Ushuaia Penguins: Walk on Martillo Island, Catamaran or Small Boat?
Updated October 28, 2026 · 5 min read
The important difference is not how close the advertising sounds: it is whether you stay aboard or join an authorised landing. Most trips observe the colony from the water. The all-inclusive Beagle Channel and penguin experience combines the channel with a walk among penguins, lasts 9.5 hours and starts at €493.37. It is the right comparison point for travellers who value the landing more than price.
Three genuinely different formats
The standard catamaran sailing to Penguin Island lasts 5.5 hours, starts at €103.35 and has 563 reviews. You remain on the boat while it approaches Martillo Island. You share the boat with more passengers.
The penguin-watching catamaran trip lasts 5 hours and starts at €206.69. Read the current itinerary carefully: similar titles can cover different combinations of road transfer, Harberton and navigation.
Small-boat departures commonly use a road transfer towards Puerto Almanza or Estancia Harberton, then a shorter crossing. Their advantage is the smaller group, not an automatic right to land. Confirm the words “descent” or “walk on Martillo Island” on the booking page.
What wildlife you may see
Magellanic penguins are on Martillo Island roughly from October to April; gentoo penguins live there too. A king penguin is an occasional visitor, never a promise. The classic channel route can also pass sea-lion and bird colonies. Weather and wildlife decide the day; no operator can guarantee a particular species at arm’s length.
Which option suits you?
Choose the catamaran for the lowest listed price. Choose a small boat if group size matters and you accept the road transfer. Pay for the landing only if walking among penguins is the main reason for your visit. It is a long, expensive day.
Bring warm, windproof layers even when the city feels mild. If you are prone to seasickness, ask a pharmacist or doctor before travelling; on board, looking at the horizon and staying near the vessel’s centre can help. Compare all current formats on our Ushuaia penguin tours page.
