Day 1 in Ushuaia

Welcome to Ushuaia! Upon arrival at the airport, you will go through customs and immigration. Should you opt to purchase a transfer to your hotel; a representative will be waiting for you as you exit immigration. Arrive at your hotel, check in and do not give in to jet lag! There is so much for you to see and do!

We recommend you get acquainted with Ushuaia the city at the `End of the World`. Take a stroll along the waterfront or the main street of San Martin where many restaurants and shops can be found, stop in for lunch and pick up some souvenirs.

The Ushuaia Prison Museum is located close to downtown and features 4 museums in 1 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 a 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.

As evening time approaches make your way down to the Ushuaia Port in the heart of the city. The streets here are brimming with restaurants, bars, and shops boasting views of the Beagle Channel. Find the restaurant of your choice and sit down to enjoy some delicious king crab (centolla) cooked to perfection or juicy slow cooked Fuegian lamb two of the well-known dishes found in Ushuaia.

For dessert check out one of the chocolate houses and enjoy some hot chocolate, fresh cakes and chocolates.

Day 2 in Ushuaia

Today head out to the sprawling Tierra del Fuego National Park, which covers 240 square miles of land featuring forests, mountains, glacier s 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.

Hike through the trails and take a ride on the Tren del Fin del Mundo `End of the World train` which takes passengers on a 45-minute journey through the 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 and 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.

Enjoy a picnic in the park surrounded by nature and take in the peace and tranquil surroundings before making your way to the Martial Glacier found 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.

If time allows, 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.

Make your back into downtown Ushuaia for another delicious meal. Many eateries offer excellent seafood dishes including mussels and sea bass accompanied by a glass of Argentinian wine or locally brewed beer.

Day 3 in Ushuaia

Today head out to the spectacular ski resort at Cerro Castor situated on the southern slope of Mount Krund featuring over 988 acres decorated with ski slopes and trails and other outdoor activities. The hill is situated 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.

Next stop is the stunning Esmeralda Lagoon 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.

If time allows, visit Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse which translates to `the Scouts` in French. The red and white conically shaped lighthouse stands on the northeasternmost island of Le Eclaireurs islands in the Beagle Channel. The lighthouse stands 36 feet tall and measures 10 feet wide at the base, the light is 74 feet above sea level and emits a white flashing light every 10 seconds with a range of 7.5 nautical miles. There are frequent boat tours to the lighthouse from Ushuaia where sea lions and penguins can be seen in the waters along with a wide array of birdlife including albatross, steamer ducks and upland geese.

Enjoy some dinner at one of the many restaurants found in downtown and dine on delicious fresh lamb or seafood and local Argentinian wine. There are many high-end restaurants found in Ushuaia with great ambiance and waterfront views.

Additional Days in Ushuaia

If you are able to spend additional days in Ushuaia visit Lapataia Bay found in the heart of Tierra del Fuego National Park. A beautiful Bay surrounded by beech and evergreen forests popular for kayaking where native birds such as Patagonian geese can be seen.

Visit Redonda Island at the mouth of Lapataia Bay, a pristine island home to cohiue and cinnamon forests with breathtaking views and a short hike to the summit.

Estorbo or Hindrance Island is a small island next to Isla Redonda where diving is popular especially night dives with rich marine life and biodiversity.

Your Last Day in Ushuaia

Depart from your hotel to the airport for your return flight home. We recommend that you purchase a private transfer to the airport if so the representative will meet you at your hotel with plenty of time to get you to the airport for your flight out.