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Ushuaia Penguin Season

Penguin season in Ushuaia runs from October to March or early April, with the best months November to February. Gentoo penguins stay on Isla Martillo all year, so some boat tours keep running in winter.

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Updated Oct 2026 · Prices checked Oct 2026

Oct · opens
Arriving
10 °C / 50 °Faverage daytime high, Ushuaia
Month by month
Quick answer

Penguin season in Ushuaia runs from October to March or early April, with the best months November to February. Gentoo penguins stay on Isla Martillo all year, so some boat tours keep running in winter.

  • Penguins are present October to March or early April; best November–February.
  • The walk on Martillo runs ≈1 October – 31 March; the boat-and-walk combo ends 15 March.
  • Magellanic penguins are present October to March, according to one operator.
  • Gentoo penguins live on the island year-round, 68 breeding pairs per one operator.
  • A winter Gentoo landing runs ≈July to mid-September, ≈30 minutes ashore, per the operator.
  • In peak season the walk sells out weeks ahead.

Source: turismoushuaia.com, piratour.net · checked Oct 2026

Ushuaia Penguin Season Month by Month

Source: turismoushuaia.com, piratour.net, estanciaharberton.com · checked Oct 2026; temperatures: Ushuaia Airport 1991–2020 normals (SMN)

November to February is the safest window; October and March work with fewer certainties; April is the tail end and May to September is Gentoo-only.

Sort by
JanJanuaryPeakMagellanic and Gentoo on the island; Harberton closed 1 January.14 / 5 °C (56 / 42 °F)Walks + boats
FebFebruaryPeakBoth species present; the walk is running.14 / 5 °C (56 / 41 °F)Walks + boats
MarMarchLeavingWalk runs to 31 March; the boat-and-walk combo to 15 March.12 / 5 °C (54 / 40 °F)Walks to 31 Mar
AprAprilTail endSeason ends in March or early April.9 / 3 °C (49 / 37 °F)Boats only
MayMayGentoo onlyNo walk; boat tours only.7 / 2 °C (44 / 35 °F)Boats only
JunJuneGentoo onlyNo walk; a catamaran review is dated June 2026.4 / 0 °C (40 / 33 °F)Boats only
JulJulyGentoo onlyWinter Gentoo landing, ≈30 min ashore, per the operator.5 / 0 °C (40 / 32 °F)Winter landing
AugAugustGentoo onlyWinter Gentoo landing, ≈30 min ashore, per the operator.6 / 0 °C (42 / 32 °F)Winter landing
SepSeptemberGentoo onlyOne listing sells the winter landing to 15 September.8 / 1 °C (46 / 34 °F)Winter landing
OctOctoberArrivingWalk starts ≈1 October; Harberton opens ≈11 October.10 / 2 °C (50 / 36 °F)Walks from ≈1 Oct
NovNovemberPeak beginsThe best window starts; the walk is running.12 / 3 °C (53 / 38 °F)Walks + boats
DecDecemberPeakWalk running; Harberton closed 25 December.12 / 5 °C (54 / 40 °F)Walks + boats
bar: daytime high, 0–15 °C
Check live dates for your month

Ushuaia Penguin Season Daylight, Month by Month

Long December days leave time for an afternoon sailing; June has ≈7 hours of light.

Walk season (≈Oct–Mar)Boats only · Gentoo
17Jan
15Feb
13Mar
10Apr
8May
7Jun
8Jul
10Aug
12Sep
14Oct
16Nov
17Declongest
hours of daylight on the 15th of each month, Ushuaia (54.8° S) — computed from the sun's position

Morning or Afternoon on an Ushuaia Penguin Season Sailing

9 am departuresThe three most-booked catamarans sail at 9 am; the walk days start at 8–8:30 am.
3 pm departuresThe same catamarans also sail at 3 pm, back ≈8 pm — in December there is light until ≈10 pm.
DaylightFrom ≈7 h in June to ≈17 h in December; daytime highs 4–14 °C.

Source: departures seen on GetYourGuide date pages; daylight computed for 54.8° S; SMN normals

Ushuaia Penguin Season in April — What Is Left

Source: GetYourGuide listings · Oct 2026; turismoushuaia.com, piratour.net · checked Oct 2026

In April you can still see penguins from a boat, but the summer walk on the island has ended.

If seeing penguins is the main reason for the trip, April is a gamble — November to February is the reliable window.
  • Walk on MartilloEnded 31 March
  • Season statusPenguins stay until March or early April, so early April is the tail end
  • BoatsGetYourGuide reviews dated early April 2026 for the classic catamaran and the 8-seat Almanza boat report penguins seen
  • SpeciesGentoos are present all year; Magellanics are listed October to March by one operator
  • Not stated in our sourcesHow many Magellanics remain in April
The classic catamaran

Ushuaia Penguin Season Isla Martillo Months by Species

Source: turismoushuaia.com, CONICET repository (2021) · checked Oct 2026; GetYourGuide listings · Oct 2026

Magellanic penguins make the summer colony; Gentoos are the year-round residents.

