Wildlife spotting in the Beagle Channel

The Beagle Channel cuts a swathe across the furthest reaches of Argentina, slicing a frigid cluster of islands free of the mainland. Given its connections with Darwin, who famously sailed here on board the HMS Beagle, it’s fitting that this trip offers the chance to admire some of the hardy local fauna that would have interested the naturalist on his historic voyage.

The trip begins in Ushuaia, setting sail along the Beagle Channel and passing nesting birds, a shipwreck and a lighthouse picturesquely marooned on a rocky island. The catamaran comes to a stop at Isla de Los Lobos, to view a vast colony of sea lions lolling in front of a snowy mountain backdrop. If you wish to travel further you can continue east to Martillo island. This surprisingly green and hospitable isle is home to a sociable rookery of Magellanic and Gentoo penguins.