Choose Ushuaia tours by the day you want
Ushuaia tours are easier to compare when the main activity comes first. A catamaran outing concentrates on channel navigation and views from the boat. A private sea kayak puts paddling at the centre of the experience. The national park walking and canoe excursion combines activity on land with organised canoeing, while the Laguna Esmeralda outing focuses on a guided walk. These choices should reflect your interests and the amount of physical activity you want.
Total duration alone can be misleading. A tour with a hotel transfer has time on the road as well as time at the destination; a pier departure needs a separate journey from your accommodation. Leave room around the stated tour duration for getting to the start and checking in. The arrival guide covers the airport-to-city leg, and the accommodation areas guide helps relate an address to excursion logistics.
Our picks: Ushuaia tours
Choose the private kayak for a small party or the park hike for a canoe outing with lunch. Wind and fast-changing weather can cancel boat trips and hikes.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide and Viator. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
National park hike and canoe
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Lunch
- Canoes
A guided outing combining walking and canoeing.
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Channel cruise to Martillo
- Guided tour
- Sightseeing cruise
Wildlife is observed from the boat; there is no landing. Port tax is extra.
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Private channel sea kayaking
- Certified sea kayaking guide
- Full safety equipment
- Personal insurance
The private outing takes at most two paddlers; the price is per person.
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Ferry trip towards Martillo
- Ferry tour
- Guide
Penguins are observed from the boat, without a promised landing.
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Laguna Esmeralda guided hike
- Hotel/port pickup and drop-off
- Lunch
- Snacks
Walk with a professional guide and take a break for refreshments.
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Heated catamaran on the channel
- Professional guide on board
- Port fee
A channel trip aboard a heated boat with restrooms.
Check availability →Ushuaia excursions to compare
Match a heated catamaran, a longer wildlife navigation, private sea kayaking or a guided walking day to your available time.
Compare catamaran routes and included fees
The three-hour heated catamaran starts at the tourist pier in Ushuaia. It includes an onboard professional guide, toilets and the port fee. Hotel-to-port transport, food, drinks and photos are extra. It works as a focused channel outing when there are other plans for the day. For a fuller explanation of navigation and vessel types, see the Beagle Channel cruise guide.
The five-hour guided wildlife catamaran also starts on the waterfront, at Av. Prefectura Naval. Its inclusions cover the cruise, guide and opportunities to observe local wildlife and mountain scenery. The port tax, hotel pickup and meals are extra. A 5.5-hour ferry excursion from the tourist pier includes a guide and the boat trip, with travel to the port and food outside the package. Compare the actual inclusion list rather than treating all catamaran tickets as equivalent.
Private sea kayaking on the channel
The two-hour private sea kayak outing starts at Club Náutico AFASyN, Luis Pedro Fique 305. It is for a maximum of two paddlers, with a certified sea kayaking guide in each kayak, and is priced per person. Double or triple kayaks, a paddle, cockpit cover, life jacket, waterproof jacket, gloves and mittens are included. The package also contains safety equipment, personal insurance and an alfajor with coffee or tea at the end.
This is an active alternative to observing the channel from a passenger boat. Hotel transfers, a drysuit or wetsuit, photographs and single kayaks are outside the package. Treat the club as the departure point rather than the tourist pier. The private format describes this particular kayak outing; it should not be transferred to a shared catamaran or to the national park canoe excursion. Wind and conditions on the water remain part of planning a paddling day.
National park walking and canoeing
The eight-hour national park excursion includes canoes, lunch, beverages, hotel pickup and drop-off, and a local English- and Spanish-speaking guide. It offers a day built around walking and an organised canoe activity. On park waters, canoeing belongs to organised excursions using inflatable canoes. This is a different setting and activity from sea kayaking on the Beagle Channel.
Keep park access separate in your comparison of services and use the national park guide for admission categories and visit planning. Park paths vary in effort and seasonal framework; a calendar season is not a daily trail status. A walking day should be matched to fitness, clothing and the current route conditions rather than chosen solely because it occupies the same number of hours as a navigation.
Laguna Esmeralda as a walking day
The six-hour Laguna Esmeralda trekking outing includes a professional guide, lunch, snacks, coffee or tea, and hotel or port pickup and drop-off. It suits visitors who want their excursion to revolve around a walk with transport and food arranged. Compare it with the canoe day by activity and transfer needs, without assuming that the two walks have the same terrain or physical demands.
The Ushuaia hiking guide separates short island walks, national park paths and mountain routes. Patagonian wind, fast weather changes and changing ground conditions can lead to alterations or cancellations. Take warm waterproof clothing and suitable walking footwear. Current conditions and your fitness matter more than an attractive landscape photograph when deciding whether to take a walking excursion.
Penguins on the longer navigations
The five-hour wildlife catamaran and 5.5-hour ferry route include observation from the boat near Isla Martillo, not a penguin landing. Penguins are seasonal, with the regional biological window from early October to April, particularly November to February. For planning devoted to that interest, see Isla Martillo penguin tours.
Allow for route changes and weather
Book the activity that matches your priorities, then keep some flexibility in the stay. Wind can change a route or prevent a boat from leaving the harbour, and walking plans can also be cancelled. Departures, sightings and landings are not guaranteed. Avoid leaving an essential channel outing until the final available day. Keep a respectful distance from wildlife, do not feed or touch animals, and fly a drone only with permission.
Questions about your visit
Which option is private?
The sea kayak outing is private for a maximum of two paddlers, with a guide per kayak and a price per person.
Does the heated three-hour catamaran include pickup?
It starts at the Ushuaia tourist pier. The port fee and onboard guide are included; travel to the pier is extra.
Is the park canoe excursion sea kayaking?
It is an organised canoe activity in the national park, combined with walking. The private sea kayak excursion takes place on the channel and starts at the nautical club.