Ushuaia is surrounded by mountains on one side and the sea on the other giving it dramatic scenery, an abundance of wildlife and unique charm. Ushuaia is also the southernmost city in the world earning it the nickname “End of the world”

Where is Ushuaia

Ushuaia is located at the very southern tip of South America on the Tierra del Fuego archipelago of Argentina

How to get to Ushuaia

Depending on where you are coming from there are 3 main ways to get to Ushuaia:

Plane from Buenos Aires: Fastest and easiest option. The Journey takes about 3.5 hours and there are a number of carriers to choose from including Aerolineas Argentinas, FlyBondi and JetSMART.

Bus from Buenos Aires: Very long gruelling journey and often not much cheaper than flying(only do this if you hate yourself!). Book the tickets online with Busbud.

Bus from Puerto Natales: If you are coming from Chile you can catch a bus from the Rodoviario bus station in Puerto Natales. You can get the tickets from the station or book online with Busbud. There are two border crossings on this journey as you will pass through Chile!

Getting Around

Ushuaia isn’t very big and you can walk everywhere in the downtown area.

For excursions beyond Ushuaia you can use local buses that are available form the Terminal de Ómnibus de Ushuaia(marked on the map above) for schedules and routes check the moveit website

You will also find shuttle buses at the bus terminal that will take you to some of the popular attractions like Tiera del Fuego National Park. The shuttles run frequently throughout the day so you can just turn up and book a ticket and jump on the next shuttle.

When is the best time to visit Ushuaia

Summer (December–February): The peak tourist season. Warmer temperatures and longer sunny days with temperatures averaging between 4 °C (39 °F) – 15 °C (59 °F).
Spring and Autumn: Chilly weather with temperatures averaging between 1 °C (34 °F) – 13 °C (55 °F).
Winter (May–August): Low season with cold temperatures averaging between -1 °C (30 °F) – 5 °C (41 °F).

Our Verdict: For us summer is the best time to visit as you are so far south even in summer it’s cool and the area is known for having extreme weather so best be avoiding that.

Where to stay

We would recommend staying downtown to give you easy access to everything in a short walking distance.

TRAVEL TIP: You will need a Sube card to ride the public transport.

Things to do in Ushuaia

Beagle Channel Cruise

Taking a Beagle channel cruise is a must do when in Ushuaia. There are multiple options available, and the two most popular are the classic and the Isla Martillo route. We would definitely recommend the Isla Martillo route, you get everything from the classic tour plus penguins! You can book the tickets at the booths outside of the tourist dock, there are loads of companies that offer the trip so look around and see what option is best for you.

We booked with a company called Tolkeyen Patagonia and the ticket currently cost 125,000AR.
The cruise leaves twice a day and the total journey takes about 6 hours.

The cruise will take you 61km up the Beagle channel to Isla Martillo, after about 30 minutes you will reach the first stop a group of 3 rocky islands Isla de los Lobos, Isla de los Pajaros and the Les Eclaireus island. The boat will pull up in front of Isla de los Lobos (Sea lion island) where you can see the Sea lions basking and playing on the rocks. The boat then passes slowly past the Les Eclaireus lighthouse which is also known as the lighthouse at the end of the world.

The boat then cruises another 2 hours up the Beagle channel where you will be surrounded by mountains and the rugged coastline with Argentina on one side and Chile on the other! Eventually you will reach Isla Martillo where there is a large penguin colony of Gentoo and Magelenic penguins. The boat will pull up close to the shore where you can watch the penguins frolicking on the beach.

Tierra Del Fuego National Park

Parque national Tierra del Fuego was Established in 1960 and was the first shoreline national park to be established in Argentina. The park is known for its dramatic scenery, which includes mountains, forests, lakes, and the dramatic Patagonia coastline.

To get there you can catch the shuttle bus from Ómnibus de Ushuaia there are multiple stops along the route so make sure you know which one you need to get off at. The bus will first take you to the park entrance where you will get off the bus to pay the park entrance fee that is currently 30,000ARS for foreigners and 10,000ARS for National residents.
We got off the shuttle bus at Bahia Ensenada so we could hike the Senda Costera trail which is probably the most popular trail in the park.

Senda Costera Trail Summary

  • Distance: 7.6km
  • Time needed: 3-4 hours
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Route type: Point to Point
  • Elevation gain: 264m

Before you leave Bahia Ensenada first check out the end of the world post office! here you can get your passport stamped or send a postcard from the end of the world!

TRAVEL TIP: Be aware the post office isn't open on the weekend!

The trail follows the rugged coastline where you will hike in and out of forested areas and stunning beaches with beautiful mountain views all the way. The trail ends at the national park visitor centre where you can catch the bus back to Ushuaia.

Museums

There are 2 museums in town that are definitely worth checking out the Museo del Fin del Mundo and Museo Marítimo y del Presidio de Ushuaia they both give you loads of information about the Tierra del Fuego region. Exhibits include the history of the area including the first nations that inhabited the area, history and stories of the early settlers and the unique flora and fauna that can be found in Tierra del Fuego region. Both Museums are held in historic buildings but the most interesting is Museo Marítimo y del Presidio de Ushuaia that is held in the old notorious prison from the early 20th century.

Tren del Fin del Mundo Train

Tren del fin del Mundo is scenic steam railway that was used by the prisoners from the notorius prison back in the day to collect wood for the city. Today you can ride the steam train right right through Tierra del Fuego National Park. For booking and timetable check out the official website.

Hiking Trails

There are loads of hiking trails in the area in and outside of the national park where you can see glaciers, alpine lakes and epic views over the Tierra del Fuego Archipelago. Check out this altrails map for inspiration and ideas!

Our Experience

It is a pretty cool experience to make it to the end of the world and it definitely didn’t disappoint! this is a unique region and it was really interesting to explore and learn the history of the people who have inhabited this harsh land. We stayed for 3 nights but it felt too short as there were other activities and trails to explore in the area. Maybe just another reason to return one day!

Next Stop:

Also check out our YouTube video below 👇