Taking a boat tour of the Beagle Channel is one of the top things to do in Ushuaia.

There are a lot of options to choose from, including half-day and full-day tours.

🦭 Half day: I recommend sticking to a short, half-day tour which includes the sea lions and cormorants, the Les Eclaireurs lighthouse, and a walk on Bridges Island (where you’ll learn about local flora and fauna and indigenous communities).

🐧Full day: Full day alternatives like this include the above plus Martillo Island to view the penguins. You do not disembark on this tour but view the penguins from the boat. This is a good alternative if you decide against the Piratour tour to walk with the penguins.

🛥️ My recommendation: Personally, we chose to go with this half-day small group tour because the boats are small. Groups are capped at 25 passengers, a far cry from the large ships carrying upwards of 200 tourists.

You’ll get more time to talk to your guide and less elbowing fellow tourists for photos at the photo ops.Les Éclaireurs Lighthouse, often referred to as the "Lighthouse at the End of the World," standing as a solitary sentinel in this remote and beautiful landscape.

TIP: Weather in Ushuaia is unpredictable. Book this excursion at the start of your trip in case it needs to be cancelled due to weather/wind. It gives you cushion for them to reschedule you in the following days.