. By then, you’ll have spent a full afternoon and evening on the water. A warm drink from the café can be welcome, especially if wind has made the outdoor decks cold.

The channel can also become bumpy. If you get seasick, stay near the center of the vessel, look toward the horizon, and consider bringing your usual remedy. The boat is stable and comfortable by catamaran standards, but no vessel can remove all motion in open water.

Is the $92 Price Fair?

At $92 per person, the tour is one of the more accessible ways to see the Beagle Channel wildlife route, though it is still a substantial cost for a boat ride. The price includes the ferry-style cruise and guide, but not port transfers, food, or drinks.

I think the value is strongest if you want several sights in one outing. You get sea lions, cormorants, the lighthouse, shore views, Chilean scenery, historical points, and penguins without arranging separate transport. The comfortable boat also matters during a five and a half hour cruise.

The value is weaker if your only goal is spending a long time with penguins. You view them from offshore, and the sailing time is extensive. Someone who wants an island walk, a smaller boat, or more time at the colony may prefer a more specialized tour, even if it costs more.

Check the final price shown when you book, since currency and booking conditions can change. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later under the stated booking terms.

What to Bring and Who Should Book

Wear warm outdoor clothing, comfortable shoes, sunglasses, a sun hat, and sunscreen. Ushuaia can look calm from the pier while the channel feels cold and windy. Layers are easier than one heavy coat because you can move between the indoor cabin and open decks.

Drones and pets are not allowed. The activity is wheelchair accessible, but the exact vessel may vary, so it is sensible to confirm practical access needs before departure.

I would choose this cruise if you want a comfortable overview of the Beagle Channel and you are happy to see penguins from the water. It suits photographers, first-time visitors to Ushuaia, families who prefer a vessel with bathrooms, and anyone who wants a bilingual guide.

I would think twice if you dislike long boat rides, get motion sickness easily, or need a quiet, uncrowded wildlife experience. The most popular viewing areas can fill quickly, and the return sailing is a real part of the tour, not a short trip back to port.

Should You Book the Martillo Island Cruise?

Book it if your Ushuaia plans include one classic boat outing and you want more than penguins alone. The combination of sea lions, cormorants, lighthouse views, island scenery, and possible whales or dolphins gives the cruise a full itinerary.

Skip it if you expect to land on Martillo Island or spend hours beside the penguin colony. For the best experience, arrive early, wear warm layers, bring a camera, and spread yourself around the boat rather than fighting for one spot at the bow.

FAQ

Where does the catamaran leave from?

The tour departs from the tourist pier in Ushuaia. Check in at the Tolkeyen Patagonia Turismo office, described as the blue house at the pier.

What time should I arrive?

Departure is scheduled for 3 p.m. You should arrive at the office 30 minutes before departure, by 2:30 p.m.

How long does the cruise last?

The stated duration is 330 minutes, or about five and a half hours.

Can I get off at Martillo Island?

No island landing is included in this activity. You view the Magellanic and Gentoo penguin colony from the catamaran.

Which animals might I see?

The route includes sea lions, Magellanic Cormorants, Imperial Cormorants, and penguins. Whales and dolphins may also appear, but they are not guaranteed.

Is food included?

No. Food and drinks are not included, though the catamaran has a café onboard for refreshments.

What languages does the guide speak?

The live guide provides the tour in English and Spanish.

Can the cruise be canceled?

Yes. The sailing may be canceled because of bad weather or a port closure. The operator will try to reschedule it, or provide a full refund if rescheduling is not possible.