Beagle Channel cruises: islands, lighthouse and penguins

What the Beagle Channel is

It is a strait at the southern tip of South America that separates Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego from the islands to the south, such as Navarino Island. It has Argentine and Chilean shores and partly connects the waters of the Pacific with those of the Atlantic. It is named after HMS Beagle, the British ship that surveyed it between 1826 and 1830 on the expeditions that included Charles Darwin. Its first inhabitants were the Yaghan (Yámana) canoe people, who called it Onashaga.

Sailing it, you can see a rich variety of wildlife: from sea lions and cormorants to the famous penguin colonies on its islands. Underwater, among dense kelp forests, lives a rich fauna of king crabs, octopuses, starfish and sea urchins.

What you see from the boat

• Bird Island (Isla Casco): seabirds such as cormorants, albatrosses, skuas and gulls.
• Sea Lion Island (Isla Alicia): South American sea lions and fur seals.
• Bridges Islands: an archaeological site of the Yámana or Yaghan people; the lighthouse cruise makes a landing here.
• Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse: the classic postcard of the Beagle Channel, often called the lighthouse at the end of the world. This historic 11-meter tower has run automatically since 1920 on its islet. Since you cannot land there, as it is in active service, the boat sails in very close so everyone can capture the moment. You see it both on the classic cruise and on the way to the penguin colony.

Where to see penguins

About 90 km from Ushuaia lies Martillo Island, home to the only penguin colony in Tierra del Fuego. Every year, between October and April, we welcome Magellanic penguins and, in smaller numbers, the charming Gentoo penguins, which come to nest and raise their chicks.

To enjoy this experience we have two very popular options:

• Walk on Martillo Island (about 6.5 hours): we go by bus to historic Estancia Harberton and cross by boat to walk among them on the island.
• Penguin colony boat trip (about 5 to 6 hours): we sail by catamaran from the Ushuaia Tourist Pier along the channel, past the wildlife islets and the lighthouse, to admire the penguin colony right from the boat.

Ask about the dates of each departure in advance. We tell you more about the species, the season and how to choose the best option for you in penguins in Ushuaia: where and when to see them.

Martillo Island

Called Yecapasela in the Yámana language, it is a small island of about 32 hectares where the colony lives. To protect the birds and their natural surroundings, the walk takes place only along a path marked off with stakes, covering about 800 m². You reach the island by boat from nearby Estancia Harberton, which is the route of our walking tour.

Estancia Harberton

It is the departure point where we board to cross to Martillo Island. Founded in 1886 by the missionary Thomas Bridges, it is the first rural estate in Argentine Tierra del Fuego, a pioneering place full of history. On the grounds you will also find the Acatushún Museum, a remarkable center devoted to southern seabirds and marine mammals. Keep in mind: admission to the estancia is not included in the price of our tour, so we suggest checking the current rate before your trip.

How to explore the channel by boat

You can enjoy the waters of the Beagle Channel on different boats, from catamarans, yachts and sailboats to more adventurous kayak or canoe outings.

Our classic cruise to the lighthouse is aboard a comfortable catamaran and sails straight from the port of Ushuaia: just make your own way to the pier and show your booking voucher. The penguin colony trip, for its part, leaves from the Tourist Pier, on the departure time set by the boat company for that day. Keep in mind that neither option includes the transfer to the port.

Which boat trip to choose

The three outings are compared in a table (duration, where they leave from, what they include and where you go ashore) in which Beagle Channel boat trip to choose. In short: the lighthouse cruise is the only one with a landing on the Bridges Islands, and the Martillo Island tour, the only one where you walk alongside the penguins.

The channel from the shore

You can also see the Beagle from land: the Coastal Trail in Tierra del Fuego National Park runs along it for 7 km, and the King Crab Route ends in Puerto Almanza, with lunch facing the channel and Puerto Williams, in Chile, on the opposite shore.