Ushuaia Beagle Channel and Penguin Island

Yes, if you are happy to see the penguins from the deck: for $110 you get 5 hours on the Beagle Channel with sea lions, seabirds, Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse and the Martillo Island colony. It holds ★4.6 from 363 reviews, and reviewers single out the crew turning the boat for photos. Value for money is its lowest sub-score at 4.3/5. If standing among the penguins matters most, only the landing tours deliver it. Book this catamaran.

No, the catamaran does not land; you watch the Magellanic and Gentoo penguins from the boat. Only one operator, Piratour, is authorized to land and walk on Martillo Island, and those walks take a full day by road via Estancia Harberton. The catamaran trades that closeness for a 5-hour trip straight from the town pier. The walk among penguins reviewed.

The trip lasts 5 hours, including about 4.5 hours of navigation. The boat covers about 80 km to reach Martillo Island, with stops at Bird Island, Sea Lions Island and Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse on the way. It returns to the same pier, so you can plan the rest of the day around a 9:00 am or 3:00 pm start. Check departure times.

It leaves at 9:00 am or 3:00 pm every day, according to the booking page. On 25 December and 1 January, it sails only in the afternoon. The operator asks travelers to say in advance which departure they want, so pick your slot when you book and confirm it with the operator if the booking page does not ask. Pick your departure.

It starts at the Catamaranes Canoero office on the tourist pier in Ushuaia, where you exchange your voucher for boarding passes. Transport to the pier is not included, so make your own way there. The pier is on Av. Prefectura Naval Argentina, and the Canoero office is at no. 400. Boat tours and where they start.

Not clearly: port tax, meals and drinks appear in the listing without a clear included or excluded mark — plan to pay them yourself unless your confirmation says otherwise. One source reports that some catamaran operators collect a port fee in cash, so carry some Argentine pesos. If you would rather have port taxes in the price, the Canoero catamaran includes them, but check its price for your date. Extra costs on every tour.

The listing names sea lions, skuas, albatrosses and penguins, with a colony of Magellanic and Gentoo penguins on Martillo Island. Reviewers also report whales and dolphins on some trips, though the listing does not promise them. Magellanic penguins are present from about October to March, while Gentoo penguins live on the island year-round. The best months for penguins.

Yes, cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start for a full refund. The listing also lets you reserve now and pay later, which keeps plans flexible if the weather on the Beagle Channel looks uncertain. Free cancellation was shown on the booking page; confirm it for your own date before paying. Reserve with free cancellation.