Ushuaia is proud of its position at the end of the world. This remote city, which is perched on the southern most tip of the American continent, is nestled between the Andes Mountains and the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. It is a popular stopping point for cruise ships and visitors to Antarctica. But is worth a visit if you’re not in either of the above categories. Particularly for the mesmerising Tierra del Fuego National Park. We were enchanted by the rugged beauty of Ushuaia. Here is my pick of the Top 10 things to do there.
How to get to Ushuaia
As mentioned above, many visitors to Ushuaia arrive by ship. It is also possible to drive there via National Route 3, which passes through the Andean foothills to join the city to the rest of Argentina. We opted to fly from Buenos Aires. A stunning, if rather bumpy journey. The airport is located just a couple of miles out of town.
Getting around Ushuaia
Ushuaia is small enough to easily explore on foot. The only transport necessary is to get to the National Park.
Where to stay in Ushuaia
We stayed at the Apart Hotel Cabo San Diego. These self contained rooms are conveniently located close to the city centre. The room was clean and comfortable and had its own mini kitchen. There is a supermarket just round the corner, which makes the apartment a good choice budget wise.
Ushuaia: Top 10 Things to do
| 1 | Go hiking in Tierra del Fuego National Park |
| 2 | Take a cruise on the Beagle Channel |
| 3 | Sail past Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse |
| 4 | Marvel at the penguins on Isla Martillo |
| 5 | Visit Estancia Harberton |
| 6 | Visit the Museo Maritímo de Ushuaia |
| 7 | Wander round the Civic Plaza |
| 8 | Take a moment to reflect at the Malvinas Memorial |
| 9 | Take a photo by the Ushuaia Sign |
| 10 | Visit the Iglesia de la Merced |
No1 – Go hiking in Tierra del Fuego National Park
Tierra del Fuego National Park is located around 8 miles west of town. Shuttle buses run from the Bus Terminal, stopping at several places in the park, including the entrance, so you can pay your park entrance fees. Check the current timetable at the Tourist Information Office.
The main stop is next to Alakush Visitor Centre. Here, you can obtain trail information, purchase souvenirs and refuel on empanadas in the cafe.
Once in the park, we set forth on a five hour hike. It’s very beautiful; on one side is the Beagle Channel with its abundant bird life, on the other, snow capped mountains. Most of the area is peat bog, so the rivers and lakes are a spooky green-brown colour.
We walked as far as the Beacon at the End of the World before turning back towards the Visitor Centre.
We returned via an area which fell victim to a disastrous attempt to introduce beavers to the park.
The park is open daily from 8 am until 8 pm. Entry for foreign adults costs 30,000 pesos (around £23.60). Shuttle buses run 3 times a day from the Bus Terminal and cost 16,000 pesos return. You can also catch the End of the World Train. That’s even more expensive ($62,000) and only covers a section of the journey, starting 4 miles outside Ushuaia.
No 2 – Take a cruise on the Beagle Channel
A cruise on the Beagle Channel conjures up school history lessons about explorers; The Beagle Channel, Cape Horn…
We arrived at the port 20 minutes before the published departure time, which was good because passports are required to embark and we had to rush back to the apartment to get the passports.
Leaving Ushuaia and sailing into the Beagle Channel, the scenery is beautiful and the pilot navigated to line up with an island of black and white imperial cormorants.
No 3 – Sail past Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse
Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse is on an island inhabited by sea lions and cormorants. The lighthouse, which dates back to 1920, is known as the Lighthouse at the end of the World.
No 4 – Marvel at the penguins on Martillo Island
At the point where the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans meet is Martillo Island. This little island is covered in penguins; penguins on the beach, penguins fishing in the sea, penguins everywhere. It’s a wonderful sight.
Disembarking on our cruise is not permitted (you have to pay a lot more for that!) but the boat pulls up alongside the island for long enough to satiate everyone’s penguin sighting desires.
No 5 – Visit Estancia Harberton
The boat returns to Ushuaia, with a detour to drop passengers for an optional stop at Estancia Harberton, Patagonia’s oldest ranch.
A number of companies offer Beagle Channel cruises. We went with Rumbo Sur, who offer the 6 hour trip described above for 140,000 pesos (around £110).
No 6 – Visit the Museo Maritímo de Ushuaia
The Museo Maritímo de Ushuaia is housed in an old prison (the city was originally a penal colony). It is much larger and than I’d expected. In fact, it’s really four museums in one. I emerged three hours and 100 photographs later.
Prison museum
The prison consisted of several wings. In the Prison Museum, the building has has been left untouched to show the conditions prisoners lived in.
You can learn about the history of the penal colony and some of the prison’s more infamous inmates.
MARINE ART MUSEUM
A third is an art gallery.
The Maritime Museum of Ushuaia
The remaining wings detail the area’s history. There’s the tragi-comedy of the chaos wreaked by the first missionaries and a section on piracy starring Sir Francis Drake. Plus plenty of other fascinating Fuegian facts.
ANTARCTIC MUSEUM OF USHUAIA
The is a separate section dedicated to Antarctica, including the first successful expedition to the South Pole. Here, you can see some of the equipment used and even some sketches of Norwegian flags discovered in Scott’s notebook.
The museum is open daily from 10 am until 8 pm. Entry for foreign adults costs $16,500 (around £16).
No 7 – Wander round the Civic Plaza
The Civic Plaza in home to various moments, an End of the World Sign and the Tourist Information Office.
No 8 – take a moment to reflect at the Malvinas Memorial
The Malvinas Memorial consists of a large plaza with a number of monuments to those who lost their life in the conflict. It tells the story of Argentina’s fight with Britain over the tiny Pacific islands, with a population of just 3,700 people, which led to the death of over 900. The greatest loss of life was the sinking of the General Belgrano, which killed 323. Hundreds more men were rescued from the sinking ship and evacuated to Ushuaia.
No 9 – Take a photo by the Ushuaia Sign
The Instaworthy Ushuaia Sign stands on the waterfront with stunning views.
No 10 – Visit the Iglesia de la Merced
The brightly coloured Iglesia de la Merced, which boasts the title of most southerly Catholic church on the planet. It was built by convicts in the 1940s.
- Trip taken: January 2019
- Updated: January 2025
I hope you found the above information useful. For more top picks from other destinations in the 50+ countries we have visited, check out my full Top 10 Things To Do list here.
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