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Isla Martillo

Isla Martillo: Our most recommended tours and activities

Ushuaia: Penguin Watching Tour by Catamaran

1. Ushuaia: Penguin Watching Tour by Catamaran

Start the tour in the local tourist dock and board a modern and comfortable boat. Set sail and cross the wide Ushuaia Bay until you reach the Beagle Channel through Paso Chico. Then, navigate around the Bird's Island where you can appreciate species of the Tierra del Fuego's seabirds such as skuas, black-browed albatross, steam ducks, cauquenes, cook seagulls, and gray seagulls. After that, reach Sea Lion Island which also belongs to the Bridges Archipelago and is inhabited by 2 different species of sea lion. Arrive at the Les Eclaireurs (The Illuminators) Lighthouse where you will find imperial and rocky cormorants colonies. Hear the story of the collapse of the SS Monte Cervantes in 1930. Next, continue sailing East into the wonderful landscapes of the Beagle Channel surrounded by stunning mountain ranges. Admire both Puerto Almanza on the Argentina coast and the Puerto Williams Naval Base on the Chilean coast. After that, head onwards to Martillo Island, also known as Penguin Island where you will have the opportunity to observe a colony of Magellanic and Papua penguins in their natural habitat. Make the return journey back to the dock, where your tour will end. 

Ushuaia: Gable Island and Penguin Colony with Canoeing

2. Ushuaia: Gable Island and Penguin Colony with Canoeing

Join this active excursion to take part in the most comprehensive day tour of Tierra del Fuego. In addition to Gable Island, visit the Harberton Ranch and the penguin colony on Martillo Island. Leave Ushuaia toward the east until you arrive at Lasifashaj River. There, preparations will begin to paddle inflatable canoes along the river and the Beagle Channel. You will be provided with rubber boots, trousers, and life jackets to paddle downstream and to the sea in the Beagle Channel. At the sea, you will see wildlife, including a variety of seabirds and maybe even some sea lions. Then, arrive at the Harberton Ranch and take a motorboat towards the Isla Martillo. From the boat, you can see penguins at their breeding site. Continue on your motorboat to the main attraction of the day, the huge Gable Island, where a hot lunch awaits you with Patagonian wine, soft drinks, and mineral water. Next, hike to explore this wonderful island along beaver dams, through the forest, and along the marine coast until you reach the boat that will take you back to Puerto Harberton. Then, take the bus to Ushuaia.

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What people are saying about Isla Martillo

Overall rating

4.5 / 5

based on 149 reviews

Get your guide says one should show up at 8:30 before the tour at 9. This is bullshit. You have to be there at 8 at the latest. We arrived 8:20 and almost missed our tour because the company in Ushuaia has only one person attending to everything and the line moved insanely slow. It was terribly stressful and could have been avoided if Get your guide would update their information (actually they could also contact this Argentinian company and ask them to make a separate line for customers who already paid. The whole thing was ridiculous. The tour on the other hand was excellent.

Great trip. Guide spoke both Spanish and English. They made sure at the various sites everyone got a chance to take a good look and pictures. The photographers might be annoying to some people, but they help make sure everyone gets a chance to have a good picture, so they make it more inclusive for everyone.

Wonderful experience, small group made the trip. Penguins up close. Various activities, boat row around fun with group, however rather pointless. Recommend.

The penguins were so cute!!! Besides that the staff was very friendly and we spent ample time with the penguins

Very good mix of activities, and the lunch tasted amazing !