SpeciesWhenHow many
MagellanicOctober to March (one operator)the largest group, ≈4,000 breeding pairs in a 2021 survey
Gentooyear-round68 recorded breeding pairs (operator's figure)
Kinga handful, occasionalno reliable months
The colony on Isla Martillo

Ushuaia Penguin Season in Winter — Gentoos Only

Source: piratour.net · checked Oct 2026; GetYourGuide listings · Oct 2026

From May to September you can still meet penguins, but only Gentoos, and the walk shrinks to about half an hour.

Winter landing

1 tour
Our pickWalk on the islandThe winter Gentoo landingGentoos only · 7 h
≈30 min ashore, winter
1 pm
Walk on the island
New · no reviews yet
$450per person
Book

≈July to mid-September, ≈30 minutes on the island, Gentoo only, according to the operator. One listing sells its winter landing 1 July – 15 September: 7 hours by speedboat from the pier.

Winter boat tours

1 tour
Small boatThe small-boat tripGentoos year-round, per the listing · 100 min
Not stated by the operator
2 pm
From the boat
5.0· 5 reviews
$135per person
Book

GetYourGuide reviews show boat formats running outside summer: a catamaran in June 2026, the crab-route trip in late August 2026 and the small-boat trip in September 2026. The small-boat trip's listing states Gentoos are present all year.

Ushuaia Penguin Season Closures and Dates at Harberton

Source: estanciaharberton.com · checked Oct 2026; GetYourGuide listings · Oct 2026

Plan the walk around Harberton: it is closed every Tuesday and on the main holidays.

  • WeeklyClosed Tuesdays
  • HolidaysClosed 25 December and 1 January; one operator lists 25 December – 2 January
  • Season hours≈12:00–19:00 from ≈11 October to March, according to the estancia
  • Catamarans on holidaysOne catamaran sails only in the afternoon on 25 December and 1 January
  • Exact 2026-27 season datesNot yet confirmed by the operators
On a Tuesday the walk is off — a catamaran from the pier still sails.
The cheapest catamaran

Ushuaia Penguin Season Booking — How Far Ahead

Source: c5n.com · checked Oct 2026; GetYourGuide listings · Oct 2026

For November to February, book the walk weeks ahead; boat tours are easier to get.

  • WalkSmall daily quota, sells out weeks ahead in peak season
  • CatamaransOne catamaran departs every day, morning and afternoon
  • FlexibilityMost tours cancel free up to 24 hours before; the full-day walk shows no free cancellation
The all-inclusive walk

Ushuaia Penguin Season FAQ

When can I see penguins in Ushuaia?

You can see penguins in Ushuaia from October to March or early April, with the best months November to February. In those months Magellanic and Gentoo penguins share Isla Martillo and the walk on the island runs, from about 1 October to 31 March. From May to September only Gentoo penguins are reliably there, seen from boats or on a short winter landing. The full-day walk covers both the channel and the island in season.

What is the best month for the Martillo walk?

November to February is the best window: it is the core of the penguin season and the walk runs every month in it. Those months are also when the walk sells out weeks ahead, so book early. October and March still have walks, from about 1 October and until 31 March, with the boat-and-walk combo ending 15 March. The all-inclusive walk bundles transport, the channel cruise and the walk.

Is October too early to see penguins?

No: the season starts in October and the walk opens around 1 October, so penguins are on Isla Martillo. October sits outside the November–February best window, and Estancia Harberton opens for the season around 11 October, according to the estancia. A GetYourGuide review from 5 October 2026 on an Almanza boat tour mentions it was not yet peak season. The 8-seat Almanza boat runs close to the colony.

Is March too late for penguins?

No, but it is the end: the walk runs until 31 March, while the combined boat-and-walk trip stops on 15 March. The season closes in March or early April, so late March is the tail of it. If your dates are flexible, February is safer. The full-day walk is one way to land in March.

Can you see penguins in Ushuaia in winter?

Yes, but only Gentoo penguins, which live on Isla Martillo year-round. Piratour lists a winter landing from ≈July to mid-September with ≈30 minutes on the island, and one listing sells it 1 July – 15 September. Boat tours also run outside summer: reviews show a catamaran in June and the crab-route trip in August 2026. The winter Gentoo landing is the only winter way to step ashore.

Are the 2026-27 penguin season dates confirmed?

Not yet: the operators have not published exact 2026-27 dates in the sources we checked. The usual pattern is a walk season from about 1 October to 31 March and penguins present until March or early April. Check your date in the booking widget, which shows live availability.

Check Dates for Your Ushuaia Penguin Season Tour

November to February sells out first. Dates below: the all-inclusive walk, from $549 per person (listing price, Oct 2026).

Live dates on GetYourGuide

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before, per the listing.

This tour
The all-inclusive walk
$549 · per person · ★ 4.5 (91)
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