A boat tour on the Beagle Channel ranks among the finest excursions to experience in Tierra del Fuego, departing from Ushuaia. During this crossing, Isla de los Lobos stands out as a key stop thanks to the incredible wildlife it harbors. Set your course for this island at the edge of the world.

A Brief History

Isla de los Lobos emerges in brilliant green 9 km north of Río Grande, within the Beagle Channel. This islet, measuring 200 meters long by 85 meters wide, was formed through the deposit of rocks extracted from the seabed—originally recovered for the unfinished jetty of Caleta La Misión port.

Today, the island shelters various species of sea lions and seabirds thriving in pristine, undisturbed nature.

Isla de los Lobos Today

Isla de los Lobos is an artificially-created islet located in the Argentine Sea of the Atlantic Ocean, within Tierra del Fuego province. It now stands as one of Patagonia's most significant marine reserves.

This island holds tremendous appeal for travelers due to the numerous marine mammals inhabiting it. In an atmosphere of remarkable calm—almost silence—visitors can observe the natural habitat of these maned sea lions.

Two types of sea wolves coexist on the island, including the fur seal. Numbering around 180,000, these creatures weigh up to 140 kg and measure 180 cm in length. The second sea lion species found here is less numerous, with approximately 15,000 individuals. It's easily recognizable by its enormous head and impressive whiskers. These can be spotted near Punta del Este port, around fishing boats and near the fish market. Males of this species can reach 230 cm and weigh 340 kg.

Exploring Isla de los Lobos

Isla de los Lobos is positioned near the northeastern coast of Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego, in Argentine Patagonia. The island is inhabited by thousands of fur seals. Visitors also observe various species of seabirds, notably terns, plovers, cormorants, gulls, steamer ducks, and imperial cormorants.

The Beagle Channel excursion begins along Ushuaia's expansive bay, proceeding toward the Beagle Channel with passage through Paso Chico. The boat then navigates toward Isla de los Pájaros, where you'll discover diverse seabird species endemic to Tierra del Fuego. Among the most remarkable are upland geese, Magellanic geese, black-browed albatrosses, and kelp gulls.

From Isla de los Pájaros, the vessel sets course for Isla de los Lobos. It stands unique for its marine fauna abundance. The island is favored by throngs of South American sea lions, distinguished by their large heads and reddish coloring. You'll also encounter South American fur seals.

After the stopover at Isla de los Lobos, boats typically head toward the Eclaireurs Lighthouse, where colonies of imperial cormorants reside. This stop is also an opportunity to learn more about the 1930 shipwreck of the SS Monte Cervantes.

From there, the excursion proceeds to Isla Martillo to observe, from the catamaran moored offshore, a colony of Magellanic penguins. The boat then navigates to Puerto Karelo, notable for its authentic shellfish offerings.