Pingüinera Isla Martillo – Estancia Harberton 2015
Penguin Rookery – Harberton Ranch
Departing from our office at the tourist dock in Ushuaia, we drive in our modern minibuses towards northeast along Nationals route 3 & J, the legendary road to Estancia Harberton (the first farm on the island, founded in 1886 by the Anglican missionary Thomas Bridges, located 90 Km rom Ushuaia, on the Beagle Channel). We sail from Harberton harbor to Martillo Island, a 15 minute ride on a semi-rigid boat (vessel capable of navigation in the area). On the island, we will walk for 1 hour along Gentoo and Magellanics penguins, always with a guide and walking through authorized trails, experiencing a unique adventure only with us! During summertime, penguins establish on the island. They share the habitat with other birds, such as skúas (their main predator), petrels, cormorants, vultures and South American terns. Martillo Island, on the Beagle Channel, is part of the Estancia Harberton, and home to Magellanic penguins between September and April. The rookery hosts around 1000 nests, and is one of the three Magellanic penguin rookeries in Tierra del Fuego. There is also a small colony of 9 breeding couples of gentoo penguins (Pygocelis Papua), the only one in South America. A limited area of the nesting AREA can be visited nowadays with a tour guide.
