Ushuaia & Tierra del Fuego.
The Beagle Channel at the end of the world
Ushuaia calls itself the end of the world, and from the waterfront it looks it: a steep town of tin roofs between snowy mountains and the Beagle Channel. It is also the main port for ships to Antarctica.
The point of being here is the landscape around it. Boats go out among sea-lion rocks and cormorant colonies to the Les Eclaireurs lighthouse. Tierra del Fuego National Park, just west of town, ends at a bay where National Route 3 runs out. In season, small groups visit a penguin colony on Isla Martillo.
- Getting there
- 3 h 30 flight from Buenos Aires
- How long
- Three nights. Longer if you are joining an Antarctic voyage.
- Best time
- November to March for long days, boat trips and penguins. Winter (June to September) is for skiing and snow.
What to see.(04)
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01
Beagle Channel by boat
Sea lions, cormorants and the striped lighthouse, half a day.
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02
Tierra del Fuego National Park
Coastal and forest trails at the end of Route 3.
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03
Penguins at Isla Martillo
Seasonal, small-group visits to a Magellanic and gentoo colony.
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04
Laguna Esmeralda
A boggy but beautiful walk to a green glacial lake.
From Ushuaia.
Straight-line distance and typical door-to-door time to every other stop.
How we work these out| To | Distance | Door to door | How |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iguazú | 3,436 km | about 11 h | 2 flights via Buenos Aires |
| Salta | 3,345 km | about 11 h 30 | 2 flights via Buenos Aires |
| Purmamarca | 3,460 km | about 12 h 30 | 2 flights via Buenos Aires |
| Mendoza | 2,437 km | about 11 h | 2 flights via Buenos Aires |
| Buenos Aires | 2,374 km | about 6 h | 1 flight |
| Bariloche | 1,536 km | about 9 h | 2 flights via El Calafate (not every day) |
| Puerto Madryn | 1,358 km | about 11 h 30 | 2 flights via Buenos Aires |
| El Chaltén | 684 km | about 7 h | 1 flight via El Calafate |
| El Calafate | 564 km | about 4 h | 1 flight |
Practical.
The things to know before you add Ushuaia to a trip.
Getting there
Fly from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia (USH), about three and a half hours, or from El Calafate, under an hour and a half.
When to go
November to March for long days, boat trips and penguins. Winter (June to September) is for skiing and snow.
How long to stay
Three nights. Longer if you are joining an Antarctic voyage.
Watch out for
Four seasons in a day is normal. Bring waterproofs even in summer. Penguin landings are limited and sell out early.
Where to stay
See the kind of place we look for on our stays page.
Pairs well with.(02)
Plan a trip with Ushuaia.
We will tell you what fits with it, and in which order.