The 15 Wildlife Tours in Ushuaia That Earn Their Price

1.Penguin Watching Tour by Catamaran

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 439 reviews · 5 hours · from $180Our pick

Spend five hours aboard a warm, modern catamaran from Ushuaia, watching sea lions, cormorants, seabirds, and Magellanic and Papuan penguins. A bilingual guide provides live commentary, with audio support in four languages. You view the penguins from the boat rather than walking on Martillo Island, but the catamaran pulls close to shore.

“Fun and well-organised excursion to see sea lions, cormorants and penguins from up close. We were very lucky and even saw a humpback whale. The only negative/annoying part of this journey were two ladies of the organising agency who took pictures of the passengers. We wanted to enjoy the beautiful animals and they were shouting for people to make room in order for them to take there pics which could then be bought. Very annoying. Otherwise everything was great (even the coffee on board!).”

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2.Catamaran Sailing to Penguin Island

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 436 reviews · 5h 30m · from $92Best value

Spend about five and a half hours aboard a catamaran from Ushuaia, sailing through the Beagle Channel to Martillo Island. You’ll see sea lions, cormorants, historic wreck sites, Chilean views, and summer penguin colonies from the boat. English and Spanish guides provide commentary, with a café, bathrooms, and outdoor decks onboard.

“Good activity overall to see the sea lions and penguins. The boat gets really close to them so it’s perfect for pictures. The boat itself is clean, modern and spacious, with a café on board. There’s seating upstairs and downstairs which is comfortable, and outside space to view at the stops. Staff all super friendly. -Downside is the price was expensive for what it was. -There could have been another stop, maybe at a local fisherman’s village on the way back, as the way back was long. -Could not hear what the tour guide was saying over the microphone, sharing history etc with us. It seemed only one speaker out…”

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3.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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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.Penguin walk in Ushuaia + navigation option

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 81 reviews · 7 hours (approx.) · from $291

Travel from Ushuaia to Harberton Ranch and Martillo Island for a guided walk near wild Magellanic and Gentoo penguins. Guides such as Pablo, Julie, and Paulo have led engaging bilingual tours, while the boat ride adds fine Beagle Channel views. Expect a long day, extra cash costs, cool wind, and roughly one hour with the penguins.

“The tour itself was wonderful. The logistics of booking was a bit concerning. Viator booked through a 2nd agency that booked through a 3rd agency. When we arrived at the hotel, they didnt know where to send us and when we arrived for checkin, we had no idea which agency to speak to. Then once arriving at 630am, we were told we could not checkin until 730am (with our kids waiting!), even though I had called to confirm the night before. My advice, book the tour with a local agency and NOT through viator!”

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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.Penguin Watching Tour by Catamaran

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 55 reviews · 5 hours · from $177

Sail from Ushuaia through the Beagle Channel on a 5-hour catamaran trip. You’ll see sea lions, cormorants, Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse, and the SS Monte Cervantes wreck before reaching Martillo Island’s Magellanic penguin colony. English and Spanish guides lead the outing, with optional hotel pickup.

“Catamarano stra colmo di gente . As ogni attrattiva da vedere ci si ammassava fuori e se eri dietro non vedevi assolutamente nulla e la gente non si spostava. Siamo arrivati dai pinguini prima di tutte le altre barche e nonostante questo la nostra si é fermata dove c’erano solo una decina di pinguini mentre il “gruppo super grande “ non siamo riusciti a vederlo nemmeno ha fatto un giro per poter mostrare anche a chi non ha visto nulla. In prezzo assurdo si quasi 169€ a persona ! I peggio spesi. Sxonsiglko !!!meglio barca piccola”

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11.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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12.Martillo Island and Walk Among Penguins Full-Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 43 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $369

Spend about eight hours exploring the Beagle Channel and Martillo Island from Ushuaia. A semi-rigid boat takes you ashore for one hour among Magellanic and Gentoo penguins, with a specialist guide such as Fabrizio or Gabriel. The day also includes Bird Island, Sea Lion Island, the famous lighthouse, and possibly Estancia Harberton.

“It was so exhilarating to be literally walking among penguins and so close to them! They are awesome creatures. It was one of my best life experiences”

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13.ALMANZA, THE SPIDER CRAB ROUTE & PENGUIN SIGHTING

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 43 reviews · 7h 30m · from $250Top rated

Spend about 7.5 hours traveling from Ushuaia through Fuegian valleys and forests to Puerto Almanza. After a guided visit and a Zodiac ride along the Beagle Channel, you watch Magellanic and Gentoo penguins from close range, then enjoy a local seafood lunch. Guides may include Franco, Lucas, or Luciano.

“Merci à notre guide Franco pour ses explications et l’esprit amical de cette journée excellente. Le repas de midi à Puerto Almanza était exceptionnel: ceviche + moules grillées + crabe royal 🥰. Nous avons pu approcher les pingouins à bord du zodiac confortable. Nous recommandons ce tour sans réserve.”

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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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