Argentina4u Review: Walk with Penguins on Martillo Island Tour

Penguins are fascinating animals! We can probably blame the film "March of the Penguins" back in 2005 for sparking our curiosity about these particular birds and their habits. So if you´re visiting Ushuaia, and if it's still penguin season, you cannot miss the chance to take one of the most beautiful, educational and interesting trips in this area: a trekking tour with Penguins.

A trip road has begun

This Tour to Walk with Penguins on Martillo Island departs from the port of Ushuaia, but arriving there is very simple. With friendly staff who have a lot of knowledge and a willingness to share it with the group, the tour begins its route heading along Route No. 3, where then it takes the unpaved route J to Estancia Harberton, where the Magellanic Penguin Colony has settled. Though the Estancia is located 90km from Ushuaia, the whole route will take around 2 hours as half of the road is not a main highway. However, time is irrelevant when every second a new scenic landscape shows up in front of your eyes. [caption id="attachment_2716" align="alignnone" width="610"] Scenic Route No. 3 in Ushuaia / source: Daytours4u[/caption]

The Acatushun Museum

That was the first of a series of nice surprises during the journey. Even if you´re not a museum fan, this first stop is not only interesting but impressive. The Acatushun Museum is located on Harberton Ranch and it is dedicated to the study of the marine fauna of Tierra del Fuego. Its founder, Natalie Godall, a North American biologist who married one of the descendants of Thomas Bridges, the founder of this ranch, began this project collecting bones and rescuing animals in danger on their shores of the Beagle Channel. Nowadays, the project is a foundation with a study center and a working laboratory. It consists of more than 4,000 specimens and you can learn from the 21 skeletons of sea mammals and other species found on its land. [caption id="attachment_2715" align="alignnone" width="610"] The Acatushun Museum in the Estancia Harberton / source: Daytours4u[/caption] From whales to dolphins, penguins to flying birds and other cetaceans, the museum is a smart way of making of this travel activity an educational experience as you learn about the local ecology.

Estancia Harberton: a national historical monument

Harberton Ranch is located on the Beagle Channel. It was founded by Thomas Bridges, an English expeditionary who received this land from the Argentine National Congress under Julio A. Rocca's presidential command as retribution for the intervention he lead with the Yamanis indians. Estancia Harberton, declared a National Historical Monument, retains its architecture and original style from last century. It is still managed by Thomas Bridges' descendants and nowadays includes, besides the museum, lodging services with dorms and private rooms, a restaurant, a coffee shop, and a port from where the boats depart to the Martillo Island. Estancia Harberton can also be visited with a boat tour that navigates across the Beagle Channel, covering an incredible area of the most beautiful and still virgin patagonian landscape. [caption id="attachment_2717" align="alignnone" width="610"] Estancia Harberton: the patagonian lyfe-style remains across generations. / source: Daytours4u[/caption]

Walking with Penguins: A real Patagonian experience

Shortly after you arrive at Harberton Ranch, a motor boat takes the first half of the the group to Martillo Island. After 15 minutes of navigation, we finally arrived. When this review was made, it was pairing season and the penguins were busy falling in love, and there were only a few on the island's beach, so we had to take a short walk to the interior of the island to visit their nests and see other expressions of penguin-style love. Having these little guys in black and white suits so close to you is an exciting experience. The emotion and excitement is inevitable, but we were not allowed to speak loudly. You probably won´t know whether to focus on taking pictures or spend time just observing them. Do both; you have 1 hour to spend on Martillo island and it is good enough to get the most out of the experience and not to be too intrusive in their environment. [caption id="attachment_2718" align="alignnone" width="610"] Penguins taking care of their nest: an example of gender equality / source: Daytours4u[/caption] The majority of the penguins are Magellanic Penguins. This is one of the 3 colonies located in Patagonia, the other big one is located in Punta Tombo near Puerto Madryn. There are also few couples of Gentoo´s penguins (named Papuas in Spanish) who probably arrived from the Falklands; these can be recognised by their orange beak. [caption id="attachment_2721" align="alignnone" width="610"] Penguin Love is black and white. / source: Daytours4u[/caption] During their pairing, the penguins build their own nests under the bushes or in little holes underground and it is also common to see one of them standing at the entrance, guarding their future descendants from predatory birds. [caption id="attachment_2720" align="alignnone" width="610"] Penguins incubating and attending to every possible danger to their eggs. / source: Daytours4u[/caption] The magaellanic penguins are faithful lovers, they settle with one partner and stay together to keep partnering year after year. They are also an equal society, as males and females share the incubation of the eggs and are equally cared for by both parents during their first stage of life. During the pairing months, you'll mainly find the adult penguins of reproductive age. The younger penguins only arrive to the island during summer and that´s when you´ll see the crowds hanging out on the edge, while these adults are already taking care of their little ones, just like our human teenagers having fun and enjoying life like in a big natural summer camp. The way back to Ushuaia is equally scenic, with gorgeous sunset colours, encouraging you to stay awake and alert to keep capturing your journey. At the end of the tour, you will return late and hungry, and will probably want to go straight to grab some food in downtown Ushuaia before heading back to your hotel.

Important tips and recommendations to book the Walk with Penguins on Martillo Island Tour:

• The Penguin walking tour operates between October and April
• It has 2 daily departures at 8am and 2:30pm, but note that it is better to visit in the afternoon as penguins are morning birds and many of them leave the island to fish. Once their job of the day is done, they return to Martillo Island to hang around with their partners.
• You need to respect the environment and not do anything that will interfere with the bird's peace and habits.
• You´re not allowed to smoke, drink or eat on the penguin island.
• Due to the exclusivity of this tour it is highly recommended to book in advance, especially during peak season (Dec to Feb).
• Only small groups are allowed on the island, so the group will be split but everyone will get the same experience.
• There is only one tour operator with permission to land on Martillo Island. The other tours sightsee the penguins from the boat and binoculars will most likely be needed during pairing time as penguins are not on the shore.
• Bring comfortable and warm clothes no matter the season. An impermeable jacket is desirable, as are sunglasses and sunblock.

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Written by: Nohelia Sanchez