Experience Ushuaia

Overview

Ushuaia is dubbed the city at the “end of the world”, or the “beginning of everything”. It claims the title of the world’s southernmost city. It is the capital and port of Tierra del Fuego province in Argentina, it sits on the Beagle Channel between the Martial Range and the end of the world, at the southern tip of South America. Ushuaia is the gateway to many exciting outdoor adventures and activities such as skiing at Cerro Castor, penguin spotting, and orca sightings, and of course the biggest attraction of them all Tierra del Fuego National Park. It is a unique destination surrounded by both sea and mountains ideal for sailing, kayaking, hiking, and climbing.

Things to see and do

Visit The Ushuaia Prison Museum which is located close to downtown and features four museums in one including the Maritime Museum and the Antarctic Museum, where visitors can check out exhibits that detail the history of Ushuaia and the biological heritage of the Antarctic.

Check out the views in Encerrada Bay, a nature reserve and a great spot for bird watching due to the large number of species observed here. In wintertime, the surface of the bay freezes and is turned into a natural ice skating rink.

Visit the Museo del Fin del Mundo (The Museum at the End of the World) which focuses on the natural and indigenous history of Ushuaia. The museum boasts the largest exhibited collection of birds from Tierra del Fuego, a figurehead of the Duchess of Albany (sunken vessel), and a library dedicated to the history and nature of the region. There is a popular children`s exhibit named `The Grocery Store` displaying essential shopping items of Ushuaia.

Today head out to the sprawling Tierra del Fuego National Park, covering a staggering 240 square miles of land decorated by thick verdant forests, majestic soaring mountains, fascinating glaciers, and jaw-dropping scenery. The park is the only national park with a maritime coast, it also protects the Andean-Patagonian Forest filled with peat bogs, beech forests, glistening lakes, remote beaches, and snow-capped mountains.

Go hiking through the trails and take a fun ride on the Tren del Fin del Mundo aka `End of the World train`. The toy train takes passengers on a 45-minute journey through the stunning national park. The train tracks were originally built as a freight line to serve the Ushuaia prison and operated from 1909-1952 transporting timber. The train departs at 9:30 am, noon, and 3 pm, it boasts large windows for viewing the passing scenery. Other opportunities in the National Park include trekking, four-wheel drive tours, horseback riding, mountain biking, and canoe trips through the spectacular natural surroundings and an abundance of wildlife living in the park.

Make your way to Martial Glacier in the mountain ranges just northeast of Ushuaia. This spectacular natural wonder is one of the most important attractions found in the region and can be reached via a chairlift providing panoramic views over the Beagle Channel. Stop into the teahouse at the base for a hot drink and fresh pastries.

Visit the Estancia Harberton, the first ranch founded in Tierra del Fuego dating back to 1887. This is still a working ranch and the oldest farm found on the island, which has been turned into a museum with a deep pioneering past covering 50,000 acres of coastal marshland and wooded hillsides.

Head to the spectacular ski resort at Cerro Castor on the southern slopes of Mount Krund featuring over 988 acres decorated with ski slopes and trails and other outdoor winter activities. The hill sits at 640 feet above sea level with the top of the hill rising to 3,467 feet. There are restaurants, cafes, and coffee shops located at the base, the middle, and the top of the hill.

See the stunning Esmeralda Lagoon is found in a valley in the Fuegian Andes surrounded by native cohiue and lenga forests. Hiking is a popular activity here which begins in the Tierra Mayor Valley taking hikers through peat bogs to the emerald green waters of the lagoon. There are also helicopter tours offered in the region that depart from Ushuaia.

Other lakes in the region include Lake Fagnano located on the main island of Tierra del Fuego shared by Argentina and Chile measuring 60 miles in length, it is the largest lake in the world surrounded by the virgin Patagonian forest. The small town of Tolhuin sits on the lake shores where the famous Panaderia La Union Bakery is located, be sure to stop in and try some delicious treats.

Escondido Lake is situated in the foothills of the Garibaldi Mountain pass surrounded by the Fuegian Andes. Popular for day trips and a great place for boating and kayaking along with sport fishing where brown and rainbow trout are often caught.

Shopping

Ushuaia is surprisingly a shopper's dream destination offering tax-free shopping and excellent deals from top-quality outdoor gear to souvenir shopping and leather goods. The main shopping district in the city is near the waterfront mainly on San Martin, as well as a small area west of the city center and north of the airport. Some of the popular souvenir shops are La Abuela Oma, La Ultima Vita, and Fin del Mundo. The Paseo del Fuego Shopping Center is a larger modern shopping mall that features a cineplex, and more.

Dining

There is a great variety of diverse dining options to choose from in Ushuaia. The town at the end of the world attracts visitors from across the globe and offers a great deal of international cuisine as well as Argentinian-style cuisine, haute cuisine, and Fuegian cuisine. There are some great restaurants and other establishments many serving up delicious freshly caught Antarctic snow crab, and king crab leg (centolla) which is a popular dish. There’s plenty of fresh catch of the day including fresh fish, and seafood like mussels, sea bass, and scallops on the menus, as well as burgers, pizza, barbecued meat like lamb, and salads. Ushuaia also offers great wine and chocolate, there are several great chocolate shops that are quite legendary such as Honecker El Chocolate de Ushuaia. Many of the town’s restaurants can be found in the center of town around Sand Martin and Maipu, there are also a lot of restaurants on the outskirts of the city. There are some restaurants dotted around the harbor with waterfront views.

Some other Argentine favorites are the Empanadas con carne (fried or baked), Milanesa a la Napolitana (breaded and fried meat covered with tomato sauce, mozzarella, and ham), Chimichurri (Argentine pesto used to marinate meat or as a dipping sauce), and Choripan (sausage). If you want to try something different, the Pacu fish is delicious as long as the human-like teeth don't unnerve you. According to National Geographic, Argentina is one of the 5 places in the world to have the best hilado (Ice cream). We suggest you try the dulce de leche or the tiramisu. Alfajor de Maicena (dulce de leche cookies) is another Argentine favorite. Malbec wine makes a great complement to every steak meal. If you're looking for something softer, Yerba Mate the national drink of Argentina is a herb placed in a mate pot - it is a focal point for social gatherings.

Nightlife

Ushuaia offers visitors a great selection of nightlife venues with pubs, bars, clubs, and casinos. It can get pretty lively here in the summer months with some charming intimate cafes dotted around town and some upscale cocktail bars. Surprisingly there is an immense variety of things to do at night in this small town where partygoers can sip on some excellent cocktails and sit back and relax in a unique atmosphere.