THE ADVENTURE COLLECTIVE® · Independent discovery and booking for outdoor travel
Cross the Beagle Channel to Isla Martillo for close encounters with Magellanic and Gentoo (Papua) penguins. This small-group, heated-boat tour from Puerto Almanza pairs comfortable navigation with coastal scenery and local fishing-culture stops.
Cross the Beagle Channel to Isla Martillo for close encounters with Magellanic and Gentoo (Papua) penguins. This small-group, heated-boat tour from Puerto Almanza pairs comfortable navigation with coastal scenery and local fishing-culture stops.
You step onto a low-profile boat with the Beagle Channel opening like a cold, bright corridor before you — wind carving lines across the water and mountains hemming the horizon. The boat hums, its heating a welcome counterpoint to the raw air, while islands slide by: Gable, then the small, chattering colony of Isla Martillo.
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Info de Ushuaia · Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego
You step onto a low-profile boat with the Beagle Channel opening like a cold, bright corridor before you — wind carving lines across the water and mountains hemming the horizon. The boat hums, its heating a welcome counterpoint to the raw air, while islands slide by: Gable, then the small, chattering colony of Isla Martillo.
Isla Martillo hosts breeding colonies of Magellanic and Gentoo (Papua) penguins on shingle beaches and short tussock grass. The channel itself is glacial in origin, cut by ice and time; surrounding valleys show peatlands and exposed bedrock that tell a Pleistocene story. You’ll pass historic sites tied to the Yámana canoeists and the old fishing camps like Rancho Hambre, and round Puerto Almanza, a working village whose identity is tied to centolla (king crab) and the sea.
The experience is straightforward: a comfortable, small-group boat ride from Puerto Almanza across sheltered waters, a guided shore landing or observation from a protected walkway, then return with coastal viewpoints along Scenic Route No. 3. Expect sea spray, brisk wind, and the indelible sound of penguins onshore.
Practical guidance: dress in windproof layers, bring a waterproof shell and insulated gloves, and carry binoculars and a telephoto lens for photography. The operator provides a heated cabin but shore access can be muddy — wear sturdy, waterproof boots. Morning departures are calmer for wildlife viewing; be prepared for basic briefings on respecting nesting areas and keeping distance. The trip is ideal for travelers seeking close wildlife encounters with minimal hiking but maximum coastal and marine context.
The full excursion runs about 6 hours round-trip, including boat transit and an on-site stop for penguin viewing.
Operators commonly provide a guided shore landing or boardwalk access near the colonies when conditions and wildlife regulations allow.
Expect Magellanic penguins and Gentoo (Papua) penguins; other seabirds are common along the channel.
Yes—this tour is described as physically easy and family-friendly, though shore access may be uneven and attention to cold-weather gear is important.
Info de Ushuaia operates guided outdoor trips and adventures with an emphasis on safety, stewardship, and memorable experiences.
You step onto a low-profile boat with the Beagle Channel opening like a cold, bright corridor before you — wind carving lines across the water and mountains hemming the horizon. The boat hums, its heating a welcome counterpoint to the raw air, while islands slide by: Gable, then the small, chattering colony of Isla Martillo.
You step onto a low-profile boat with the Beagle Channel opening like a cold, bright corridor before you — wind carving lines across the water and mountains hemming the horizon. The boat hums, its heating a welcome counterpoint to the raw air, while islands slide by: Gable, then the small, chattering colony of Isla Martillo.
Isla Martillo hosts breeding colonies of Magellanic and Gentoo (Papua) penguins on shingle beaches and short tussock grass. The channel itself is glacial in origin, cut by ice and time; surrounding valleys show peatlands and exposed bedrock that tell a Pleistocene story. You’ll pass historic sites tied to the Yámana canoeists and the old fishing camps like Rancho Hambre, and round Puerto Almanza, a working village whose identity is tied to centolla (king crab) and the sea.
The experience is straightforward: a comfortable, small-group boat ride from Puerto Almanza across sheltered waters, a guided shore landing or observation from a protected walkway, then return with coastal viewpoints along Scenic Route No. 3. Expect sea spray, brisk wind, and the indelible sound of penguins onshore.
Practical guidance: dress in windproof layers, bring a waterproof shell and insulated gloves, and carry binoculars and a telephoto lens for photography. The operator provides a heated cabin but shore access can be muddy — wear sturdy, waterproof boots. Morning departures are calmer for wildlife viewing; be prepared for basic briefings on respecting nesting areas and keeping distance. The trip is ideal for travelers seeking close wildlife encounters with minimal hiking but maximum coastal and marine context.