How to choose the tour
Two things decide most Beagle Channel bookings: how long the stay in Ushuaia lasts and whether penguins are the priority. Sailings leave from the Ushuaia tourist port on Avenida Prefectura Naval Argentina, a short walk from the centre of town, while the full-day park combination includes a pick-up in the city and the shore excursion meets at the cruise port exit.
Staying in central Ushuaia with a half day free
The 4-hour navigation with minitrekking is the best-rated short sailing here at 4.8 ★ (724 reviews), from US$100, and it combines the classic island circuit with a guided walk on Isla Bridges. If a smaller boat matters more than the walk, the 3.5-hour yacht sailing from US$110 goes out through the Paso Chico to Isla de los Pájaros, the sea lion island and the Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse, with coffee or tea on board.
Arriving by ship or with a single day in town
Visitors with one day ashore usually split between land and water. The 5-hour shore excursion from US$119 travels by air-conditioned vehicle and spends four hours in Tierra del Fuego National Park, including Ensenada Zaratiegui and Lake Acigami, also known as Lake Roca. The 10-hour full day from US$220 adds the End of the World Train and three hours of sailing in one booking; the national park entrance fee is not part of that price.
Penguins as the reason for the trip
Only sailings that reach Isla Martillo put penguins within view. The 5-hour boat trip to the colony starts at US$230 and watches the birds from the water rather than on foot, rated 4.3 ★ (115 reviews). The 5-6 hour catamaran from US$240 stays about 40 minutes beside the colony after passing Isla de los Pájaros, Isla de los Lobos and the Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse. More penguin and island combinations, including a 5.5-hour cruise from US$167, sit in the comparison of six sailings.
Language of the guide
Every tour on this page runs with a live English-speaking guide, and Spanish and English guiding is listed on two of them: the navigation with minitrekking, with professional Spanish and English speaking guides, and the shore excursion, whose professional guide works in English or Spanish.
Budget
Starting prices on this page run from US$70 per adult for the shortest option in the six-sailing comparison, a 3-hour navigation to the lighthouse, up to US$240 for the longest penguin catamaran. The US$100 minitrekking sailing pairs a 4.8 ★ rating with the largest number of reviews here (724), so it is the one to book when weighing price against what you see.
All tours compared
