Small boats to the Martillo Island penguins from Puerto Almanza
Explore Tierra del Fuego runs a small boat to the Martillo Island penguins from Puerto Almanza, a fishing village east of Ushuaia. It costs ~$150 and takes about five hours, and the boat never lands. Below, how the day splits up and how it compares with the catamaran.
A fishing village on the Beagle Channel
Puerto Almanza is a small fishing village on the Argentine shore of the Beagle Channel, east of Ushuaia. Across the water lies Puerto Williams on the Chilean side, and the Martillo Island colony is within reach of a small boat.
For a penguin trip, the village matters because it shortens the sailing. Most visitors arrive the way Explore Tierra del Fuego's small-boat tour at ~$150 brings them, by van from Ushuaia and straight onto the water.
The penguins themselves live on Martillo Island, off Estancia Harberton, so the village is a launch point rather than a sight in itself. The van takes you to the boat, and the sailing does the rest.
How the five hours split
The listing describes a day of about five hours. A van leaves from a fixed meeting point at Pres. Julio Argentino Roca 138 in Ushuaia and follows National Route 3 and Route J to the village.
- About 1.5 hours by van from Ushuaia to Puerto Almanza
- About 1.5 hours on the small boat, the penguins included
- About 1.5 hours by van back to the meeting point
That puts roughly three of your five hours in a vehicle. It is the trade you make for a shorter, closer sail than the catamaran from town.
One reviewer timed about 30 minutes alongside the penguins. Another mentioned a stop at a lagoon with a talk on beavers, and guides point out sea lions and cormorants along the way.
Watching from the water, not the beach
The boat does not land. Only one operator may put visitors ashore on Martillo Island, and its walk starts from Estancia Harberton further along Route J, so here the penguins are watched from the boat the whole time.
Being small, this boat can come nearer the shore than the large ones, the listing says. With up to 15 people on board you are not jostling for the rail, and photos from near water level look different from those taken off a high deck.
According to this tour's listing, gentoos live at the colony year-round, while the Magellanic penguins come for roughly October to March. Our guide to the two species explains how to tell them apart from a moving boat.
If standing among the birds matters more than the price, read our walk or boat comparison. The landing tour costs ~$530, more than three times this small boat.
Heated van, heated boat, warm clothes
Reviewers mention a heated van and a heated boat, and the listing includes a hot drink and warm clothes. Tea and hot chocolate come round on board, according to reviewers, which helps on a channel where the wind can bite even in summer.
Bring your own layers anyway. Gloves and a warm hat are worth packing too. Our packing guide for the Beagle Channel covers what to wear under the borrowed jacket.
The listing advises against the trip during pregnancy and for wheelchair users. People with back or heart problems are told to skip it too, since a small boat on open water moves more than a catamaran.
Fifteen seats out of Puerto Almanza
A heated van, a small boat with tea on board and warm clothes to borrow. Cancel free up to 24 hours before, and reserve now to pay later.
Small boat or Canoero's catamaran?
Canoero's catamaran at ~$230 also passes Puerto Almanza on its way east from the tourist dock in Ushuaia. It sails the whole route instead of driving half of it, and stops by the islets near town and Les Eclaireurs lighthouse.
| Small boat from Almanza | Canoero catamaran | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~$150 | ~$230 |
| Length | About 5 hours | About 5 hours |
| Group | Up to 15 people | A large catamaran |
| Getting to the water | Van to Puerto Almanza, about 1.5 hours each way | Boards at the tourist dock in town |
| Landing on the island | No | No |
| On board | Hot drink and warm clothes included | Food and drinks for sale |
Canoero rates 4.5 from 400+ reviews on GetYourGuide. The Almanza boat holds 5.0 on both sites, from 12 reviews on GetYourGuide and 28 on Viator, a small base to judge by.
Reviewers of the catamaran say the crew rotate people so everyone gets a photo, but some also mention crowding at the viewing points. With 15 seats at most, that problem mostly fades on the small boat.
Pick the small boat for a closer, quieter look at a lower price. Pick the catamaran if a long van ride puts you off or you want the lighthouse too, and see our price comparison for all three tours side by side.
Who the small boat suits
It suits travelers on a budget who want the closest look short of landing, and photographers who like low angles from near the water. People who dislike crowds tend to prefer it as well.
It fits less well if a long van ride makes you queasy or your time in Ushuaia is short. Three hours on the road for about 90 minutes afloat is a ratio to accept before you book.
The catch, said plainly
Few reviews so far, although the scores are perfect. One reviewer called the trip a bit pricey for what it is, and with about 30 minutes at the colony you can see why.
There is no hotel pickup either. You make your own way to Pres. Julio Argentino Roca 138, so build the walk or the taxi into your morning.
Wind can stop any sailing on the channel, small boats included. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before helps, and our guide to the season and the page on wind cancellations explain how to leave room for a second try.