The best activities in Ushuaia, the capital of the world
The best activities in Ushuaia, the capital of the world
Seven years after our first visit we return to Tierra del Fuego to rediscover the best activities in Ushuaia, the capital at the end of the world,
There are only a few places in the world that still commemorate the romanticism of exploring the Old World. They arouse nostalgia for a time that we never knew; Places where we have never been to.
We know their names as we know Neverland and Narnia: enveloped by legends and traditions. Cartagena, Antarctica, the Northwest Passage and the Vinson massif. Even men sounded better at the time: Drake, Amundsen, Livingstone and Shackleton.
In the middle of these legendary places, there is certainly space for Tierra del Fuego, the southern tip of Argentina and the famous “end of the world”, the last accumulation of mankind in front of the wilderness of Antarctic.
With this feeling of awe we enter Ushuaia, the capital of Tierra del Fuego, embedded between the Martial mountains in the north and the Beagle Canal in the south.
The Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan was the first European to explore the area. When he sailed for the Spanish crown in 1520, he accidentally came across the numerous fires of the natives across the country and thus received the nickname Tierra del Fuego or "Land of Fire".
Daniela Rencelj/Shutterstock An icy Tierra del Fuego
The best activities in Ushuaia
Ushuaia is a travel destination for itself. We spent four days there in winter 2015 as part of our world tour and returned there in the summer of 2022 on the way to Antarctic. In any case, it is worth stopping a few days to explore the best activities in and to Ushuaia.
Museo Maritimo y del Presidio de Ushuaia
This former prison was converted into the Ushuaia shipping and prison museum. The uncanny corridors and cells once housed the most notorious criminals in the country, including the anarchists Simón Radowitzky and the 16-year-old serial killer Cayetano Santos Godino.
Viktoria Prusakova/Shutterstock Empensively empty corridore in the Museo Marítimo Y del Presidio de Ushuaia
Today the complex has a less bloody purpose. Its separate wings show various aspects of life in Tierra del Fuego, from marine and air history to modern art. Tickets are not available online and must therefore be bought on site. (Tip: Take USD with you and exchange it to the local currency on site because your money will pass much further.)
Plaza Islas Malvinas
We held on Plaza Islas Malvinas, a monument to the fallen soldiers of the Falkland War. The wall of the memory contains the names of 649 Argentine soldiers who were conflict.
Atlas & Boots The Plaza Islas Malvinas memorial offers a place of reflection
The Falkland Islands still used by Argentina are called Las Islas Malvinas. If you are in a political discussion, use the local name and not the British.
tren del fin de mundo
The Tren Del Fin de Mundo or end-the world train once transported prisoners to the nearby forest to collect wood and stones. Today it transports Ushuaia tourists to Parque Nacional Tierra del Fuego and completes the last 7 km of the former journey of the prisoners. The route leads through wide picturesque landscapes, a waterfall, a "tree cemetery" and parts of the Lenga forest.
Pola Damonte/Shutterstock The charming tren del fin de mundo
The train station is 8 km from Ushuaia, so that passengers have to organize transport to and from the location. The train is popular with tourists, so book tickets in advance if you don't want to miss your trip.
pass stamp at the end of the world
The end of the world offers one of the coolest passport stamps in the world. Visit the tourist office in the Prefectura Naval Argentina 470 to have your passport stamped.
alt = "Let your passport stamp your passport in Ushuaia"> Giovanni Zacchini/Shutterstock Let your passport stamp in Ushuaia
stamp cushions and stamps are designed on an area to the rear and can be used as desired. We traveled to the seventh continent and stamped our passports with both Ushuaia and with the Antarctic.
Museo del Fin del Mundo
The Museo del Fin del Mundo, also known as the museum of the world, offers little more than 30-45 minutes of entertainment, but is worth a visit for posterity solely.
alt = "We visited the Museo del Fin del Mundo every seven years"> Atlas & Boots We visited the Museo del Fin del Mundo every seven years
The former bank was built in 1903 and today shows exhibits on natural history, bird world, natives and early criminal colonies. Be sure to ask for a visit to the second department of the museum, which is located in another building.
