Choosing an Ushuaia penguin boat tour
An Ushuaia penguin boat tour visits Isla Martillo, also called Yekapasela, in Argentina east of Ushuaia and opposite Estancia Harberton. The distinction that matters is the way you visit: these excursions observe the colony from the boat. They suit a day centred on penguins and the journey to their island, without the separate guided walking programme.
There are two useful starting patterns. A catamaran leaves the tourist pier in Ushuaia and reaches Martillo by water. Other excursions begin at a city meeting point, travel overland to Puerto Almanza and continue by small boat. The road section is part of that outing, so the advertised duration includes more than the time spent watching the colony.
Boat trips to the penguin colony
Choose the channel cruise for the lighthouse route, or travel via Puerto Almanza for a smaller boat. The pier departure includes a bus transfer and time in front of Martillo.
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Martillo colony and lighthouse by boat
- Beagle Channel Navigation
- Navigation to Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse
- Sailing to Los Pajaros Island
Penguins at Martillo are observed from the boat, without landing.
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Penguin watching via Puerto Almanza
- Round-trip by bus to Puerto Almanza
- English and Spanish speaking guides
- Coffee, tea or hot chocolate
The boat spends around 40 minutes in front of Martillo; disembarkation is not included.
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Small-boat trip to the Martillo colony
- Bilingual naturalist guide
- Transfer to and from meeting point
- Hot drink during the excursion
The shared transfer goes via Puerto Almanza. The island is viewed from the boat without disembarking.
Check availability →Boat trips for Martillo penguin watching
Travel from Ushuaia by catamaran or combine an overland transfer with a small-boat visit from Puerto Almanza. These outings observe penguins from the water.
Catamaran or small boat from Puerto Almanza?
The six-hour catamaran excursion starts at Ushuaia's tourist pier. Its programme specifically describes watching Magellanic penguins from the boat at Martillo. Hotel collection and return are excluded, so arrange the journey to the pier separately. Choose this format when the sea journey itself is an important part of your day.
The five-hour small-boat outing includes a bilingual naturalist guide, a hot drink and transport from a fixed meeting point in Ushuaia. That point is Pres. Julio Argentino Roca 138, followed by shared transport to Puerto Almanza. Transfers from accommodation and warm clothing are excluded. A city transfer therefore means a ride from the meeting point, rather than collection from any hotel.
A separate six-hour option combines a return bus journey from the tourist dock to Puerto Almanza with a penguin-watching boat trip. It includes about 40 minutes in front of Martillo, English- and Spanish-speaking guides, and a hot drink with a homemade croissant. Hotel pickup and disembarkation on Martillo are excluded. This gives a concrete observation window without turning the full excursion length into time beside the penguins.
Boat observation and the guided walk
Keep a boat excursion and a guided penguin walk as separate booking choices. A passage to the colony is not a public ferry ticket or permission to explore the island independently. The excursions described here remain afloat at Martillo; booking one should not depend on adding a landing later.
Read the penguin species guide for the difference between Magellanic and gentoo penguins and the occasional king penguin visitor. A boat trip provides a wildlife-watching opportunity, while the birds present and visible vary. No particular species or photographic encounter is guaranteed.
Beagle Channel
Martillo is one destination within the Beagle Channel. For this outing, the practical decision is whether to spend the approach on the water or combine road transport with a shorter small-boat section. The wider channel guide covers the broader destination; this page keeps the focus on reaching and watching the Martillo colony.
Season, clothing and a weather buffer
Magellanic penguins are seasonally associated with early October through April, with the greatest numbers from November through February. Bird presence and an individual excursion's operating calendar are different things. Use the season and weather guide when choosing dates, then match your travel day to the selected departure.
Patagonian wind and rapid weather changes can alter or cancel boat trips. Leave room in the itinerary rather than placing the excursion immediately before an onward connection. Bring a waterproof jacket and waterproof shoes, a hat and gloves. Small-boat transport does not remove the need for protection from the weather.
Watch quietly, keep your distance from wildlife and follow the crew's directions. Do not crowd, touch or feed penguins, and throw nothing into the water. Use a drone only with permission. For the journey from accommodation to the correct departure point, the arrival guide separates city transport from the booked island excursion.
Boat tour questions
Do these boat trips include walking on Martillo?
They provide penguin watching from the water. A guided island walk is a separate visit format with its own booking and access arrangements.
Is hotel pickup included?
The options on this page use the tourist pier or a fixed city meeting point. The Puerto Almanza transfer starts from that designated point, so include your own journey there in the day's planning.
Does a six-hour excursion mean six hours beside penguins?
The duration covers the whole outing. The bus-and-boat option specifies about 40 minutes in front of Martillo; its remaining time includes travel and the rest of the programme.