Ushuaia: Catamaran Sailing to Penguin Island

The real prize here is Martillo Island, where Magellanic and Gentoo penguins gather during the southern summer. You do not land on the island, but the catamaran follows its shore closely enough for good views. I like the excellent mix of wildlife and scenery, and I like that the route includes sea lions, cormorants, the famous lighthouse, and views toward Chile. The crew may also pause for unexpected whales or dolphins.

The main drawback is time. You spend about 330 minutes on the water, and nearly six hours can feel long if the channel turns rough or the guide’s announcements are hard to hear. The boat is comfortable, but you should bring warm clothing, and you will need to pay separately for food and drinks.

Key points to know before booking

• Penguins from the boat: See Magellanic and Gentoo penguins along Martillo Island during the summer nesting season, without going ashore.
• Wildlife-rich route: Look for sea lions, Imperial Cormorants, Magellanic Cormorants, whales, dolphins, and other marine animals.
• Classic Beagle Channel sights: Pass Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse, Estancia Remolino, Gable Island, and the Chilean naval base at Puerto Williams.
• Comfortable but exposed: The catamaran has indoor seating, bathrooms, a café, and outdoor viewing decks, but the top deck can be cold.
• A long half-day: The listed duration is 330 minutes, with departure at 3 p.m. and check-in 30 minutes earlier.
• Good flexibility: You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and reserve now without paying immediately.

Why Martillo Island is the star of this Ushuaia cruise

If penguins are your reason for coming to Ushuaia, this is the part that matters most. Martillo Island, also known as Penguin Island, is a summer nesting site for Magellanic penguins and Gentoo penguins, the species sometimes called Papua penguins.

The catamaran does not take you onto the island. Instead, it travels along the coastline and gives you time to watch the colony from the vessel. That distinction is important. A walking visit offers a different kind of encounter, but this cruise gives you a broader Beagle Channel outing with several wildlife stops along the way.

The boat can get close enough for clear views and photographs, though your position on board matters. Several people may gather at the best viewing areas, especially near the bow. I would move outside before the boat reaches Martillo Island and claim a sensible spot, while remembering that everyone needs a turn.

The penguins are the emotional high point of the trip, but they are not the only reason to go. The route makes the island feel like one part of a larger Tierra del Fuego story, connecting wildlife, weather, mountains, maritime history, and the border between Argentina and Chile.

Leaving Ushuaia through the Beagle Channel

The trip begins at Ushuaia’s tourist pier. Check in at the blue Tolkeyen Patagonia office 30 minutes before the scheduled 3 p.m. departure. The port is easy to recognize, but do not arrive at the last moment. You will want time to check in, find the correct boat, and choose a seat.

As the catamaran pulls away, Ushuaia opens up behind you. You can see the Maritime Museum, the End of the World Museum, the industrial area, and the city’s coastline. Mount Olivia and Mount Cinco Hermanos add a strong mountain backdrop.

This opening section is useful because it gives you your bearings. Ushuaia is often sold as the End of the World, but from the channel you see it as a working city as well as a gateway to wild country. The industrial shoreline, museums, port, and mountain slopes all fit into one wide view.

The boat has indoor seating and outdoor decks, including an upper level. The inside is the safer choice when the wind picks up, but the outside decks are where you will get the cleanest photographs. Bring a hat and sunglasses, but also bring a warm layer that you can put on quickly.

Sea Lion Island and the first wildlife stop

The catamaran heads southwest toward Sea Lion Island. Here, the focus shifts from city views to marine life. Sea lions rest and interact on the rocky island, and the captain may adjust the boat so people on different sides get a chance to see them.

The stop is usually brief compared with the full sailing time, but it is one of the most reliable wildlife moments on the route. Sea lions are active, noisy animals, and watching their behavior is more rewarding than simply checking them off a list.

Keep your camera ready, but do not spend the entire stop looking through a screen. The boat’s movement, the calls of the animals, and the cold wind are part of the experience. A long lens is useful, though you can still see the colony without specialist equipment.

The channel can become choppy, especially on the return journey. If you are prone to seasickness, stay near the center of the boat, use the indoor seating when needed, and avoid spending the whole trip at the front. The open water is beautiful, but it is not always calm.

