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Spend a full day from Ushuaia to Isla Martillo to walk among Gentoo and Magellanic penguins. The tour combines a short zodiac ride, guided colony walks, and interpretation of the island’s glacial geology and local history.
Spend a full day from Ushuaia to Isla Martillo to walk among Gentoo and Magellanic penguins. The tour combines a short zodiac ride, guided colony walks, and interpretation of the island’s glacial geology and local history.
The boat slips away from Ushuaia’s dock and the Beagle Channel opens like a cool, restless highway. Cold air bites at the face; peat-scented wind and the distant clink of a semi-rigid zodiac set the tempo. Within 15 minutes the island’s rocky shore comes into view and the colony’s chatter—like scattered pebbles of sound—grows louder.
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Que Hacer en Buenos Aires · Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego
The boat slips away from Ushuaia’s dock and the Beagle Channel opens like a cool, restless highway. Cold air bites at the face; peat-scented wind and the distant clink of a semi-rigid zodiac set the tempo. Within 15 minutes the island’s rocky shore comes into view and the colony’s chatter—like scattered pebbles of sound—grows louder.
Isla Martillo sits at the northern edge of the Beagle Channel, carved by Quaternary glaciers and fringed by lenga and coihue forests. The island hosts both Gentoo and Magellanic penguins, a rare place where species overlap thanks to currents and a mix of sandy spits and tussock grass. The tour often passes through landscapes tied to Tierra del Fuego’s settler history—ranching outposts such as Estancia Harberton shaped early contact between European explorers and indigenous Yamana people.
Your guide interprets penguin behavior and enforces a strict path to protect nesting grounds; the animals move with purposeful curiosity, sometimes approaching observers but always setting boundaries.
Practical guidance: plan for a full 7‑hour outing including road transfer from Ushuaia, a short zodiac crossing, and on-foot viewing of the colony. Dress in breathable layers with a windproof, waterproof outer shell; footwear should be grippy on wet rock and mud. Bring seasickness remedies, a telephoto or zoom lens, and binoculars. Follow the guide’s distance rules—no sudden moves or flash photography—and carry out all waste. Timing favors calmer seas in late morning and early evening light for photography. This is an accessible wildlife encounter that rewards patience and respect for fragile subantarctic shorelines.
easy.
7 hours.
Suitable for most fitness levels; involves short walks on uneven, sometimes muddy terrain and brief zodiac transfers.
The zodiac crossing from the embarkation point is about 15 minutes each way; total outing includes road transfers and time on the island for a 7‑hour program.
Yes—guided paths allow close viewing of Gentoo and Magellanic penguins, but distances are managed to protect nests and chicks.
The tour is described as physically easy and suitable for most ages, though participants should be able to step into/out of a zodiac and walk over uneven ground.
No—flash and touching are prohibited; flashes disturb wildlife and touching transmits disease and stresses animals.
The area around Ushuaia mixes indigenous Yamana heritage with European missionary and ranching history; nearby Estancia Harberton reflects early 20th‑century settlement patterns.
Operators follow strict paths and limits to minimize disturbance; visitors are encouraged to leave no trace and obey wildlife distance rules to protect breeding colonies.
Que Hacer en Buenos Aires operates guided outdoor trips and adventures with an emphasis on safety, stewardship, and memorable experiences.
The boat slips away from Ushuaia’s dock and the Beagle Channel opens like a cool, restless highway. Cold air bites at the face; peat-scented wind and the distant clink of a semi-rigid zodiac set the tempo. Within 15 minutes the island’s rocky shore comes into view and the colony’s chatter—like scattered pebbles of sound—grows louder.
The boat slips away from Ushuaia’s dock and the Beagle Channel opens like a cool, restless highway. Cold air bites at the face; peat-scented wind and the distant clink of a semi-rigid zodiac set the tempo. Within 15 minutes the island’s rocky shore comes into view and the colony’s chatter—like scattered pebbles of sound—grows louder.
Isla Martillo sits at the northern edge of the Beagle Channel, carved by Quaternary glaciers and fringed by lenga and coihue forests. The island hosts both Gentoo and Magellanic penguins, a rare place where species overlap thanks to currents and a mix of sandy spits and tussock grass. The tour often passes through landscapes tied to Tierra del Fuego’s settler history—ranching outposts such as Estancia Harberton shaped early contact between European explorers and indigenous Yamana people.
Your guide interprets penguin behavior and enforces a strict path to protect nesting grounds; the animals move with purposeful curiosity, sometimes approaching observers but always setting boundaries.
Practical guidance: plan for a full 7‑hour outing including road transfer from Ushuaia, a short zodiac crossing, and on-foot viewing of the colony. Dress in breathable layers with a windproof, waterproof outer shell; footwear should be grippy on wet rock and mud. Bring seasickness remedies, a telephoto or zoom lens, and binoculars. Follow the guide’s distance rules—no sudden moves or flash photography—and carry out all waste. Timing favors calmer seas in late morning and early evening light for photography. This is an accessible wildlife encounter that rewards patience and respect for fragile subantarctic shorelines.