A tour of about 6.5 hours from Ushuaia: a bus ride to Estancia Harberton, a boat trip to Martillo Island and a walk among Magellanic and Gentoo penguins. Private transport, the round-trip bus, the boat ticket and a guide in Spanish, English or Portuguese for the whole tour are included.
This Martillo Island tour takes you walking among the penguins, not watching them from afar: you step onto the island and they are just metres away. That is why it is known as a penguin walk. It is a full day of countryside, sea and wildlife on the Beagle Channel, starting in Ushuaia.
What you’ll experience on Martillo Island
- The road to Harberton: the bus ride to Estancia Harberton, the first estancia in Tierra del Fuego, is part of the outing, with southern landscapes out the window.
- The boat crossing: you sail the Beagle to the nature reserve where the colonies live.
- The penguin walk: you walk among Magellanic and Gentoo penguins, with the channel wind on your face and the colony all around you.
- A one-of-a-kind place: it is the only penguin colony in Tierra del Fuego, and the Magellanic penguins nest in burrows in the island’s soft soil.
What is Martillo Island?
Isla Martillo is a Beagle Channel island about 90 km from Ushuaia, named after its hammer-like shape (martillo means hammer). The penguins come for their breeding season and can be seen from October to April: check availability for your date.
Who it’s for
It’s for you if you want to get close to the penguins and love a day that mixes bus, boat and a walk. With transport, the boat ticket and the guide taken care of, all you do is enjoy it.
Check availability and join this walk with penguins from Ushuaia, at the end of the world.
Highlights
- Estancia Harberton: a bus ride from Ushuaia through the southern landscapes.
- Martillo Island: a boat trip to the nature reserve where the penguin colonies live.
- The penguin colony: a walk among Magellanic and Gentoo penguins, surrounded by nature and wildlife.
Itinerary
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Ushuaia
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Estancia Harberton
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Boat trip to Martillo Island
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Walk at the penguin colony
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Return to Ushuaia
Included
- Guide in Spanish, English or Portuguese (Chinese on request)
- Private transport
- Round-trip bus
- Boat ticket
- Guide for the whole tour
Not included
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off
- Meals / lunch
- Port fee
- Admission to Estancia Harberton (ask for the price)
- Personal expenses and any services not mentioned
Gallery
Important notes
- Meeting time Ask according to the departure.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Martillo Island tour?
About 6.5 hours from Ushuaia: a bus to Estancia Harberton, a boat trip to the island, the walk at the penguin colony and the return.
What does the Martillo Island tour include?
Private transport, the round-trip bus, the boat ticket and a guide for the whole tour, in Spanish, English or Portuguese. You set off from a central meeting point or the terminal in Ushuaia.
When can you see penguins on Martillo Island?
From October to April, when they come to the island for their breeding season. Check availability for your date.
Do you walk among the penguins?
Yes. You go ashore on Isla Martillo and walk among Magellanic and Gentoo penguins at the colony.
How is it different from the penguin colony boat trip?
The penguin colony boat trip leaves by boat from the Ushuaia Tourist Pier and takes about 5 to 6 hours. Unlike the walking tour (which goes by bus to Estancia Harberton and lands on the island), on that option you see the penguins only from the boat, which sails close to the shore of Martillo Island without landing or walking there.
