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Tierra del FuegoBirdwatching

Our most recommended Tierra del Fuego Birdwatching

Ushuaia: Walking with Penguins Experience and Marine Museum

1. Ushuaia: Walking with Penguins Experience and Marine Museum

Meet your guide in the port of Ushuaia, then admire scenic views as you travel by bus and boat to Martillo Island on the mystical Beagle Channel. Visit the famous Harberton Ranch, which was founded in 1886 by the Anglican missionary Thomas Bridges, and learn about the history of the location. Then it’s time to explore the island, home to a colony of Papúa (Gentoo) and Magellanic penguins. Wander along the island’s many nature trails as you get up close and personal to these friendly and charismatic penguins. Take photos and admire the penguins in their natural habitat, which they also share with other birds including cormorants, petrels, vultures, and skúas. After a 1-hour walk across the island, head back to the ranch and enjoy some free time to explore the historical buildings and the Marine Mammals and SeaBirds Museum. At the end of the experience, return to the city and relax whilst marveling at the beautiful landscape that unfolds along the way.

Ushuaia: Penguin Watching Tour by Catamaran

2. Ushuaia: Penguin Watching Tour by Catamaran

Start the tour in the local tourist dock and board a modern and comfortable boat. Set sail and cross the wide Ushuaia Bay until you reach the Beagle Channel through Paso Chico. Then, navigate around the Bird's Island where you can appreciate species of the Tierra del Fuego's seabirds such as skuas, black-browed albatross, steam ducks, cauquenes, cook seagulls, and gray seagulls. After that, reach Sea Lion Island which also belongs to the Bridges Archipelago and is inhabited by 2 different species of sea lion. Arrive at the Les Eclaireurs (The Illuminators) Lighthouse where you will find imperial and rocky cormorants colonies. Hear the story of the collapse of the SS Monte Cervantes in 1930. Next, continue sailing East into the wonderful landscapes of the Beagle Channel surrounded by stunning mountain ranges. Admire both Puerto Almanza on the Argentina coast and the Puerto Williams Naval Base on the Chilean coast. After that, head onwards to Martillo Island, also known as Penguin Island where you will have the opportunity to observe a colony of Magellanic and Papua penguins in their natural habitat. Make the return journey back to the dock, where your tour will end. 

Ushuaia: Tierra del Fuego National Park Half Day Tour

3. Ushuaia: Tierra del Fuego National Park Half Day Tour

Enjoying nature, the silence, the noise of the birds fluttering, the water, the trees, the stories told and much more are the sensations that you will experience in this impressive natural and historical monument for half a day. Your adventure begins from the hotel heading towards the entrance of the Tierra del Fuego National Park along National Route No. 3 by mini-bus. We enter the park delighting ourselves with its landscapes of lengas and cherries. We will walk along an interpretation path accompanied by our magnificent guides, who are very knowledgeable about the place and its nooks and crannies. From there we went to Lake Roca - Errazuriz to appreciate its waters and particularity, the surrounding forest made up of specimens that are over 300 years old and the borders with Chile. Nearby is the Alakush Visitor Center, within which we will visit the interpretation room on the fauna, flora and zoology of the place; and the exhibition on the human occupation of the park (among them the Yámanas, the first pioneers and the sawmills). Before continuing our adventure, we take some time to relax with wonderful views. After the break, we are ready to continue connecting trails until we reach the end of National Route 3 in Bahía Lapataia. Then we will make a stop in Ensenada Zaratiegui where we will find the Southernmost Post Office and we will walk a short path that will allow us to appreciate the rock formations and the forest falling to the sea line. After approximately 4 hours we will end our adventure with the feeling of having been part of the history and nature of our island (includes Train). IMPORTANT NOTE: The order and pick up times of the trips may vary. In that case, we will notify you in advance.