Bird Island and the cormorant colonies

Next comes Bird Island, home to Magellanic Cormorants and Imperial Cormorants. From a distance, cormorants can look a bit like penguins, especially when they stand upright on the rocks. They are different birds, and the guide helps explain what you are seeing.

This is where a live guide adds real value. English and Spanish commentary is provided, with information about the animals and places along the route. The quality of the announcements can depend on where you are sitting and how well the onboard speakers are working, so try to sit where you can hear clearly.

The bird colonies also show why the boat stops are timed around nature, not a rigid sightseeing schedule. The captain may alter the route or timing because animals move, water conditions change, or weather closes access. The itinerary is best treated as a plan rather than a guarantee of exact minutes at every point.

Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse and the shipwreck stories

Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse is the picture most people associate with a Beagle Channel cruise. It sits in the Les Eclaireurs archipelago, surrounded by open water and low, rocky islands.

The lighthouse is often called the Lighthouse at the End of the World, although the name can create confusion with other lighthouses and literary references in the region. The practical point is simple: it is a striking maritime landmark, and the catamaran gives you a clear view without requiring a shore visit.

The guide also connects the area with the wreck of the Mount Cervantes, which went down in 1930. Later, the route passes Estancia Remolino, associated with the Mount Sarmiento, another vessel that ran aground. These details turn a scenic boat ride into a lesson in how difficult the Beagle Channel has been for ships.

I like this part because the history is tied to what you can actually see. You are not sitting in a museum hearing a distant story. You are looking at the waterway where ships had to contend with wind, currents, rocks, and limited shelter.

The Chilean view across the channel

The catamaran then follows the southern coast of Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego before crossing the Beagle Channel from north to south. Gable Island comes into view, followed by Puerto Williams, the Chilean naval base on Navarino Island.

The crossing gives you a sense of the channel’s geography. Argentina and Chile share this narrow maritime world, and the route makes the border feel physical rather than abstract. You see islands, bays, naval facilities, mountain slopes, and open water spread around you.

This is also one of the quieter stretches of the excursion. If the guide’s microphone is working well, you will hear more about the area and its history. If not, the views still carry the trip, but some of the context can be lost. A few passengers found the announcements difficult to hear, particularly downstairs, so I would choose an upper or central position if you want the commentary.

Martillo Island and the summer penguins

When the catamaran reaches Martillo Island, the crew follows the shoreline to view the penguin colony. The Magellanic penguins are the more familiar sight, while Gentoo penguins add variety to the colony.

Summer is the key season for this outing because the penguins nest on the island then. The number and position of animals can change, and the captain may need to adjust the boat’s course. That means no two visits are exactly alike, and poor weather can affect both visibility and the route.

You should expect a viewing stop rather than a landing. The boat may remain in position long enough for photographs, but the amount of time can vary. If whales appear, the captain may pause to follow them, as happened during one outing when humpback whales took attention away from the scheduled penguin viewing. Dolphins can also appear on the return.

That kind of wildlife surprise is a bonus, but it creates a tradeoff. A captain who stops for whales may shorten time near the penguins or extend the overall trip. I consider that a fair bargain if you understand that nature sets the schedule.

For photographs, do not wait until the last minute to find a viewing spot. The bow can become crowded, and a small group may remain there for much of the stop. Crew members encourage people to share the best positions, but crowd control is not perfect. You can still see the penguins from the side decks, and the catamaran’s closeness usually helps.

The return past Estancia Tunnel and Fique

After Martillo Island, the catamaran begins the long return to Ushuaia. The route includes views of Estancia Tunnel and Estancia Fique. These places help fill out the southern coast, but the return is less eventful if no whales or dolphins appear.

This is the point when the five-and-a-half-hour schedule becomes noticeable. You have already seen the main wildlife and lighthouse, and the boat continues through the same broad channel. Some people will enjoy the slower ride and changing light. Others may find the final hours repetitive, especially if the water is rough.

The café helps, though food and drinks are not included in the $92 price. Bathrooms are available, and the indoor cabin gives you a place to warm up. I would bring a snack anyway, since the café may not suit every budget or appetite.

