Our pick
Martillo Island Full-Day Tour, Walk Among Penguins, Azul Latina Travel
You check in at the tourist port in Ushuaia, at 8:00 am for the 8:30 am departure or at 10:00 am for the 10:30 am one. The agency tells you which after you book, depending on space.
On the early departure a bus takes you east to Estancia Harberton, the old sheep farm that faces the island. From there a rigid inflatable boat crosses in about 15 minutes, and a guide walks you around Martillo for about an hour among gentoo and Magellanic penguins.
The other half of the day is a cruise along the Beagle Channel, past Bird Island, Sea Lion Island and the red-and-white Les Eclaireurs lighthouse. On the later departure the order flips: the cruise first, the walk next, the bus back to town last.
- Duration
- About 8 hours
- With the penguins
- About 1 hour on foot
- Group
- Up to 20 people
- Route
- Harberton, Martillo Island, Beagle Channel
- Departure
- Tourist port, 8:30 am or 10:30 am
- Guide
- Spanish and English
- Limits
- Not for limited mobility, wheelchair users, pregnancy or babies under 1
- Cancellation
- Non-refundable on GetYourGuide
How the early departure runs, step by step
This is the order the listing gives for the 8:30 am start. The wind on the channel and the boat crossing can stretch or shorten any leg.
Out of Ushuaia by road
- Check in at the tourist port at 8:00 am
- Bus east along Route 3 and Route J to Estancia Harberton
- Rigid inflatable boat to Martillo Island, about 15 minutes
On the island, then the channel
- About 1 hour on foot among gentoo and Magellanic penguins
- Cruise west past Bird Island, Sea Lion Island and Les Eclaireurs lighthouse
- Back at the tourist dock in Ushuaia
What the price covers
The fare pays for the boats and the walk. The estancia door and the port charge to the pesos in your pocket.
Included
- Transfer from the tourist dock and back
- The 15-minute crossing to Martillo Island
- The guided walk of about an hour
- The Beagle Channel cruise to the islands and the lighthouse
Not included
- Hotel pickup or drop-off
- Harberton entry, 60,000 Argentine pesos, if it is open
- Port fee, 6,000 Argentine pesos a person
- A refund if you change your mind
Between us, before you go
A word from one windblown traveler to another. The booking is not finished when you pay: the agency asks for every traveler's full name, date of birth, nationality, passport number and WhatsApp number, and confirms within 48 hours. Send them straight away.
Estancia Harberton closes on Tuesdays, so on that day there is no museum visit. One reviewer was sent to the port building when the company's hut was about 400 m (a quarter mile) away, so read your voucher twice. What the hour on the island looks like.
Why it beats the boats
From a boat you watch the colony across a strip of water. On the walk you stand on the same beach, crouched low, while the penguins decide how close to come. It also packs a channel cruise and a farm with a long history into the same day. Walk or boat, set side by side.
What you give up is flexibility. GetYourGuide sells it as non-refundable, and the time is confirmed only after you book.
Who we would not send on it
Anyone with limited mobility, whom the listing turns away. Travelers on a tight budget, who will be happy on the small boat from Puerto Almanza. And cruise passengers with a fixed all-aboard time, who should look at our cruise stop guide first.
Book it if
You want to be on the island, not beside it. An hour on foot with the penguins, a guide who keeps everyone at a respectful distance and a cruise past the sea lions make this a whole day out. It suits couples and keen photographers. Older children do well too, if they can stand still.
Skip it if
- Need a free cancellation? Take Canoero's catamaran
- On a budget? Go with the small boat, from ~$150
- Short on time? Both boats take about five hours
- Unsure about the walk? Read our hour on Martillo first
Ready to walk with the penguins?
The tour is on GetYourGuide (4.9 from 25 reviews) and on Viator (4.7 from 54). GetYourGuide sells it as non-refundable, so check the terms on whichever site you use before you pay.