Located on Isla Grande, at the southernmost tip of Argentina, Ushuaia serves as an ideal base for adventures in the region known as the “End of the World.” Nestled between the Southern Andes and the chilly waters of the Beagle Channel, the capital of Tierra del Fuego province has long served as a starting point for both land and sea excursions, ranging from Antarctic cruises to glacier explorations.
With the city’s booming tourist economy, visitors no longer need to settle for basic accommodations. Luxury hotels are beginning to emerge alongside nondescript residences built to provide housing for workers lured by high wages. While the dramatic landscapes surrounding the city remain its main attractions, there is a growing number of cosmopolitan activities to enjoy in Ushuaia.
Escondido and Fagnano Lakes
A fun excursion in the area is to visit Lago Escondido and Lago Fagnano in the southernmost stretches of the Fuegian Andes. The Pan-American Highway from Ushuaia passes through beaver-dammed forests, peat bogs, and glaciers.
The lakes offer camping and fishing opportunities and are great places for a picnic or a hiking expedition. Lago Fagnano is notably the larger lake and partly belongs to Chile. The journey can be made with a rented car or as a seven-hour organized tour, including lunch and a local guide.
Martillo Island
No excursion in the Tierra del Fuego archipelago is complete without a close encounter with penguins, and Martillo Island offers visitors an unforgettable experience. This small island in the Beagle Channel, east of Ushuaia, hosts thousands of Magellanic and Gentoo penguins.
Guided tours take small groups to the rookeries, where visitors can observe adult penguins jostling for the best nesting spots, tending to their chicks, and fending off occasional predatory seabird attacks. The penguins seem to welcome human visitors with curiosity.
Estancia Haberton
The first farm established in Tierra del Fuego, Estancia Haberton, was founded in 1886 by the pioneering Anglican missionary Thomas Bridges. Today, his descendants operate the estate as a tourist attraction, offering visitors a glimpse into the region’s long and storied past.
In addition to the family homestead and reconstructed homes of the original inhabitants of the region, the Yámana people, there is also a natural history museum worth visiting. The Museo Acatushun showcases the remains of marine mammals found in the Beagle Channel. If booked in advance, accommodations and meals are available at the estancia.
Cerro Castor
Skiers can hit the slopes at the “End of the World” at Cerro Castor, Ushuaia’s first ski resort, located in the northwest of the city in the Sierra Alvear. Established in 1999, the resort boasts 30 slopes ranging from beginner to expert difficulty.
There are several four-person chairlifts, three T-bars, and four magic carpets. The resort also offers a range of additional outdoor activities, from cross-country skiing and snowshoeing to sledding. A luxurious ski lodge and seven restaurants make Cerro Castor a destination in itself.
Tren del Fin del Mundo
“The Train to the End of the World” offers visitors the opportunity to travel on the railway built to transfer prisoners from the island’s penal colony to the forests for logging. The 45-minute journey is narrated in Spanish and English by tour guides who provide interesting information about the history of Ushuaia.
The train departs from the End of the World Station to the west of the city and takes passengers into the Tierra del Fuego National Park. There is a stop at a scenic lookout along the way.
Martial Glacier
Exploring a glacier is an activity that cannot be missed in Tierra del Fuego, and Ushuaia facilitates this experience for everyone. Located just a short distance outside the city, there is a chairlift that whisks visitors up to the Glaciar Martial in just 15 minutes.
There is also a zig-zagging trail that adventurous travelers can hike up to the top in approximately 90 minutes. The glacier itself is relatively small compared to others in the region, but the breathtaking views it offers of the city and the channel are astonishing. The charming tea house at the base of the chairlift provides the perfect ending to a day of adventure.
Laguna Esmeralda
One of the most popular excursions around Ushuaia is the hike to Laguna Esmeralda, northeast of the city. Getting there involves a short but muddy trek through a peat bog, but the views offered at this gem of a lake make the journey more than worthwhile.
The unusual color of the lake comes from sediment drawn from slowly moving glacier rocks. Tour buses drop off visitors at the trailhead. From there, the relatively easy ascent to the lake takes about 45 minutes. The best time to see the lagoon is in the morning when the sun makes everything sparkle.
Museo Maritimo
The modern city of Ushuaia owes its existence to the penal colony established on the shore in 1896. Closed in 1947, the penitentiary complex is now home to four museums collectively known as the Museo Maritimo. While the Maritime Museum, the Antarctic Museum José María Sobral, and the Museum of Marine Art are worth exploring, the prison museum is the one that attracts the most visitors.
In addition to providing information about punishments, prison life, and the most notorious inmates of the penitentiary, a section of the original prison has been preserved intact and is open for exploration. Wandering through the empty and unheated cells is a truly memorable experience.
Tierra del Fuego National Park
Being the only national park with a maritime coastline and the most easily accessible one, Tierra del Fuego National Park is one of the top natural attractions of Ushuaia. Cascading waterfalls, crystal-clear rivers, forests, and glacier-capped mountains are just a few of the wonders visitors can expect to see along the well-marked trails.
From kelp geese and the Magellanic ibis to southern sea otters and the Patagonian gray fox, the birds and animals living here are equally diverse and beautiful. Introduced North American beavers thrive in the park, and hiking through the region offers close-up views of the dams built by these industrious creatures.
Beagle Channel
The Beagle Channel is a strait in the Tierra del Fuego Archipelago that separates Isla Grande from various smaller islands to the south. The channel is one of the three navigable passages around South America, the others being the Magellan Strait to the north and the open ocean Drake Passage to the south.
Taking a boat excursion from Ushuaia is the best way to experience the Beagle Channel, with attractions such as the sea lion colony at Isla de los Lobos and the Penguins on Martillo Island, in addition to wonderful views of the mountains bordering the strait.