11 Ushuaia Birdwatching Tours Worth Booking

1.Penguin Watching Tour by Catamaran

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

Cruise from Ushuaia to Martillo Island aboard a modern catamaran, stopping near Bird Island, Sea Lion Island, and Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse. A Spanish and English-speaking guide explains the wildlife and the 1930 SS Monte Cervantes wreck. You watch Magellanic and gentoo penguins from the boat, with a heated cabin, snacks, and drinks available.

“Really fun way to get up close to the penguins. Also saw other sea life -- sea lions and various birds -- but the penguins are the main show. The scenery is spectacular and the guide was knowledgeable and informative. Her English was good and she was very attentive. Don't miss this if you are in Ushuaia.”

Check dates & prices →Read the full review

2.Catamaran Sailing to Penguin Island

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 436 reviews · 5h 30m · from $92Cheapest here

You’ll spend about five and a half hours aboard a catamaran from Ushuaia, with guides speaking English and Spanish. The route passes sea lions, cormorants, Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse, Chilean islands, and Martillo Island, where Magellanic and Gentoo penguins gather in summer. You watch the colony from the boat, not from shore.

“Lovely trip boat is comfortable and does really well on ensuring all get a chance to get up close to the sights”

Check dates & prices →Read the full review

3.Beagle Channel and Penguin Island

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

Set out from Ushuaia aboard a comfortable Catamaranes Canoeros catamaran for a five-hour cruise through the Beagle Channel. A bilingual guide explains the wildlife and scenery as you visit Bird Island, Sea Lions Island, Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse, and Martillo Island. You’ll view Magellanic and Gentoo penguins from the boat, with snacks and drinks available onboard.

“Very nice activity in Ushuaia, we enjoyed seeing the penguins, and we even saw a whale! Pretty magical!”

Check dates & prices →Read the full review

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

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

Sail from Ushuaia through the Beagle Channel with bilingual guidance, stopping near seabird and sea lion colonies, Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse, and Martillo Island. You stay aboard while the catamaran circles close to Magellanic and Gentoo penguins. The boat has restrooms, a café, indoor seating, and outdoor viewing decks.

“We managed a great weather day and also lots of sea lions and penguins to be seen. Quite a leisurely day and the cafe on board was good too, they had a great way of queuing around the boat so everyone gets a great opportunity to see the penguins and take pictures making it really fair for all. The guide was really knowledgable too, a great day out.”

Check dates & prices →Read the full review

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

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

Sail from Ushuaia through the Beagle Channel to Martillo Island, watching Magellanic penguins from a comfortable catamaran. Along the way, your guide points out sea lions, cormorants, Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse, mountain views, Puerto Williams, and local history. This shared tour does not include walking on the island.

“This was a lovely and memorable experience, and one I would absolutely recommend. Seeing the penguins in their natural habitat was a real highlight. We observed them from the boat, which felt respectful and in line with responsible tourism practices. It was disappointing to see another tour operator arrive and walk on the island itself — I really hope this is something that will be restricted or stopped in the near future, as watching wildlife without disturbing it is so important. The scenery along the Beagle Channel was stunning, and the overall experience was smooth, well organised, and easy to enjoy. Everything ran on time and the crew were professional…”

Check dates & prices →Read the full review

6.Beagle Channel Boat Tour and Penguin Experience

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

Spend a full day pairing a close penguin encounter with a Beagle Channel cruise. A bilingual guide such as Fabricio leads the one-hour walk on Martillo Island, while the boat ride visits sea lion and bird colonies, Bridges Islands, and Les Éclaireurs Lighthouse. The order depends on availability, and Harberton Ranch is closed Tuesdays.

“We were lucky with the weather, a fabulous day. The guides gave us lots of info about penguins.”

Check dates & prices →Read the full review

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 for about 5.5 hours with a bilingual Spanish-English guide. Expect heated indoor seating, outdoor decks, sea lions, cormorants, Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse, and close views of Magellanic penguins from the boat. Hotel transfers and food are not included.

“Saw cormorants, penguins and seals during the Channel cruise. Wish we could have spent more time with the penguins and actually set foot on the island with them. I'm sure they don't allow this since people would tend to touch and feed them, but being up close to them would be incredible. Other than that, the Beagle Channel cruise was very easy. The boat is a large motor-driven catamaran with plenty of indoor seating or deck access if you prefer.”

Check dates & prices →Read the full review

8.Penguin walk in Ushuaia + navigation option

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

From Ushuaia, travel to Harberton Ranch and Martillo Island for a guided walk near wild Magellanic and Gentoo penguins. The day includes navigation, a museum visit, and bilingual guiding from staff such as Pablo, Paulo, Julie, and Tom. Expect wind, rough ground, a long transfer, and extra cash costs for admission and boarding.

“What an experience to have. It was better than my expectations. The tour guide Paulo was very knowledgable and explained the rules of visiting the island and rightly so. This was the highlight of our trip to Ushuaia.”

Check dates & prices →Read the full review

9.Penguin Watching Tour by Catamaran

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

Spend about five hours sailing from Ushuaia through the Beagle Channel to Martillo Island. Along the way, you’ll see sea lions, cormorants, Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse, Ushuaia’s waterfront, and possibly the wreck of the SS Monte Cervantes. A live guide speaks English or Spanish, and hotel pickup may be available.

Check dates & prices →Read the full review

10.Martillo Island and Walk Among Penguins Full-Day Tour

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

Spend up to eight hours traveling from Ushuaia to Martillo Island, where a specialist guide leads a one-hour walk near Magellanic and Gentoo penguins. The day also includes a semi-rigid boat ride, Bird Island, Sea Lion Island, the Beagle Channel, and possibly Estancia Harberton. Guides such as Gabriel and Fabrizio are praised for their care and clear explanations.

“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”

Check dates & prices →Read the full review

11.ALMANZA, THE SPIDER CRAB ROUTE & PENGUIN SIGHTING

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 43 reviews · 7h 30m · from $250Best reviewed

Spend about 7.5 hours from Ushuaia following Route 3 and Route J to Puerto Almanza. With guides such as Franco, Lucas, or Luciano, you visit the fishing village, ride a comfortable zodiac toward Magellanic and Gentoo penguins, and enjoy a seafood lunch with crab, mussels, and ceviche. Small groups make the day personal.

“This was a fantastic trip! Only 4 participants, and as two of us spoke English, there was a second guide, who spoke English perfectly and gave us so much information, as well as being enthusiastic about discussing the social history of the region. I learned so much from him! The meal at the little restaurant was excellent, as was the wine, and the trip out to see the penguins was fantastic! A really smooth boat ride, and so many penguins!! The lady who worked on the boat explained the breeding cycle of the penguins to us, and although it wasn’t a ‘walk with the penguins’ the boat pulled up onto…”

Check dates & prices →Read the full review