Beagle Channel Catamaran Cruise: Sea Lions & Shipwrecks

The SS Monte Cervantes sank here in 1930, and you sail past what's left of it.

A 2.5-hour catamaran cruise from Ushuaia follows the Beagle Channel route Charles Darwin traveled in the 1830s, with hotel pickup and a guide narrating sights of the city's former prison, Five Brothers and Olivia mountains, and Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse. The boat approaches Isla de Lobos to watch hundreds of sea lions and fur seals, then continues to Isla de Pájaros to observe up to 20 bird species including king cormorants and giant albatrosses before returning through Paso Chico.

Step-by-step itinerary

Beagle Channel catamaran cruise

• Hotel pickup in Ushuaia
• Board catamaran at Don Eduardo Arturo Brisighelli pier
• Cruise through Tierra del Fuego islands
• View Maritime Museum and End of the World Museum
• See Olivia and Cinco Hermanos mountains
• Pass Tunnel, Fique Ranch, and Encajonado River
• Approach Les Eclaireurs lighthouse and shipwreck ruins
• Visit Isla de Lobos to see sea lions and fur seals
• Visit Bird Island to observe diverse bird species
• Sail past Martial Glacier through Paso Chico
• Return to Ushuaia pier
• Transport back to hotel

The experience

The catamaran departs from Don Eduardo Arturo Brisighelli pier after hotel pickup, heading east into the Beagle Channel: the narrow strait Darwin's ship traversed nearly two centuries ago. As the boat hugs the coastline, you'll see the Maritime Museum housed in former prison buildings and the End of the World Museum, both landmarks of Ushuaia's origins as a penal colony. The guide explains the history over the water while you pass the serrated peaks of Olivia and Cinco Hermanos mountains rising behind the city's industrial area.

The route takes you past the Tunnel and Fique Ranch, the Encajonado River, and toward Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse: a red-and-white striped beacon built in 1920 that marks the center of the channel. Just offshore, parts of the SS Monte Cervantes, a ship that wrecked here in 1930, still poke through the water's surface. The catamaran then approaches Isla de Lobos quietly, where hundreds of sea lions, fur seals, and king cormorants gather. You'll watch them grunt, bark, and jostle for territory from close range.

Continuing west toward Isla de Pájaros, you observe seagulls, petrels, steamer ducks, and giant albatrosses: up to 20 species in total. The final leg sails through Paso Chico (Small Passage) with views of Martial Glacier before returning to the pier. Hotel drop-off completes the journey. Bring binoculars to catch details of the wildlife and shipwreck, and note that cruise ship passengers cannot join this tour.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off by coach or minivan.
• professional guide speaking English or Spanish.
• 2.5-hour catamaran cruise through the Beagle Channel with narrated commentary on wildlife, landmarks, and local history.

Options for this experience

2 options

AM DepartureGuide in English or Spanish · 09:00Beagle Channel and Sea Wolves Island catamaran cruise departing in the morning: check in at 9:30am, departure at 10am

PM DepartureGuide in English or Spanish · 14:00Beagle Channel and Sea Wolves Island catamaran cruise departing in the afternoon, running all year: check in at 2:30pm, departure at 3pm

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Information

Lasts 4h, runs every day at 09:00 and 14:00, from US$ 141 per person, with a live guide in English and Spanish and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:00 and 14:00Another time? ›

GroupUp to 40 · max 9 per booking

Live guideEnglish and SpanishOther languages ›

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 28 pickup points.

Book up to16h before

AgesAdult (10 and older) · Child (3 to 9 years) · Infant (under 3): free

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Tangol

Is this one for you?Choose the morning departure if you want the clearest light for spotting wildlife and photographing the mountains and lighthouse. The afternoon slot works better if your hotel schedule runs late. Either way, bring binoculars: the sea lions and seabirds reward close viewing, and the shipwreck details are easier to spot from a distance.

Traveler reviews

4.17★★★★★★★★★★

65 verified traveler reviews

5 ★35

4 ★18

3 ★6

2 ★0

1 ★6

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 9 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What wildlife will I actually see on the Beagle Channel cruise?

Isla de Lobos is home to hundreds of sea lions and fur seals that you'll watch from close range as they vocalize and compete for space. Isla de Pájaros holds up to 20 bird species including king cormorants, giant albatrosses, petrels, steamer ducks, and seagulls. The guide points out which species you're seeing as the boat moves through the channel.

How long is the actual time on the water?

The catamaran cruise itself lasts 2.5 hours. The full tour, including hotel pickup and drop-off by coach or minivan, takes about 4 hours total.

What is Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse and why does the boat stop there?

Les Eclaireurs is a red-and-white striped lighthouse built in 1920 that marks the center of the Beagle Channel and serves as a symbol of Ushuaia. The boat approaches it to show you the beacon and the surrounding rock shag colonies, and the guide explains the history of the SS Monte Cervantes shipwreck visible nearby, which sank in 1930.

Will I see the End of the World Museum on this tour?

You'll see the End of the World Museum from the water as the catamaran passes along the coastline. It's housed in former prison buildings. The guide provides commentary about the museum and Ushuaia's history as a penal colony, but the tour does not include entry to the museum itself.

Can I bring food and drinks on the cruise?

Yes, you may bring your own food and drinks aboard the catamaran. The tour does not include meals or beverages, so packing snacks is a good option for the 2.5-hour journey.