“Every stop had enough time for everyone to take pictures and admire them. Very comfortable catamaran.”
Vijay · United States
Ushuaia Penguin Watching Tour by Catamaran
On GetYourGuide as “Ushuaia: Penguin Watching Tour by Catamaran”
- ≈80 km of channel to Martillofrom Canoero office, tourist pier, Av. Prefectura Naval Argentina 400
- 9 am · 3 pmdepartures in season
- 5 hin all
- No landing — the colony is watched from the deck
Quick answer
The Canoero catamaran sails 5 hours from the Ushuaia tourist pier past three wildlife stops to Martillo Island, where you watch the penguins from the deck. Listed from $115, it booked at $230 when we checked.
- 5 hours from the tourist pier, with 9:00 am and 3:00 pm departures.
- No landing on Martillo Island — Magellanic and Gentoo penguins are watched from the boat.
- ★4.5 from 454 reviews on GetYourGuide; value for money scores lowest at 4.2.
- Listed from $115, but the only option cost $230 for 1 adult at booking.
- Port taxes and a navigation certificate are included; food and drinks are sold on board.
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start.
Source: GetYourGuide listing and booking page · Oct 2026
Every penguin tour price comparedUshuaia Penguin Watching Tour by Catamaran Price Check
The listing says from $115; at booking it cost $230 — check your date in the widget before you decide.
Check your date- Advertised priceFrom $115 per person on the GetYourGuide listing, Oct 2026.
- Booking price$230 for 1 adult, the only option offered.
- Other catamarans at the same checkThe classic catamaran booked at $115 and the cheapest catamaran at $110.
- Reviewers rate value for money at 4.2 out of 5, the lowest of its three sub-scores.
If your date also shows $230, the same route and the same no-landing format cost about half on the classic catamaran.
Source: GetYourGuide listing · Oct 2026 · booking page · Oct 2026
Check live datesUshuaia Penguin Watching Tour by Catamaran Fast Facts
Source: GetYourGuide listings · Oct 2026
A 5-hour catamaran trip from the tourist pier that watches the Martillo colony from the water.
- Duration5 hours
- Start times9:00 am or 3:00 pm (the only option)
- Meeting pointCanoero ticket office, Av. Prefectura Naval Argentina 400, a white and green building at the tourist pier
- Landing on Martillo IslandNo, penguins are watched from the boat
- Boat typeCatamaran
- Guide languageLive guide, Spanish and English
- CancellationFree up to 24 hours before
- Rating★4.5 (454 reviews)
What the Ushuaia Penguin Watching Tour by Catamaran Includes
Source: GetYourGuide listing · Oct 2026
The ticket covers the sail, the guide and the port taxes; food is extra.
- Catamaran trip on the Beagle Channel to Martillo Island
- Local Spanish- and English-speaking guide
- Port taxes
- Navigation certificate
- Food and drinks, sold on board
- A landing on Martillo Island
Hotel pick-up and drop-off appears in the listing's inclusions without a clear included or excluded mark, while the meeting point is the ticket office at the pier — plan to reach the pier yourself unless your confirmation says otherwise.
Ushuaia Penguin Watching Tour by Catamaran Route and Timeline
Source: GetYourGuide listing · Oct 2026
The day is one loop of the Beagle Channel: three wildlife stops on the way out, Martillo Island at the far end, then back to the dock.
The day5 h in all
- 9:00 am or 3:00 pmStart
Board at the tourist dock and cross Ushuaia Bay into the Beagle Channel through Paso Chico
- Bird IslandOn the water
Seabirds such as skuas, black-browed albatrosses, steamer ducks and gulls
- Sea Lion IslandOn the water
Part of the Bridges Archipelago, home to 2 species of sea lion according to the operator
- Les Eclaireurs LighthouseOn the water
Imperial and rock cormorant colonies and the story of the SS Monte Cervantes wreck in 1930
- East along the channelOn the water
Views of Puerto Almanza on the Argentine coast and the Puerto Williams naval base in Chile
- At MartilloAt Martillo
Martillo Island, also called Penguin Island — Magellanic and Gentoo penguins from the boat, no landing
- On the waterOn the water
Return to the dock, where the 5-hour tour ends
- 1Meeting point Canoero office, tourist pier, Av. Prefectura Naval Argentina 400
- 2Tourist pier boarding
- 3Isla Martillo seen from the boat
© OpenStreetMap contributorsOpen in maps
Ushuaia Penguin Watching Tour by Catamaran Options and Prices
Source: GetYourGuide booking page · Oct 2026
There is only one option, so pick the departure time and check the price for your own date.
Option · guide · cancellationStartsBooking price
Penguin Watching Tour by Catamaran
English guide · cancellation: free until 24 h before9:00 am or 3:00 pm$230for 1 adult · advertised from $115
English guide · cancellation: free until 24 h before9:00 am or 3:00 pm$230for 1 adult · advertised from $115
Check Ushuaia Penguin Watching Tour by Catamaran Dates
Enter your own date — the price on this tour moved from $115 to $230 on the date checked.
Ushuaia Penguin Watching Tour by Catamaran Reviews
4.5454 reviews
on GetYourGuide
on GetYourGuide
Source: GetYourGuide rating breakdown and reviews · Oct 2026
“Penguins and seals. Good rotation system so everyone can take a photo”
Kees
“The tour was canceled twice earlier in the week due to bad weather, though.”
