Argentina · PENGUIN WATCHING TOURS
26 reviewed
Magellanic and gentoo colonies sit on islands in the Beagle Channel, and the trips fall into two camps: catamarans that circle at a distance, and permit-limited landings that put you on the beach with them. These 15 tours show which is which, what the season runs, and what each one costs.
Cruise the Beagle Channel by catamaran for sea lions, cormorants, and Magellanic and Papuan penguins, plus lighthouse history and great views.
“Every stop had enough time for everyone to take pictures and admire them. Very comfortable catamaran.”
Sail the Beagle Channel from Ushuaia to Martillo Island for close-up penguins, sea lions, birds, and the Les Eclaireurs lighthouse.
“Good activity overall to see the sea lions and penguins. The boat gets really close to them so it’s perfect for pictures. The boat itself is clean, modern and spacious, with a café on board. There’s seating upstairs and downstairs which is comfortable, and outside space to view at the stops. Staff all super friendly. -Downside is the price was expensive for what it was. -There could have been another stop, maybe at a local fisherman’s village on the way back, as the way back was long. -Could not hear what the tour guide was saying over the microphone, sharing history etc with us. It seemed only one speaker out…”
A 5-hour Beagle Channel catamaran to Martillo Island for close penguin sightings, sea lions, lighthouse views, and serious photo ops.
“Great trip and a bucket list must do. We had an additional sighting of a Humpback Whale so extra bonus. No issues at all”
Catamaran through the Beagle Channel to Isla Martillo for close penguins, plus sea lions, a lighthouse photo stop, and big bird sightings.
“Nice experience, but bring some warm clothing. Staying outside on deck is half the fun, but it was COLD.”
5-hour Beagle Channel catamaran to Martillo Island to see Magellanic penguins, sea lions, cormorants, and Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse.
“The boat is nothing special, but it serves its purpose, and is clean and well-maintained. The main point is that you'll get to see the amazing sights of the Beagle Channel, which are truly beautiful. Note however that the weather can be very cold on the water - we were there last week spring and it was freezing, so bundle up. Also, we did not actually get to go ashore to walk with the penguins, so if you want to do that, you'll need to take the longer tour. Overall, it was well worth the money.”
Ushuaia Beagle Channel cruise plus a guided Martillo Island penguin walk, with lighthouse stops and cold-weather prep for an epic day.
“I enjoyed the unique opportunity to see wild animals up close and not a zoo. It made me feel like I'm one of them, not a human spectator (even though I still technically was, the penguins seemed comfortable with me walking around them) ❤️ The Beauty of how many different mountains are behind mountains, behind mountains was unique for me. Every time you looked out the boat window it was different scenery 🗻🏔️⛰️”
Beagle Channel catamaran from Ushuaia with sea lions, birds, and Martillo Island penguins viewed up close from the boat.
“The boat was well equipped and comfortable with indoor and outdoor seating/viewing and terrific snack option’s available. Beautiful scenery and seeing the lighthouse, seals and MANY penguins were a highlight. The tour delivered on its purpose!”
Walk with penguins on Martillo Island from Ushuaia, with guided access, scenic Beagle Channel boat time, and clear rules for close viewing.
“The tour itself was wonderful. The logistics of booking was a bit concerning. Viator booked through a 2nd agency that booked through a 3rd agency. When we arrived at the hotel, they didnt know where to send us and when we arrived for checkin, we had no idea which agency to speak to. Then once arriving at 630am, we were told we could not checkin until 730am (with our kids waiting!), even though I had called to confirm the night before. My advice, book the tour with a local agency and NOT through viator!”
Punta Tombo penguins from Puerto Madryn cruise port, with pickup, English guide, box lunch, and plenty of time on the boardwalk.
“This was a very well organized tour, they were efficient and great in communicating thru Whatsapp on the time and meeting place. This tour started early and we got there before all the big buses showed up. Our tour guide Marcela was very good and very enthusiastic, armed with a wealth of information about the wild animals in the area. She was great in spotting and pointing out animals we encountered. We saw an armadillo!! She was a bit hard to understand sometimes, but she more than make up this deficiency with all the pluses. We did come late for this tour (March), all the penguin chicks were gone. U…”
Catamaran penguin watching from Ushuaia through the Beagle Channel, with sea lions, cormorants, and Martillo Island penguins.
“Catamarano stra colmo di gente . As ogni attrattiva da vedere ci si ammassava fuori e se eri dietro non vedevi assolutamente nulla e la gente non si spostava. Siamo arrivati dai pinguini prima di tutte le altre barche e nonostante questo la nostra si é fermata dove c’erano solo una decina di pinguini mentre il “gruppo super grande “ non siamo riusciti a vederlo nemmeno ha fatto un giro per poter mostrare anche a chi non ha visto nulla. In prezzo assurdo si quasi 169€ a persona ! I peggio spesi. Sxonsiglko !!!meglio barca piccola”
Small-group Punta Tombo shore excursion from Puerto Madryn with lunch, air-conditioned transport, and up-close Magellanic penguins plus optional dinosaur photos.
“Well organized-small group size-well versed English speaking guide. Left early (before cruise ship buses)- had plenty of time in the rookery and timely return back to ship. Would recommend this tour to any cruise ship guests.”
Walk Punta Tombo’s penguin path on a full-day trip from Puerto Madryn, with transfers, guide, and close Magellanic penguin sightings.
“Very good tour. Loved walking with Penguins though could have used a little more time at Punto Tumbo. The guide was very good She shared a lot of interesting information.”
Punta Tombo penguin experience from Puerto Madryn with hotel pickup, guided wildlife viewing, and close-up Magellanic penguins.
“Expérience incroyable ! Au plus proche pour observer les pingouins et les guanacos. Je recommande ! :)”
Walk among penguins at Martillo Island from Ushuaia, then cruise Beagle Channel for birds, sea lions, and the End of the World lighthouse.
“I walked with the Penguins! Literally! It was a dream come true for me. Though Gentoos were only available to watch from afar (though we cought 1 Gentoo off-guard when it was returning to it's group from the sea, and it crossed our path right within a 1 foot distance!), their sighting itself without spending the crazy money on an Antarctica cruise was a big deal. Only advice - if I could booked the same tour with Piratour directly (they are the only company with permission to land on Martillo Island) I could have saved a good 120 dollars!!! Don't know if my review will be blocked for saying this,…”
Ushuaia to Puerto Almanza plus a zodiac cruise for Magellanic and Gentoo penguins, local seafood lunch, and Ruta de la Centolla views.
“This was a fantastic trip! Only 4 participants, and as two of us spoke English, there was a second guide, who spoke English perfectly and gave us so much information, as well as being enthusiastic about discussing the social history of the region. I learned so much from him! The meal at the little restaurant was excellent, as was the wine, and the trip out to see the penguins was fantastic! A really smooth boat ride, and so many penguins!! The lady who worked on the boat explained the breeding cycle of the penguins to us, and although it wasn’t a ‘walk with the penguins’ the boat pulled up onto…”