Navigating through the mythical Beagle Channel

4. Navigating through the mythical Beagle Channel

We will enjoy a relaxing catamaran sailing through the historic and challenging Beagle Channel, the cradle of countless historic shipwrecks in these icy waters south of the Strait of Magellan. One of the objectives will be to obtain the typical postcard with the lighthouse behind us. We set sail from the tourist pier along the wide Ushuaia Bay, observing from another perspective the profile of the city of Ushuaia and the geographical distribution at the foot of the Andes Mountains; until reaching the Beagle Channel through the Paso Chico. There we sail around the Island of the Birds where we appreciate the Fuegian birds such as Skúas, Black-browed Albatross, Steam Ducks, Cauquenes, Cook Gulls and Gray Gulls. We go on around the sea lions’ island where we can see specimens of sea lions with one and two hairs. Both islands belong to the Bridges archipelago. Upon arriving at the Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse (The Illuminators or also the colloquially misnamed the Lighthouse of the End of the World), we will be able to appreciate the colonies of Imperial Cormorants and Rocky Cormorants (similar in appearance to the penguins but of different species); and also listen to the sinking history of the SS Monte Cervantes that happened in 1930. At the end of the journey, you can be amazed by the view of the mountain range that surrounds the city of Ushuaia and the sumptuous nature that surrounds it. It is a tour of great historical and landscape value that we do, visiting privileged and interesting points throughout the trip, which you can discover by navigating the waters of the Beagle Channel. In a pleasant and quiet journey.

From Ushuaia: Penguin Watching Tour by Catamaran

5. From Ushuaia: Penguin Watching Tour by Catamaran

Climb aboard a catamaran in the tourist Port of Ushuaia, and journey towards the center of the Beagle Channel to get panoramic views of the coast and wilderness of Patagonia. Experience one of the world's most remote regions from a different perspective, and admire the most important buildings of Ushuaia, such as the Maritime Museum in the former prison. Discover the site of the End of the World Museum and see the city's industrial area. Get breathtaking views of the Olivia and Cinco Hermanos mountains in the background. Then, sail southwest on your approach to Isla de los Lobos, and get views of the sea lions in their permanent natural habitat. Next, visit an island where Magellanic Cormorants and Imperial Cormorants go to breed. Continue to Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse in the archipelago of the same name. Having reached the farthest point of your journey, look for the wreck of the SS Monte Cervantes passenger liner that sank in the remote waters in 1930. Once you reach Martillo Island, spend some time viewing and photographing the penguins while listening to your guide's narrative about their biology and behavior. After returning to the port, we will take you back to your hotel in the center of Ushuaia.

Ushuaia: Gable Island and Penguin Colony with Canoeing

6. Ushuaia: Gable Island and Penguin Colony with Canoeing

Join this active excursion to take part in the most comprehensive day tour of Tierra del Fuego. In addition to Gable Island, visit the Harberton Ranch and the penguin colony on Martillo Island. Leave Ushuaia toward the east until you arrive at Lasifashaj River. There, preparations will begin to paddle inflatable canoes along the river and the Beagle Channel. You will be provided with rubber boots, trousers, and life jackets to paddle downstream and to the sea in the Beagle Channel. At the sea, you will see wildlife, including a variety of seabirds and maybe even some sea lions. Then, arrive at the Harberton Ranch and take a motorboat towards the Isla Martillo. From the boat, you can see penguins at their breeding site. Continue on your motorboat to the main attraction of the day, the huge Gable Island, where a hot lunch awaits you with Patagonian wine, soft drinks, and mineral water. Next, hike to explore this wonderful island along beaver dams, through the forest, and along the marine coast until you reach the boat that will take you back to Puerto Harberton. Then, take the bus to Ushuaia.