Ebe · Netherlands
Reviewers praise the comfortable boat and the photo rotation; the weak points are weather and value for money.
What reviewers praise
- A comfortable catamaran, named in two of the six sampled reviews.
- Enough time at every stop for pictures, with a rotation system so everyone gets a photo.
- Friendly staff and an energetic guide giving commentary.
- Snacks on board and a photo service.
What reviewers criticize
- WeatherOne traveler's tour was canceled twice in the same week before it sailed.
- RainOn a wet day the crew had to wipe the windows so guests could see.
- CrowdingGetYourGuide's review summary says better crowd management at viewing points would help.The small-boat trip.
All six sampled reviews are 5-star, so the sample shows little criticism. If crowds put you off, a small boat carries far fewer people.
Who the Ushuaia Penguin Watching Tour by Catamaran Suits
Source: GetYourGuide listings · Oct 2026
Book it if you want port taxes covered and a comfortable boat; look elsewhere if the price shows $230 or you want to stand among the penguins.
Book it if
- You want port taxes included rather than risk a cash port fee, which one source reports at one catamaran operator.
- You want two departures a day, 9:00 am or 3:00 pm, to fit a cruise or flight.
- You want a catamaran with windows: on a rainy day reviewed in Dec 2025, the crew kept wiping the windows clear.
- Your date shows the advertised $115
Book something else if
- Your date shows $230The classic catamaran sails the same route from $115The classic catamaran
- You want the lowest priceOne catamaran is listed from $110The cheapest catamaran
- You want to walk among the penguinsOnly walking tours land on MartilloWalking tours on Martillo Island
- You get seasickThe listing marks it not suitable; a small boat spends less time on the waterThe small-boat trip
Ushuaia Penguin Watching Tour by Catamaran vs Alternatives
Source: GetYourGuide listings · Oct 2026
The two other big catamarans sail the same route for $110–115 on the listing; only the walk lands, at several times the price.
This tour and the alternatives
5 toursReserve with free cancellationTravelers who want port taxes included · 5 h
9 am · 3 pm
From the boat
$115per person
Landing
No, from the boat
The classic catamaranFirst-timers who want the most-reviewed sailing, 553 reviews · 5.5 h
9 am · 3 pm
From the boat
$115per person
Landing
No, from the boat
The cheapest catamaranTight budgets; you make your own way to the pier · 5 h
9 am · 3 pm
From the boat
$110per person
Landing
No, from the boat
The full-day walkTravelers who must walk among the penguins and can commit to a fixed date · 10 h
1 h on the island
Day runs 8 am - 9 pm
Walk on the island
$530per person
Landing
Yes, a 1-hour walk on Martillo Island
Hours
About 10, back in town 9:30–9:45 pm
Listing price
From $530, non-refundable
The small-boat tripSmall-group fans who want to get closer from the water · 100 min
2 pm
From the boat
$135per person
Landing
No, from a small boat close to the colony
Hours
Listed as 100 minutes, but the itinerary adds about 1.5 hours by van each way
Ushuaia Penguin Watching Tour by Catamaran FAQ
Is the Ushuaia penguin watching tour by catamaran worth it?
Yes, if your date books near the advertised $115: you get 5 hours on the Beagle Channel, three wildlife stops and the Martillo colony from the deck, with port taxes included. At $230, as when we checked, the classic catamaran covers the same route for half. Compare the classic catamaran.
Does the Ushuaia penguin watching tour by catamaran land on Martillo Island?
No, the catamaran stays on the water and 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 reach the island by road and a 15-minute speedboat crossing. Walking tours on Martillo Island.
How long is the penguin watching tour by catamaran?
The tour takes 5 hours from the tourist dock and back, with departures at 9:00 am or 3:00 pm on the date checked. The listing does not state how long the boat stays in front of the penguin colony. See departure times.
Where does the Ushuaia penguin watching tour by catamaran start?
It starts at the Canoero ticket office, Av. Prefectura Naval Argentina 400, a white and green building at the tourist pier. Hotel pick-up appears in the inclusions list without a clear mark, so plan to walk or take a taxi to the pier unless your confirmation says otherwise. Check the meeting point.
Why does the catamaran tour show $230 instead of $115?
The listing advertises from $115 per person, but when we checked the only option booked at $230 for 1 adult. The listing does not explain the difference, and it notes that prices may vary, so check your own date before you pay.
Will I get seasick on the Ushuaia penguin watching tour by catamaran?
You might: the listing marks the tour as not suitable for people prone to seasickness. Wind on the Beagle Channel decides the conditions, and one reviewer's sailing was canceled twice in a week for bad weather. A small boat from Puerto Almanza spends less time on the water. See the small-boat trip.
What should I bring on the penguin watching tour by catamaran?
Bring your passport or ID card, which the listing asks for, plus money for food and drinks sold on board. Smoking is not allowed. The tour includes a navigation certificate and port taxes, so you do not need cash for a port fee. Book the Canoero catamaran.
Can I cancel the Ushuaia penguin watching tour by catamaran?
Yes, cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. Weather cancellations happen on the Beagle Channel, so leave a spare day in your plans if you can. Reserve with free cancellation.
Book the Ushuaia Penguin Watching Tour by Catamaran
Book it if your date shows a price close to $115; otherwise compare all the boat tours first. Listing price from $115 per person (Oct 2026).
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before, per the listing.