THE ADVENTURE COLLECTIVE® · Independent discovery and booking for outdoor travel
Board a short ferry from Ushuaia to Martillo Island to walk among Magellanic and Gentoo penguins, then choose a longer Beagle Channel sail to scan sea lions, bird colonies, and the Les Eclaireurs lighthouse. Expect wind, short hikes, and close wildlife viewing with strict no‑approach rules.
Board a short ferry from Ushuaia to Martillo Island to walk among Magellanic and Gentoo penguins, then choose a longer Beagle Channel sail to scan sea lions, bird colonies, and the Les Eclaireurs lighthouse. Expect wind, short hikes, and close wildlife viewing with strict no‑approach rules.
You step off the bus onto a low, wind-scoured shore where the mountains press against the Beagle Channel and salt and cold air cut like clarity. Boats tie up at the Naval Prefecture dock; the channel hisses and the lighthouse on distant islets blinks its patient warning. A 15‑minute crossing takes you to Martillo (Yecapasela), where Magellanic and Gentoo (locally called Papuan) penguins move with businesslike urgency and the scrub pushes back against the wind.
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Luna Roja · Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego
You step off the bus onto a low, wind-scoured shore where the mountains press against the Beagle Channel and salt and cold air cut like clarity. Boats tie up at the Naval Prefecture dock; the channel hisses and the lighthouse on distant islets blinks its patient warning. A 15‑minute crossing takes you to Martillo (Yecapasela), where Magellanic and Gentoo (locally called Papuan) penguins move with businesslike urgency and the scrub pushes back against the wind.
The Beagle Channel was carved by ice and charted by sailors—the name recalls HMS Beagle—while Tierra del Fuego carries the layered stories of indigenous Yámana people and later European settlements such as Estancia Harberton. Geology here is raw: glacially scoured valleys, rocky islets, and fast-changing weather that shapes every outing.
On the island the guide leads a short, low-impact route that keeps a respectful distance from nesting birds; penguins may bob at the water’s edge or carve comical corridors toward their nests. The full-day option adds a longer sail past Bird Island, Isla de los Lobos (sea lions), and the Les Eclaireurs lighthouse—good for birding and marine mammals.
Practical edge: tours run from Ushuaia’s tourist pier and last roughly seven hours with about an hour of walking on the colony itself and several short boat legs. Wear windproof layers, waterproof shoes, and bring binoculars and a camera with a long lens. Respect wildlife rules, follow your guide, and expect rapidly changing weather—this is Patagonia’s southern caprice at work.
No—guides maintain strict distances to protect nests and birds; observe quietly and photograph from the allowed path.
The guided walk is about 1 hour along a short, flat route designed for minimal impact and easy footing.
Yes—tours typically include bus transport from the Ushuaia tourist dock to the boarding point and return to the pier.
Tours run mainly in the austral spring and summer when penguins are ashore and maritime conditions are safer; schedules may change seasonally and are quota‑controlled.
Luna Roja operates guided outdoor trips and adventures with an emphasis on safety, stewardship, and memorable experiences.
You step off the bus onto a low, wind-scoured shore where the mountains press against the Beagle Channel and salt and cold air cut like clarity. Boats tie up at the Naval Prefecture dock; the channel hisses and the lighthouse on distant islets blinks its patient warning. A 15‑minute crossing takes you to Martillo (Yecapasela), where Magellanic and Gentoo (locally called Papuan) penguins move with businesslike urgency and the scrub pushes back against the wind.
You step off the bus onto a low, wind-scoured shore where the mountains press against the Beagle Channel and salt and cold air cut like clarity. Boats tie up at the Naval Prefecture dock; the channel hisses and the lighthouse on distant islets blinks its patient warning. A 15‑minute crossing takes you to Martillo (Yecapasela), where Magellanic and Gentoo (locally called Papuan) penguins move with businesslike urgency and the scrub pushes back against the wind.
The Beagle Channel was carved by ice and charted by sailors—the name recalls HMS Beagle—while Tierra del Fuego carries the layered stories of indigenous Yámana people and later European settlements such as Estancia Harberton. Geology here is raw: glacially scoured valleys, rocky islets, and fast-changing weather that shapes every outing.
On the island the guide leads a short, low-impact route that keeps a respectful distance from nesting birds; penguins may bob at the water’s edge or carve comical corridors toward their nests. The full-day option adds a longer sail past Bird Island, Isla de los Lobos (sea lions), and the Les Eclaireurs lighthouse—good for birding and marine mammals.
Practical edge: tours run from Ushuaia’s tourist pier and last roughly seven hours with about an hour of walking on the colony itself and several short boat legs. Wear windproof layers, waterproof shoes, and bring binoculars and a camera with a long lens. Respect wildlife rules, follow your guide, and expect rapidly changing weather—this is Patagonia’s southern caprice at work.