Navigation to Beagle Channel and Sea Lions Island with Transfers
Description
In 1833, Charles Darwin set sail along the Beagle Channel. You can follow his course on a 2.5-hour catamaran cruise from Ushuaia. You'll capture sights of Ushuaia’s former prison, check out the End of the World Museum, and admire views of Five Brothers and Olivia mountains, among other sights. After reaching Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse and eyeing shipwreck ruins, come upon throngs of sea lions at Isla de Lobos and the winged residents of Isla de Pájaros. Enjoy guided commentary and round-trip hotel transport.
Tour Options
Itinerary
After hotel pickup, board a catamaran at Don Eduardo Arturo Brisighelli pier to begin your journey through the narrow strait dotted with the Tierra del Fuego islands. Take a 2.5-hour cruise to admire rocky isles, glaciers, city landmarks and wildlife on the Beagle Channel, named in honor of Charles Darwin’s ship Beagle that traversed the gunmetal-gray waters in the 1830s.
As the boat heads east and hugs the coastline, enjoy views of Maritime Museum, housed in former prison buildings, and the End of the World Museum that specializes in the area’s natural and aboriginal history. Learn from guided commentary on board about the infamous old prison, now displaying a replica of Darwin’s ship, and Ushuaia’s origins as a penal colony. Pass by the serrated snow-covered peaks of the Olivia and Cinco Hermanos (Five Brothers) mountains looming behind the city’s industrial area. Amid panoramas of water, sea and mountain, sail past the Tunnel and Fique Ranch, and the Encajonado River. The boat approaches the tiny promontory of Les Eclaireurs lighthouse, a candy-striped beacon surrounded by colonies of rock shags. Perhaps under a sky brooding with clouds, learn about the SS Monte Cervantes that met its fateful end here in 1930, parts of which poke through the water’s surface.
Heading to the center of the Beagle Channel, we will encounter the Les Éclaireurs lighthouse. Built in 1920, this iconic red-and-white striped beacon serves as a symbol of Ushuaia. On one of the islands, remnants of the 1930 shipwreck, Monte Cervantes, are still visible, adding a layer of history to the scenic beauty of the area.
On the way back west, your catamaran quietly approaches 'Isla de Lobos,' home to hundreds of sea lions, fur seals, and king cormorants that resemble small penguins. Delight in close-up views of the mammals as they grunt, bark, and maybe even jostle one another to claim territory.
Continue towards Bird Island, where you can marvel at the diverse bird species. Observe the seagulls, the majesty of the king cormorants, the beauty of petrels, steamer ducks, and giant albatrosses, encountering up to 20 fascinating bird species along the way.
Admire views of Martial Glacier as you sail through Paso Chico (Small Passage) to return to the pier in Ushuaia. From here, enjoy transport back to your hotel.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Please indicate the hotel where you will be staying in Ushuaia. In case you are staying outside the pick up area, we will assign you a meeting point.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- You may bring your own food and drinks
- It is recommended that you bring binoculars
- Cruise Passengers are not allowed to take this tour
Reviews(64)
This was an amazing trip. We saw sea lions, whales and a condor. The guides were very informative and the trip was well organized. The tour company even suggested we move our reservations one day earlier at no extra charge to us so we would have better weather. We were glad we did because the next day was cloudy and rainy so visibility may have been an issue had we not followed their advice. Highly recommend this tour!
Magnificent trip to do with the family... we hired through Penguin Expeditions... it is a beautiful 3 hours... we were lucky enough to spot whales... we would definitely do it again... one of the best of Ushuaia
Indescribable. The place is beautiful, the guides are nice, I consider this tour unmissable. Outside the boat you can enjoy the view better, but inside it is hotter. I recommend the outside lol
There's not much special about it. A lot of People on the boat. We were lucky: very nice weather and so, we had many nice views
Hello, Thank you for sharing your experience of this tour. The boats are fairly spacious, but we understand they can get a bit crowded during the high seasons. We are glad you were able to enjoy the tour nonetheless and the weather helped as well. Best regards, Martin
I loved the tour so much that I went twice! It's the kind of trip we don't do every day. There's cold, snow, penguins, sea lions... and the special touch that the catamaran has with drinks and food, making the experience even more welcoming. I loved!
Speechless! It was so beautiful that we went twice! The view is stunning and seeing all those animals up close is like no other. I love the cold and animals, so for me it was very exciting. I will come back as many times as I can. Furthermore, inside the catamaran there are drinks and food, which makes the trip even more welcoming.
The trip is worth it, although there are too many people on the boat and the bathrooms are dirty, there comes a time when there is nowhere to sit because people leave their backpacks, which makes it uncomfortable. Hotel pickup is super convenient and the views it offers are very beautiful
We had very nice days We did the train to the end of the world and the navigation to the lighthouse The excellent albatros hotel
This deceptive tour company resells "Navigation through the Beagle Channel to the Lighthouse" tour from Tolkeyen Patagonia. Buy the same tour for much less from Tolkeyen.
Dear Michael_P, We sincerely appreciate your feedback and regret any confusion that arose regarding your experience with our tour service. We take your comments very seriously and want to address your concerns appropriately. We understand your concern regarding the price and description of the tour you booked through our service. We would like to clarify that we work closely with our local colleagues, which allows us to offer a wide range of travel options for our clients. In the specific case of the tour you mention, we have an agreement with our colleagues in Ushuaia to offer the excursion "Exploration of the Beagle Channel and Sea Lion Island on a Catamaran Cruise". This partnership allows us to secure reservations in advance and guarantee the best places on the tour for our clients. We understand that there may be discrepancies in the prices offered by different sales channels. However, we strive to provide a value-added service that includes the convenience of booking in advance, securing your place on the tour and providing a satisfactory travel experience. We appreciate your feedback, as it helps us to continually improve our services and ensure transparency in our operations. We look forward to the opportunity to serve you again in the future and provide you with an exceptional travel experience. Best regards, Tangol Tours
Very poorly organized and the price was far too high. You pay 28 francs for the same tour. Far too little information.
Dear Janine, We appreciate your comments about your experience on the Explore Beagle Channel and Sea Lions Island on a Catamaran Cruise. We are very sorry to hear that you were not satisfied with the organization of the tour. We would like to clarify that when booking through our online platform, detailed specifications about tour inclusions and exclusions are provided. One of the important points to note is that our tours only include pick-up transfers from selected hotels. We understand that you were in a remote area, and unfortunately, for logistical reasons, we cannot pick up passengers throughout the city. For this reason, we set up specific pick-up zones to ensure an efficient and timely operation. In your case, you were assigned a meeting point as near as possible to your address inside our pick up radius. We regret any confusion or lack of information you experienced during the booking process. We value your feedback and will use it to improve our communication and services in the future. We look forward to the opportunity to serve you again in the future with a more satisfactory experience. Best regards, Tangol Tours