HD Tierra del Fuego National Park (No Train)

7. HD Tierra del Fuego National Park (No Train)

Enjoying nature, the silence, the noise of the birds fluttering, the water, the trees, the stories told and much more are the sensations that you will experience in this impressive natural and historical monument for half a day. Your adventure begins from the hotel heading towards the entrance of the Tierra del Fuego National Park along National Route No. 3 by mini-bus. We enter the park delighting ourselves with its landscapes of lengas and cherries. We will walk along an interpretation path accompanied by our magnificent guides, who are very knowledgeable about the place and its nooks and crannies. From there we went to Lake Roca - Errazuriz to appreciate its waters and particularity, the surrounding forest made up of specimens that are over 300 years old and the borders with Chile. Nearby is the Alakush Visitor Center, within which we will visit the interpretation room on the fauna, flora and zoology of the place; and the exhibition on the human occupation of the park (among them the Yámanas, the first pioneers and the sawmills). Before continuing our adventure, we take some time to relax with wonderful views. After the break, we are ready to continue connecting trails until we reach the end of National Route 3 in Bahía Lapataia. Then we will make a stop in Ensenada Zaratiegui where we will find the Southernmost Post Office and we will walk a short path that will allow us to appreciate the rock formations and the forest falling to the sea line. After approximately 4 hours we will end our adventure with the feeling of having been part of the history and nature of our island.

Full day Tierra del Fuego National Park

8. Full day Tierra del Fuego National Park

Enjoying nature, the silence, the noise of the birds fluttering, the water, the trees, the stories told, a unique lunch at the End of the World and much more are the sensations that you will experience in this impressive natural and historical monument for 6 hours. Our adventure begins at the hotel, from where we head towards the entrance of the Tierra del Fuego National Park along National Route No. 3 by mini-bus. We enter the park delighting ourselves with its landscapes of lengas and cherry trees until we reach the beginning of the "Pampa Alta" trail, which together with the Ensenada loop will take us about 1 hour and a half of walking. From there we will head towards the “Sendero de la Isla”, also going along the “La Lenga” path until we reach Bahía Lapataia, the end of the Pan-American Highway. Finally, we will take the “Senda del Turbal” and we will go to Roca Lake, where we will have lunch surrounded by the Fuegian forest with a beautiful view of the Lapataia River. From there we start our return to the city of Ushuaia. (No train)

Ushuaia: Visit to Escondido and Fagnano Lakes with Snacks

9. Ushuaia: Visit to Escondido and Fagnano Lakes with Snacks

The adventure begins with pickup from your hotel in Ushuaia and leaves the city behind, traveling west on Route 3. Along the route, stop at a number of stunning viewpoints to admire and take photos of the breathtaking landscapes. Arrive at Paso Garibaldi, where you can marvel at the view of Escondido Lake from a panoramic viewpoint, 430 meters above sea level. Next, head towards the coast of Fagnano Lake, soaking up more views of the sprawling scenic views. Arrive at a historical country house and learn about the site’s former use as a resting place for rangers travelling on horseback through the mountains before Route 3 existed. Meet the owners and listen as they share insight into the history of the house while you enjoy a selection of homemade sweet treats and hot coffee. Depart from the house and follow your guide on a moderate hike through the wilderness. Keep a lookout for beavers along the way and learn about the region’s native flora and fauna. At the end of an unforgettable afternoon, sit back and enjoy a well-deserved rest on the return journey to Ushuaia.

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What people are saying about Tierra del Fuego

Overall rating

4.4 / 5

based on 12 reviews

Great trip. Guide spoke both Spanish and English. They made sure at the various sites everyone got a chance to take a good look and pictures. The photographers might be annoying to some people, but they help make sure everyone gets a chance to have a good picture, so they make it more inclusive for everyone.

great experience walking on the island to see the penguins. the tour at the marine museum was also very informative. highly recommend. (if you can book the tour and pay in person in pesos it would be much better because I really overpaid with the exchange rate.)

Really great experience! You get a full hour on the island to walk amongst the penguins and you get to see a lot while there. Tours guides are very informative and kind.

Wonderful experience, small group made the trip. Penguins up close. Various activities, boat row around fun with group, however rather pointless. Recommend.

Very good mix of activities, and the lunch tasted amazing !