15 Beagle Channel Cruises from Ushuaia to Build a Day Around

1.Beagle Channel & Sea Wolves Island Catamaran Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 433 reviews · 2h 30m · from $115Our pick

Set out from Ushuaia Bay on a bilingual catamaran cruise to Bird Island, Sea Lion Island, Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse, and Puerto Karelo. You’ll see seabirds, cormorants, sea lions, and perhaps whales, then take a short guided walk to Yamana shell deposits. The boat has heating, toilets, indoor seating, and outdoor viewing areas.

“Good value for the excursion. The scenery was beautiful”

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2.Beagle Channel and Penguin Island

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 318 reviews · 5 hours · from $178

Set out from Ushuaia on a five-hour bilingual catamaran cruise through the Beagle Channel. You’ll see Bird Island, Sea Lions Island, Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse, Puerto Williams, and Martillo Island, where Magellanic and Gentoo penguins gather. Guide David and the crew share information in English and Spanish, while snacks, drinks, and souvenirs are sold onboard.

“Great trip and a bucket list must do. We had an additional sighting of a Humpback Whale so extra bonus. No issues at all”

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3.National Park, Train, and Beagle Channel Navigation

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 182 reviews · 510 minutes - 12 hours · from $190

Spend up to 12 hours exploring Tierra del Fuego National Park, riding the End of the World Train, and cruising the Beagle Channel. Guide Martina has earned warm praise for her friendly explanations. Check that your booking includes Isla Martillo and penguins, since shorter boat options may not.

“We had an amazing time. Train ride was very nice but the history behind it made me very emotional. I highly recommend this trip. Our guide Martini was very cute and helpful. She was very nice. We loved the beagle channel navigation. We could see penguins and seals. We also spotted whales.”

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4.Catamaran Tour through the Beagle Channel and Penguins in Isla Martillo

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 124 reviews · 5 to 6 hours (approx.) · from $240

Spend about five hours aboard a comfortable catamaran from Ushuaia, with bilingual commentary, onboard restrooms, a café, and wildlife viewing from the deck. See seabirds, sea lions, Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse, Puerto Almanza, and Magellanic and Gentoo penguins at Isla Martillo. You stay on the boat, with no island landing.

“It's exactly like described. The crew was highly competent and friendly. The tour departed and came back as planned.”

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5.Martillo Island: Boat Trip to the Penguin Colony & Beagle Channel

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 108 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $177

Set out from Ushuaia for a five-hour catamaran trip through the Beagle Channel. You’ll pass sea-lion and bird islands, Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse, Puerto Williams, and Martillo Island, where Magellanic penguins are viewed from the boat. A bilingual guide explains local wildlife, geology, and the SS Monte Cervantes story.

“Were denied boarding at the meeting point indicated on 3 emails from provider and viator. I want full refund.”

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6.Beagle Channel Boat Tour and Penguin Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 86 reviews · 9h 30m · from $449

Spend about nine hours combining a Beagle Channel catamaran cruise with a guided walk among wild Magellanic and Gentoo penguins on Martillo Island. Guides such as Fabricio and Agustina have led the penguin walk, with English and Spanish commentary. The order changes by availability, and Harberton Ranch closes Tuesdays.

“Excellent and highly recommended. This tour is an experience of a lifetime. Our tour guys, Milko, Gerardo and Norbi…(apologies for misspelling) were amazing. Loved our day walking among penguins and learning about them. Thank you”

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7.Navigate through the Beagle Channel: Seal, Bird & Penguin Islands

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 84 reviews · 5 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $158

From Ushuaia’s Tourist Pier, you’ll cruise the Beagle Channel aboard a heated catamaran with indoor and outdoor seating. A bilingual guide points out cormorants, albatrosses, sea lions, Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse, Chilean and Argentine shores, and Magellanic penguins at Martillo Island. The trip lasts about 5.5 hours and returns to the pier.

“Be sure you have arranged transport to the marina as hotel pickup isn't included. It was fantastic to be so close to the cormorants, sea lions and penguins...they put the catamaran right on the sand and the penguins were on the beach and swimming around the boat. We got lucky too and saw a pair of King penguins, not very common there. The estancia was interesting, though I thought it was a working one when I booked that part of the trip, but it's been a tourist destination since the 1990s when a big snow storm killed most of the areas sheep and that estancia decided to go all tourist.…”

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8.Beagle Channel, Seal Island & Bridges Islands Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 75 reviews · from $88

Join a Spanish- and English-speaking guide aboard a catamaran from Ushuaia’s tourist pier. You’ll see sea lions, Magellanic and Imperial cormorants, Black-browed Albatross, and Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse, with a gentle shore walk on Karelo Island when weather allows. Bring warm, waterproof clothing.

