Join Date: May 2005
Location: Tenerife, Canary Islands/Hannover, Germany
Programs: Celebrity Elite Plus, RCCL Diamond, Princess Platinum, Carlson Gold, IHG Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 669
Pira Tours, in Ushuaia, is the only company (AFAIK) that has access to Isla Martillo (via a zodiac from Estancia Harberton). A max. of 20 PAX is allowed on the island at any one time (max. 80 per day total) to spend time with the thousands of magellanic penguins that are there until late February/early March. It was an incredible experience (we were there the first week of March).
BTW, the ship's tours are allowed to the island, but passengers are not allowed to get off the boat on to the island. I think the 150 or so that were watching us from the ship's excursion were trying to figure out why we could be on the island -- and they, not. It was a fantastic trip at about 1/2 what the ship's tour cost (IIRC, we paid $70 pp).
Pira Tours - as well as several other tour companies - have a kiosk right at the dock, but Pira is consistently fully booked. Not much of a chance if you haven't booked in advance.