Things to do in  Ushuaia

The narrow Beagle Channel, separating Argentina's island chain of Tierra del Fuego to the north from remote Chilean islands to the south, serves as a waterway for the world's southernmost city, Ushuaia. It’s also one of the most important bodies of water in South America.

When travelers make their way to Argentina’s southernmost point, chances are they’re heading into Tierra del Fuego National Park. The country’s first coastal national park protects the Andean-Patagonian forest, a land of peat bogs, beech forests, glistening lakes, remote beaches, and snow-capped peaks ideal for outdoor adventures. When you arrive in this unspoiled part of Patagonia, it’s easy to see why the region is nicknamed the “End of the World.”

Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse is often mistaken for “The Lighthouse at the End of the World,” made famous by novelist Jules Verne. Verne was actually inspired by the San Juan de Salvamento lighthouse, further east, but it’s a fitting description nonetheless: Les Eclaireurs is the last landmark many sailors see as they sail south to Antarctica.

With deserted beaches, rocky isles, and glittering waters, and bordered by the snow-capped peaks of the southern Andes, Lapataia Bay serves up some of Patagonia’s most enticing views. Located at the very end of the Pan-American Highway, it’s one of the many highlights of the Tierra del Fuego National Park.

For the ultimate end-of-the-earth adventure, ride the world’s southernmost train to Tierra del Fuego National Park. Leave from outside Ushuaia and follow the historic convict train route, passing beech forests, peat bogs, and reminders of the timber-felling worksites of Ushuaia prisoners from 1901 to 1941.

This glacial lake in the south of Argentina’s Tierra del Fuego National Park entices outdoor enthusiasts with its fishing spots, Patagonian forest hikes, and shoreline campsites. Crossing the border into Chile, where it becomes Lago Errazuriz, the area is also a convenient launch point for wider Andean adventure.

The Esmeralda Lagoon hike is a popular afternoon and evening activity just outside of Ushuaia. Set in a wide valley in the Fuegian Andes, Esmeralda Lagoon is ringed by native coihue and lenga forests. The hike traverses several peat bogs, which cover much of Tierra Del Fuego’s low-lying lands, before arriving at the shore of the lagoon.

Overlooking the icy waters of Beagle Channel, Estancia Harberton offers a glimpse into the history and wildlife of Tierra del Fuego. The oldest residence in the area, the still-working property dates back to 1887 when it was established by English missionary Thomas Bridges and remains in the hands of his descendants.

Argentinian Patagonia’s Lago Escondido (which translates as hidden lake) may no longer be a secret, but you'll still have to make an effort to get to this beautiful place. Glacier-fed, it glows turquoise, is ringed by the mountains of Tierra del Fuego (the land of fire), and is well worth the day trip from the world’s southernmost city.

The largest lake on Tierra del Fuego Island, Lake Fagnano (or Lake Cami stretches more than 62 miles (100 kilometers, all the way across the Chilean border. Flanked by virgin Patagonian forest and rolling steppe to the north and the steep peaks of the Fuegian Andes to south, it’s a thrilling introduction to Patagonia’s wild landscapes.

In Ushuaia’s former prison, the Maritime Museum explores the significance of sailing and the sea in the southernmost city in the world. Antarctic explorations generally left from the city, and the museum offers insight into how polar expeditions took place in bygone years. It’s one of four museums housed within the old prison.

Celebrate your visit to the world’s southernmost city by exploring the End of the World Museum (Museo del Fin del Mundo). The museum focuses on Ushuaia’s natural and Indigenous history, with collections of taxidermy, weaponry, furniture, and various mementos from travelers throughout history.

The Garibaldi Pass, at just under 1,500 feet (450 meters) above sea level, is tame by mountain pass standards. The views, however, are anything but tame. A sweeping panorama takes in the 60-mile-long (97-kilometer-long) Lake Fagnano, the Magallanes-Fagnano fault between the Scotia and South American plates, and neighboring Chile.

You don’t have to venture far from Ushuaia to experience Patagonia’s wild landscapes—the icy passes and rocky peaks of the Martial Glacier lie within walking distance. Easily accessible from the town, scaling the glacier affords panoramic views over the Martial Mountains, the Beagle Channel, and the “End of the World.”

Devoted to studying the marine animals and birds of South America’s Tierra del Fuego region, the Acatushun Museum is an impressive testament to the region’s biodiversity. More than 4,000 specimens are on display in the natural history museum, including the complete skeleton of a humpback whale.