The best activities related to Ushuaia
The card below shows the best activities in and around Ushuaia. Pink pins show sights within the city and yellow pins show sights nearby.
lighthouse les Éclaireurs
The lighthouse Les Éclaireurs can be reached after a short boat trip on the Beagle Canal. The Argentinians call him Faro del Fin del Mundo or lighthouse at the end of the world, not to be confused with the lighthouse San Juan de Salvamento on the eastern Isla de Los Estados, which was famous by the novel "The Lighthouse at the end" by Jules Verne.
Hernanmetal1980/Shutterstock Lighthouse Les Éclaireurs in the Beagle Canal
Lagune Esmeralda
The 9 km long hike to Laguna Esmeralda is one of the most popular from Ushuaia. The path is moderate, but crosses extremely muddy terrain, so pack up good hiking shoes, galoshes and hiking sticks if possible. Those who defy the mud are rewarded with the green glacier water of the Laguna Esmeralda, snow -covered mountains and dense primeval forests.
Filip fuxa/Shutterstock The glacier green water of the Laguna Esmeralda
The starting point is a few kilometers northeast of Ushuaia. You can take a shuttle or a taxi to the starting point to hike it independently or book a guided tour. Note that you cannot enter the way after 3:00 p.m. in spring/summer or 1:00 p.m. in autumn/winter, so plan accordingly.
Isla Martillo (penguininsel)
On the nearby Isla Martillo or Penguininsel, visitors can go for a walk between penguins. Unfortunately we did not visit the island ourselves because it was closed on our first visit. The second time we were on the way to the Antarctic and wanted to see a variety of penguins anyway. Viator offers a number of well -rated tours (see below), so we recommend booking one of them.
alt = "On the Isla Martillo, visitors can go for a walk between penguins"> Smileyunita/Shutterstock On the Isla Martillo, visitors can go for a walk between penguins
glacier hiking
glacier Martial and Glacier Vinciguerra are both accessible with day hikes from Ushuaia. The starting point for the first trail is a few kilometers north of Ushuaia and is easy to reach across the street (book a taxi or a minibus for the return trip).
cc; Shutterstock
Martial glacier (left) and Vinciguerra glacier (right)
The Martial Glacier Trail itself is 6 km long, but you can leave out part of the climb by choosing a chairlift. The glacier itself does not compete with Perito Moreno-especially in summer-but it offers picturesque views of Ushuaia and the Beagle Canal.
The Vinciguerra Glacier Trail is deeper in the mountains and longer, harder and muddy, but hikers are rewarded with probably more beautiful views.
Parque Nacional Tierra del Fuego
After all, do not miss the Parque Nacional Tierra del Fuego (National Park Tierra del Fuego). The departing bus companies are only a few minutes away from the tourist office, but if you arrange the trip in advance, you can pick them up from your hotel.
In the Tierra del Fuego National Park, we found the seclusion that we had expected, both bleak and beautifully in their snow -covered splendor. With extensive panoramas of versus -hitting mountains in the quiet winter air, the park is undoubtedly one of the best activities in Ushuaia.
After a hike for several hours, we rounded off our visit with a warm drink on the open fire. How could you spend better your last day at the end of civilization?
activities in Ushuaia: The essentials
was: activities in Ushuaia, the capital of Tierra del Fuego in Argentina.
Where: We stayed in a charming bed and breakfast called Mysten Kepen, eight minutes from the city center. The hosts Rosario and Roberto are incredibly warm and inviting (only Spanish speaking) and offer an excellent breakfast in the morning. The rooms are cozy and comfortable with reliable hot water - urgently needed in the winter cold. High-end hotels are outside the city, but the apartments in the Ushuaia Drake Departamentos are centrally located and well rated.
When: We were there for the first time at the end of May when the first snow fell on the floor. It was beautiful, but there are more activities outside the southern winter.
November to March are best suited for hiking and visiting penguin, mid -November to mid -April for fly fishing and July to September skiing, snowboarding and dog sledding. Most Antarctic expeditions take place from November to March.
like: You can reach Ushuaia by bus from El Chalén and El Calafate (via Rio Gallegos) in Argentina (see Taqsa Patagonia for timetables and prices). Buses also run from Puerto Natales and Punta Arenas in Chile (see Busse Pacheco). Domestic flights are also available. Book via skyscanner.net.
cover picture: Ondrej Bucek/Shutterstock
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