Choose an Ushuaia penguin walk with a Martillo landing
An Ushuaia penguin walk takes you onto Isla Martillo for a guided visit, rather than keeping you aboard a boat beside the colony. The island, also known as Yekapasela, lies opposite Estancia Harberton in Argentina's Beagle Channel. Choose an excursion with a guided walk specifically on Martillo; a boat visit or a walk on another island describes a different experience.
The island belongs to the estancia. Harberton names Piratour as the concessionaire for the penguin-island visit. Different sales listings should therefore be compared by their actual transport, fees and visiting arrangements, rather than treated as separate landing permissions. Your booking is for an organised visit with a guide, not access to explore the island independently.
Guided walks on Martillo
The two GYG options include a one-hour walk, with different admission and port-fee arrangements. The Viator option includes a guided walk; check its navigation option and admission before booking.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide and Viator. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Martillo walk and channel cruise
- 1-hour walking tour with penguins
- Harberton Ranch entry
- Local port tax
The trip includes a bilingual guide, return transport to Harberton and the boat crossing to Martillo.
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Guided Martillo Island walk
- Navigation
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Guided walk around Martillo Island
Check the navigation option and whether admission is included before booking.
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Martillo penguin walk and boat navigation
- 1-hour walk among penguins
- Crossing in Speedboats
- Transfer from the tourist dock
The museum visit depends on the estancia being open. Port tax and, if applicable, Harberton admission are extra; the tour is not recommended during pregnancy or for people with limited mobility.
Check availability →Guided Martillo landing options
Compare two combinations with a one-hour island walk and a further guided-walk option with vehicle transport. Admission and navigation arrangements differ.
Walk with penguins in Ushuaia: what the shore visit involves
The guided format matters as much as the landing itself. Follow the guide across the natural shore, keep your distance from the penguins and let animals continue on their own paths. Observe quietly without crowding, touching or feeding them. Nothing should be thrown into the water. Keep photographs secondary to giving the birds space and following the group's directions.
A Martillo visit is not an independent trekking route. The shore is uneven, and the boat transfer involves a ladder or plank rather than an adapted island pier. Boarding and disembarking are physical parts of the excursion, even when the walking itself sounds gentle. Consider both elements if you have difficulty with balance or mobility; a short walking duration alone does not describe the whole access experience.
The eight-hour walk and channel combination
This outing includes departure and return at Ushuaia's tourist pier, a speedboat crossing to Martillo and a one-hour guided walk among gentoo and Magellanic penguins. The included island crossing is described as 15 minutes of navigation. The programme also includes Beagle Channel navigation with bird and sea lion islands and the lighthouse as route elements.
The estancia museum visit takes place only if the estancia is open on the tour day. Harberton admission is payable separately when that visit is possible, and the port fee is extra. Hotel transfers are excluded, so arrive at the tourist pier yourself. This product is not recommended for pregnant travellers or people with limited mobility. Choose it for the stated island walk and channel combination while keeping those access and cost conditions in view.
The nine-and-a-half-hour option with included fees
The longer cruise-and-walk combination includes a one-hour penguin walk, Harberton admission and the local port tax. Return transport runs between Ushuaia's tourist port and Harberton, and the return island boat ride is included. An English- and Spanish-speaking guide accompanies the programme, which also includes Beagle Channel navigation. Food, drinks and tips are extra.
This is a useful distinction when comparing costs: Harberton admission and port tax are included here, while the eight-hour combination leaves those charges separate. The stated nine-and-a-half hours cover the complete excursion, not the time spent walking. Plan the journey to the tourist port as part of your morning. A museum visit is a separate consideration from the included island walk; the Harberton guide explains the mainland estate and Museo Acatushún.
A guided walk with vehicle transport and navigation option
The seven-hour guided-walk option includes an air-conditioned vehicle, navigation and a guided walk around Martillo. Its meeting point is Naval Prefecture 410 at Ushuaia's tourist dock. Match the navigation programme to the option selected when booking. Keep the seven-hour total separate from the duration of the guided walk itself.
This option gives you another way to organise the land-and-water journey without making every landing package identical. When comparing it with the two one-hour-walk combinations, establish the fees payable for your chosen option and the precise meeting arrangements. Base the decision on the guided Martillo walk and the transport included with that booking. Use the full tour comparison if you also want to weigh a landing against observation from the boat.
Season, clothing and weather space
Magellanic penguins are seasonal visitors from early October to April, with the greatest numbers from November to February. Gentoo penguins are also associated with Martillo, and a separate winter product focuses on them. Occasional king penguins should be treated as possible visitors, not a promised encounter. The species guide explains that distinction in more detail.
The presence of birds, the estancia's visiting season and the calendar of a particular excursion are different planning questions. Choose a scheduled departure for your dates instead of assuming that a season described for the penguins applies to every walk. The best time to visit guide covers this seasonal planning without treating the island as a daily year-round attraction.
Wind and fast weather changes can alter or cancel the programme. Waterproof shoes, a waterproof jacket, a hat and gloves are sensible preparation for the crossing and shore. Leave some flexibility around your visit, particularly if this is the central activity of your stay. Cancellation conditions belong to the specific booking, so keep those terms with your reservation details.
Organise the mainland stage
Reaching Harberton by road is only a mainland journey. It does not replace the booked crossing and guided island visit. Equally, an airport transfer to Ushuaia is separate from getting to the excursion's meeting point. Use the arrival and meeting-point guide to connect these stages, or consider boat-based observation if the landing arrangements do not suit your plans.
Questions about the guided landing
How long is the walk on Martillo?
The eight-hour and nine-and-a-half-hour combinations each include a one-hour island walk. The seven-hour vehicle-and-navigation option includes a guided walk, with its total duration describing the whole excursion rather than a one-hour walking promise.
Is the museum included with every walk?
The eight-hour combination includes a museum visit only when the estancia is open that day, with Harberton admission payable separately. Keep museum plans separate when choosing either of the other guided-walk products.
What should I consider with limited mobility?
The shore is uneven and boarding uses a ladder or plank without adapted island access. The eight-hour combination is not recommended for people with limited mobility or pregnant travellers. Discuss the actual boarding arrangements when choosing an excursion.
Can I walk around independently after landing?
The visit is a guided island activity. Follow the excursion's route and the guide's instructions, observing the penguins quietly and leaving them room to move.