“We enjoy the trip and there is a disembarkment on the shore that we can have a look from the small island.”

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9.Navigation to Beagle Channel and Sea Lions Island with Transfers

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 63 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $118

You’ll ride a catamaran from Ushuaia through the Beagle Channel, passing museums, mountains, ranches, Les Éclaireurs Lighthouse, Sea Lions Island, and Bird Island. A bilingual guide provides commentary, while hotel transfers simplify the outing. Bring binoculars, warm layers, and food or drinks. The cruise does not include penguins.

“DO NOT BOOK WITH THIS VIATOR OPERATOR!!!! They confirmed the day prior to meet at the meeting point at 9:30. We get to the meeting point to find out that the boat had already departed. We would have had to arrive at least 30 minutes prior. The worst part? I wrote this operator TWICE and the company actually running the boat also contacted them, but I never heard a peep from them. No apology even. Nothing. No response whatsoever. Basically, because they gave us faulty information that we followed to the letter we missed the tour. The local company operating the boat was kind enough to put us on another…”

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10.Full-Day Gable Island Eco-Adventure in the Beagle Channel

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 55 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $340Top rated

Spend about 10 hours east of Ushuaia kayaking through the Beagle Channel, hiking Gable Island, and visiting penguins on Martillo Island. A guide such as Facundo adds local insight, while the small group, hotel transport, warm gear, snacks, drinks, and cooked lunch keep the day practical and personal.

“Don't let my review title intimidate you. But you WILL be doing a significant amount of exercise, on land and on water! They picked us up at about 9am in Ushuaia. Once they have picked everyone up, the day starts off with a 1:15 drive to the east edge of Tierra del Fuego, then you walk about 15 minutes to get to the start of the paddling. The paddling segment is in a group kayak for about 2 miles, in a setup like white-water rafting - everyone gets a single-ended wooden paddle, and we're seated along the sides of the large inflatable kayak. The tour company provides waterproof pants and…”

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11.Beagle Channel Catamaran Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 51 reviews · 3 hours · from $107

Board a comfortable catamaran at Ushuaia’s Tourist Port for a three-hour cruise through the Beagle Channel. You’ll pass Bird Island and Sea Lions’ Island, photograph Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse, watch seabirds, and hear about the 1930 sinking of the SS Monte Cervantes. English and Spanish assistance is available.

“Hermosa experiencia, la guía exelente, el catamarán muy cómodo y muy buen trato por parte de todo el personal.”

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12.Beagle Channel Navigation – Sea Lions Island

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 48 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $107

Set out from Ushuaia on a catamaran with a professional guide, watching sea lions, royal and imperial cormorants, seabirds, and Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse. The 2.5-hour trip also includes a walk on Bridges Island, where you learn about local plants, birds, and the Yamana people. Transport to the port depends on your booking option.

“Nice viewing. Liked that we were able to get off and walk around the paths on the island. Saw much wildlife.”

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13.Beagle Channel Catamaran Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 37 reviews · 2h 30m · from $78

Cruise the Beagle Channel from Ushuaia aboard a heated, enclosed catamaran with Spanish and English guiding. See Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse, sea lions, cormorants, and possibly penguins or whales. The boat approaches the islands, and weather permitting, you’ll land on Bridges Island for a short walk and views of Ushuaia and the mountains.

“En promotion cette activité vaut le détour. L’observation de la faune local est très agréable et accompagnée d’explications intéressantes du guide à bord”

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14.Beagle Channel Penguin Colony Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 17 reviews · 5 hours · from $150

Join a bilingual English and Spanish guide for a roughly five-hour catamaran trip from Ushuaia. You will see Fuegian birds at Isla de los Pájaros, sea lions at Isla de los Lobos, Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse, and Magellanic and Papua penguins on Martillo Island. The boat is wheelchair and stroller accessible, with a maximum of 150 people.

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15.Sailing Beagle Channel to the Penguin Colony

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 14 reviews · 6 hours · from $205

Spend six hours on the Beagle Channel with a live Spanish or English guide. See sea lions at Los Lobos Island, seabirds at Los Pajaros, Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse, Gable Island, Puerto Williams, and Magellanic penguins at Martillo Island, all from the boat.

“Was für ein wundervoller Nachmittag ( 15 Uhr bis 21 Uhr) auf dem Beagle Channel . Prima Katamaran mit einwandfrei sauberen Toiletten”

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