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Can you imagine navigating the legendary Beagle Channel toward the penguin colony at Martillo Island aboard an exclusive vessel specially equipped for your comfort?
This experience was designed so you can see penguins in Ushuaia with an option organized directly by us, with no intermediaries, using our own team, vehicles, and vessel, allowing us to offer you a more comfortable and exclusive outing.
We’ll pick you up at the Ushuaia Tourist Port, from where we’ll travel by road along National Route No. 3 to Puerto Almanza, the southernmost artisanal fishing village in Argentina, located 70 km from the city. There, you’ll board our own state-of-the-art vessel, equipped with twin engines and the only onboard heating system available in the area.
We’ll navigate through Paso Guaraní, a historic maritime corridor alongside Gable Island, whose history is closely connected to the ancient Yámana people, who once navigated these same waters in their canoes.
The most anticipated moment: arriving at Martillo Island, the temporary home of Magellanic penguins and gentoo penguins that return every year for their breeding season, from October to April. Thanks to our exclusive vessel, you can enjoy the penguin watching experience from closer up, with more time and in small groups, so you can calmly observe them swimming, interacting with one another, and walking along the coast, for a truly different way to see penguins in Ushuaia.
After the penguin watching, we navigate back to Puerto Almanza and return to Ushuaia by road. An exclusive and carefully organized outing, ideal for those who want to enjoy the Beagle Channel and penguin watching at Martillo Island in a more special way.
1. We Meet at the Ushuaia Tourist Port
The experience begins at the Ushuaia Tourist Port, where we’ll meet to begin the journey along National Route No. 3 aboard our comfortable vehicles toward Puerto Almanza, the southernmost artisanal fishing village in Argentina, where your navigation for penguin watching at Martillo Island awaits.
2. We Travel Along National Route No. 3
We leave Ushuaia behind and begin traveling along National Route No. 3, where some of the most characteristic landscapes of the End of the World start to appear. You’ll see valleys, mountains, native forests, peat bogs, and the winter centers of Ushuaia, such as the famous Cerro Castor (the southernmost ski resort in the world), on a journey that shows how the surroundings of Ushuaia change as we move away from the city.
National Route No. 3 will take us to Rancho Hambre, a key historic site in Tierra del Fuego, linked to one of the first settlement attempts in this southern region. From there, we’ll turn onto Provincial Route J to continue our journey to Puerto Almanza.
3. We Continue Along Provincial Route J
We turn onto Provincial Route J, a gravel road that gives the excursion a completely different feel. Surrounded by native Nothofagus forests of lenga, ñire, and guindo, with the Lasifashaj River accompanying us for much of the route, we’ll continue toward Puerto Almanza, getting closer with every kilometer.
Along the way, you’ll also see Laguna Victoria, adding another of the landscapes that make the journey special as we head toward the southernmost artisanal fishing village in Argentina.
4. We Arrive at Puerto Almanza: Artisanal Fishing Village
Puerto Almanza is the southernmost artisanal fishing village in Argentina, where life revolves around the sea. With the forest behind it and the imposing Beagle Channel in front, a small group of families lives in direct contact with the sea, depending each day on what its waters provide.
You’ll notice the contrast with the city as soon as you arrive: low houses, the smell of the sea, fishing nets drying in the sun, and the calm of the place shaped by artisanal fishing. From here, we’ll get ready to board our exclusive boat and begin the most anticipated part of the day: penguin watching at Martillo Island.
5. Exclusive Navigation to Martillo Island
We board our own exclusive vessel, equipped with twin engines and the only heating system available in the area, ensuring a comfortable and safe navigation.
We’ll navigate toward Martillo Island through the historic Paso Guaraní, a narrow passage of the Beagle Channel that can only be traveled by small vessels, making this outing feel completely different: the scenery feels closer, the navigation is more intimate, and you’ll also be keeping an eye out for the marine wildlife often seen along the way, such as seabirds and, with a little luck, sea lions.
Gable Island will accompany us along this passage and gives context to this part of the route: it’s not just an island along the way, but one of the most important landmarks of the Beagle Channel before reaching the penguin colony. It was once inhabited by the Yámana, the ancient native canoeing people of the Beagle Channel, who were closely connected for centuries to life on the channel and these southern lands.
6. Penguin Watching at Martillo Island
In front of Martillo Island, the most anticipated moment of this experience arrives: from the boat, you’ll be able to observe up close the colonies of Magellanic penguins and Gentoo penguins, which have just arrived at the rookery to begin their breeding season during the period from October to April. From this close vantage point, you’ll be able to see how they move along the shore, how they go in and out of the water, and how they continue their activity on the island.
Our navigation is designed so that you can enjoy this encounter at a more relaxed pace and from a small vessel, making the penguin watching much more up close and giving you more time to enjoy one of the most sought-after wildlife experiences in the Beagle Channel.
7. We Navigate Back to Puerto Almanza
After the incredible experience of penguin watching at Martillo Island, we begin the journey back to Puerto Almanza. This part of the navigation will let you keep enjoying the Beagle Channel, now from a different perspective of the landscape and with time to take in the surroundings more calmly along the way.
8. We Return to Ushuaia with Unique Memories
From Puerto Almanza, we begin the return journey by road to the Ushuaia Tourist Port, taking the Provincial Route J and then National Route No. 3. But the return feels different now: we’ll drop you back at the port with the feeling of having enjoyed a much closer, more relaxed, and personalized penguin watching experience in Ushuaia, navigating aboard an exclusive vessel that allowed you to observe the penguins of Martillo Island with more time and comfort.
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Yes. Penguin Watching from Puerto Almanza can be enjoyed by families and people of different ages.
Keep in mind that part of the experience takes place aboard a small boat, so you may feel the natural movement of the water during the journey.
If you’re traveling with young children or people who are not used to navigating, this is something to keep in mind when choosing the excursion.
Penguin Watching from Puerto Almanza is available during the penguin season, approximately from spring through summer (generally from October to April).
We recommend dressing in layers and bringing warm clothing, as it can feel colder and windier during the navigation.
Ideally, wear a waterproof and windproof jacket, as well as waterproof footwear, since there may be some splashes during the boat ride.
We also suggest bringing a hat, scarf, and gloves, especially on colder or windier days.
We are prepared to navigate even if there is some wind or rain, which are normal conditions in Patagonia. Only in exceptional situations, if the Argentine Naval Prefecture determines that conditions in the Beagle Channel are not suitable for navigation, the navigation may be rescheduled or refunded, according to your preference.
We don't disembark on the islandbut the penguin watching is from very close up, as we approach in a specially designed boat to offer an intimate and safe experience.
This excursion does not include food or drinks. We suggest bringing water and a light snack if you think it's necessary.
The excursion is carried out in a modern and specially equipped boat, with twin mirror engines and a unique heating system, the only one of its kind in Ushuaia. Additionally, we offer limited spots, ensuring comfort, exclusivity, and safety throughout the experience.
This experience combines ground transportation and navigation.
We depart from Ushuaia by vehicle and travel to Puerto Almanza, on the eastern coast of the Beagle Channel. From there, we board a small boat and navigate to Martillo Island, where we enjoy the penguin watching experience.
After the navigation, we return by small boat to Puerto Almanza and from there begin the ground transfer back to Ushuaia.
This way, during the excursion you’ll discover both the landscapes along the route to Puerto Almanza and the area of the Beagle Channel where Martillo Island is located.
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