Beagle Channel
Canal Beagle
A strait named after HMS Beagle, the ship that carried Darwin. Boat trips pass Sea Lion Island, Cormorant Island and the red-and-white 'Lighthouse at the End of the World', and in summer you can land to see penguins.
The Beagle Channel is a natural waterway about 240 km long between Tierra del Fuego and the southern islands, narrowing to about 5 km at its tightest point. It takes its name from HMS Beagle, the Royal Navy ship that surveyed these waters in the 1830s; young Charles Darwin completed his circumnavigation on the ship's second voyage. The eastern stretch of the channel forms the border between Chile and Argentina, and both shores are steep slopes covered with snowy peaks and southern beech forest. Cruises leaving from Ushuaia's pier are a must. (1) The classic 2.5–3 hour route passes Isla de los Lobos (Sea Lion Island), where South American sea lions bask on the rocks; Isla de los Pájaros (Bird Island), where tens of thousands of imperial cormorants nest and which from a distance looks like a colony of penguins; and the red-and-white striped Les Éclaireurs Lighthouse (Faro Les Éclaireurs). It is often called the 'Lighthouse at the End of the World' and is Ushuaia's most classic photo spot. (The 'Lighthouse at the End of the World' in Jules Verne's novel is actually based on another lighthouse further east, on Staten Island.) (2) The full-day route extends to Isla Martillo to see Magellanic and gentoo penguins. Only the company Piratour has permission to land, allowing visitors to walk designated trails and get close to the penguins. Daily spots are limited, so book in advance. You can also visit Estancia Harberton, founded in 1886, and its Marine Mammal Museum. Prices range from several dozen to over a hundred US dollars depending on the route, and the ticket booths at the pier let you compare. The sea is windy with rough waves, and the deck gets very cold, so bring a windproof jacket and motion-sickness medicine.
Opening hours
Boat tours mostly depart at times such as 09:30 and 15:00
Nearby sights
- Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse
- Maritime and Prison Museum
- Tierra Mayor Valley
- End of the World Museum
- Yámana Museum
- Ushuaia
- Laguna Esmeralda
- Cerro Castor Ski Resort