After hotel pickup, board a catamaran at Don Eduardo Arturo Brisighelli pier to begin your journey through the narrow strait dotted with the Tierra del Fuego islands. Take a 2.5-hour cruise to admire rocky isles, glaciers, city landmarks and wildlife on the Beagle Channel, named in honor of Charles Darwin’s ship Beagle that traversed the gunmetal-gray waters in the 1830s.

As the boat heads east and hugs the coastline, enjoy views of Maritime Museum, housed in former prison buildings, and the End of the World Museum that specializes in the area’s natural and aboriginal history. Learn from guided commentary on board about the infamous old prison, now displaying a replica of Darwin’s ship, and Ushuaia’s origins as a penal colony. Pass by the serrated snow-covered peaks of the Olivia and Cinco Hermanos (Five Brothers) mountains looming behind the city’s industrial area. Amid panoramas of water, sea and mountain, sail past the Tunnel and Fique Ranch, and the Encajonado River. The boat approaches the tiny promontory of Les Eclaireurs lighthouse, a candy-striped beacon surrounded by colonies of rock shags. Perhaps under a sky brooding with clouds, learn about the SS Monte Cervantes that met its fateful end here in 1930, parts of which poke through the water’s surface.

Heading to the center of the Beagle Channel, we will encounter the Les Éclaireurs lighthouse. Built in 1920, this iconic red-and-white striped beacon serves as a symbol of Ushuaia. On one of the islands, remnants of the 1930 shipwreck, Monte Cervantes, are still visible, adding a layer of history to the scenic beauty of the area.

On the way back west, your catamaran quietly approaches 'Isla de Lobos,' home to hundreds of sea lions, fur seals, and king cormorants that resemble small penguins. Delight in close-up views of the mammals as they grunt, bark, and maybe even jostle one another to claim territory.

Continue towards Bird Island, where you can marvel at the diverse bird species. Observe the seagulls, the majesty of the king cormorants, the beauty of petrels, steamer ducks, and giant albatrosses, encountering up to 20 fascinating bird species along the way.