Comfort, seating, and what to pack

The catamaran is described as clean, modern, spacious, and comfortable. It has seating upstairs and downstairs, outdoor viewing areas, bathrooms, and a café. That is a meaningful advantage on a trip of this length.

Still, comfort depends on where you sit. The lower level can feel cold, and the upper deck offers better views but more exposure to wind. I would dress in layers, carry a waterproof or outdoor jacket, and keep gloves or a hat accessible. Comfortable shoes are sensible because you will move between indoor and outdoor areas.

Pack:

• Warm outdoor clothing
• Comfortable shoes
• Sunglasses
• Sun hat
• Sunscreen
• A camera with spare battery protection from the cold

Pets and drones are not allowed. The activity is wheelchair accessible, but the practical details of moving around the vessel should be confirmed when booking if you need specific assistance.

Is $92 a fair price?

At $92 per person, this is one of the less expensive ways to combine penguins, sea lions, cormorants, the lighthouse, and a full Beagle Channel cruise. The price includes the ferry tour and guide, but not port transfers, food, or drinks.

The value depends on what you want from a penguin visit. If you only want the shortest possible route to see penguins, five and a half hours on a boat may feel expensive and slow. If you want a full outing with several stops, mountain views, maritime history, and the chance of whales or dolphins, the price is easier to justify.

The vessel type depends on the company’s internal operations, so do not book expecting one exact catamaran model. The boat used can affect comfort, timing, and how much room you have at the viewing areas.

The overall rating is 4.4 from 436 reviews, with especially strong praise for the comfortable boat, friendly crew, clear wildlife viewing, and useful information. The main criticisms are the long sailing time, the price when food is excluded, uneven audio, and crowding at the best penguin viewing spots.

Who should book this catamaran

I would choose this trip if you want a broad Beagle Channel experience and are happy to see the penguins from the water. It suits photographers, families, first-time visitors to Ushuaia, and anyone who wants several wildlife stops in one outing.

It is less suitable if you dislike long boat rides, get seasick easily, or require guaranteed time on land. You should also avoid scheduling a tight evening flight after the cruise. The listed departure is 3 p.m., but bad weather, whale sightings, port restrictions, or navigation conditions can change the timing.

The tour operates with English and Spanish guides. If historical explanation matters to you, sit where you can hear the announcements and ask staff if the sound is difficult. The information adds much more value when you can connect the wrecks, islands, birds, and border views to the route in front of you.

Should you book it?

Book this catamaran if your priority is seeing Martillo Island’s Magellanic and Gentoo penguins while also exploring the Beagle Channel. The boat gets close, the route includes several worthwhile sights, and the chance of whales or dolphins can turn a good outing into an exceptional one.

Skip it if you want to walk among penguins, need a short excursion, or dislike uncertain schedules. For the best experience, reserve a flexible afternoon, arrive early for a good seat, dress warmly, and treat wildlife sightings as the main guide to the day.

FAQ

How long does the Ushuaia Penguin Island catamaran tour last?

The listed duration is 330 minutes, or about five and a half hours. Some outings may take longer because of weather, wildlife sightings, or navigation conditions.

What time does the boat depart?

Departure is scheduled for 3 p.m. You must present yourself 30 minutes before departure at the Tolkeyen Patagonia office in the tourist pier, the blue house.

Do I get off the boat at Martillo Island?

No. The catamaran follows the coastline of Martillo Island so you can view the penguin colony from the vessel.

Which penguin species can I see?

The colony includes Magellanic penguins and Gentoo penguins, also known as Papua penguins.

What other animals might I see?

The route includes sea lions, Magellanic Cormorants, Imperial Cormorants, and other marine animals. Whales and dolphins may also appear, but sightings are not guaranteed.

Is food included in the ticket?

No. Food and drinks are not included. A café is available onboard for refreshments.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes. Live guides provide the tour in English and Spanish.

What happens if bad weather cancels the cruise?

The navigation can be canceled because of bad weather or port closure. The operator will try to reschedule it, and if rescheduling is not possible, the amount paid is refunded. You can also cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.