5 reasons to explore Tierra del Fuego
- Follow in the footsteps of intrepid explorers: Darwin and Magellan, discovering the final place on earth, outside Antarctica, to be inhabited by humans.
- Spot soaring condors and eagles, nesting penguins, lounging seal lions and endearing beavers: Tierra del Fuego is a naturalist’s dream.
- Fantastic local food and a great variety of hotels make adding-on 2 or 3 days in Ushuaia the perfect appetizer to your main course in Antarctica.
- Witness, discover, interact and have fun with the locals at The End of the World as you learn about their authentic way of life.
- Catch king-crab, hike forest trails, explore by 4x4, wild-camp, canoe in rivers and lakes, or simply relax and enjoy the magnificent scenery.
Why visit Ushuaia?
Swoop says
Building in extra time in Ushuaia as provision for the frequent flight delays in the region is the perfect excuse to spend time exploring Tierra del Fuego. Some Antarctic operators will provide pre-cruise accommodation in Ushuaia, which we can easily extend for you if desired.
Our favourite 2-day experiences in Tierra del Fuego
Special Offers:Swoop has access to the widest range of offers and can help you find the right trip, cabin, & price.
This interesting 2-day program introduces you to the landscapes, culinary highlights and fascinating people of Tierra del Fuego. Take in the famous national park, and then accompany artisan fishermen on their daily catch. Delighting in this gourmet experience with your…
- 2 Days
- $295
Antarctic travellers with two nights in Ushuaia can maximise their time spent outdoors, visiting two different areas of Tierra del Fuego. Explore the popular national park and then take a full day to immerse yourselves in the Andean mountains by…
- 2 Days
- $295
Immerse yourself in the best views and wilderness Tierra del Fuego has to offer. The national park is your appetizer, before taking to the highway on a panoramic road trip. Cross the Andes to reach the tempestuous Southern Ocean, as…
- 2 Days
- $325
Discover Tierra del Fuego
Land of Fire
South America’s largest island, this vast archipelago was originally named ‘Tierra de Humos’ or Land of Smoke by Ferdinand Magellan in 1520 upon sighting the smoulder from the indigenous people’s fires, dotted along its shores. The expedition had stumbled across the southernmost land mass on the planet outside of Antarctica, with an area larger than Denmark, before setting sail across the newly baptised Pacific Ocean and circumnavigating the globe. As the saying goes: 'where there’s smoke, there’s fire’, so the name Tierra del Fuego or Land of Fire was forever scribed in history.
This mystical region nowadays hosts towns with and all the necessary services for travellers willing to spend a few days discovering its hidden treasures.
Ushuaia
Unpronounceable to most, the world’s southernmost city, likely derives from the native Yamana expressions Ushu and Waia meaning ‘bay facing the sunset’. Established on the shore of the Beagle Channel, the settlement grew as a notorious penal colony, you could say the Alcatraz of Argentina, to become Tierra del Fuego’s capital.
Nowadays, the jail is a museum and the city’s population is about 80,000. Ushuaia’s wild frontier feel remains, yet it provides everything a traveller requires: the perfect place to base oneself for discovering both the stunning national park and beyond.
Wildlife
Given the island’s diverse ecosystems and unspoilt natural beauty, Tierra del Fuego offers wonderful opportunities for spotting various wildlife, especially birds. One can sometimes see both coastal and mountainous species, such as the emblematic Andean condor. Other wonderful species to sight are the characteristic Magellanic woodpecker (with its bright red-plumed head), and the ever-so cute Magellanic penguin - not seen in Antarctica.
Guanacos, a relative of the llama, roam free in the northern part of the island, where no natural predator exists. Foxes are widespread, as are North-American beavers; a species introduced last century and now number in their hundreds of thousands across the archipelago.
David says
With its snow-dusted mountains, Ushuaia is a wonderfully picturesque launchpad for your Antarctic adventure. Spend some time down at the water's edge, looking for Patagonian birds and watching the ships coming and going from the busy port.
David Hilton Patagonia Product & Partnership Manager
Plan your stay
Weather
Patagonia is famed as one of the most unpredictable and windiest, places on earth in terms of weather. Located nearer to Antarctica (600 miles away) than Buenos Aires (approximately 2000 miles away) and surrounded by ocean, you can understand why Tierra del Fuego experiences ‘four seasons in one day’, so be prepared.
Having said that, winters are not as wicked as you’d expect, with very little wind, and summer days only occasionally exceed 70F or 20C, as the oceans moderate the climate considerably.
We recommend dressing like an onion (lots of layers!), every day, so you’re ready for whatever the weather may throw at you.
Fuegian Food
Tierra del Fuego excels in its local and authentic culinary offering: The queen of dishes is the centolla or king crab - the local speciality. Other fresh sea-food options are squid, sea bass, salmon and trout, which will only leave you wanting more. From the earth, one has to try the famous Argentine steak grills and especially the local king of dishes, the sumptuous lamb bbq: asado de cordero. Cooked slowly over hot embers, with a specially-made brine tossed on as it roasts, this dish is a must-try for any foodie visiting Tierra del Fuego.
Fueguinos, as the locals are called, are proud of their regional dishes, and our featured 2-day experiences all contain great lunch options, meaning foodies will delight in their stay at the End of the World.
How long to stay
Dotted with protected areas, wild open spaces, a complex array of fjords, rivers, forests with mountains and glaciers abound, Tierra del Fuego merits time and dedication. The good news is that our itineraries are flexible; easily combined and tailored to your needs should you only have limited time to spend in Ushuaia en-route to Antarctica. Ushuaia offers a wide array of hotels, for all types of traveller, some truly superb dining options, and great local guides itching to show you their land and tell you about their history. We recommend at least 2 full-days in Ushuaia to really get a feel for the place, get over that long-haul jet lag and soak up the beauty of the region, before your trip of a lifetime.
Our Experiences
Special Offers:Swoop has access to the widest range of offers and can help you find the right trip, cabin, & price.
Combining our top Tierra del Fuego day excursions, this three-day privately guided program has been crafted for our Antarctic travellers who want to leave the city behind. Including two nights in a charming and remote lakeside hotel, there’s a chance…
- 3 Days
- $1,655
This incredible 3 day trekking and camping adventure is designed to get outdoor enthusiasts into the wilderness of the Andean Mountains, sleeping under the stars, without having to stray too far from Ushuaia. Your mountain guide will accompany you on…
- 3 Days
- $656
Antarctic travellers with two nights in Ushuaia can maximise their time spent outdoors, visiting two different areas of Tierra del Fuego. Explore the popular national park and then take a full day to immerse yourselves in the Andean mountains by…
- 2 Days
- $295
This interesting 2-day program introduces you to the landscapes, culinary highlights and fascinating people of Tierra del Fuego. Take in the famous national park, and then accompany artisan fishermen on their daily catch. Delighting in this gourmet experience with your…
- 2 Days
- $295
Immerse yourself in the best views and wilderness Tierra del Fuego has to offer. The national park is your appetizer, before taking to the highway on a panoramic road trip. Cross the Andes to reach the tempestuous Southern Ocean, as…
- 2 Days
- $325
Crafted for our active travellers who want to experience Tierra del Fuego from all angles: on foot, by canoe, aboard a motorboat and via all-terrain vehicle. Spend the maximum time outdoors to get you primed for your trip of a…
- 2 Days
- $395
What our customers think of Ushuaia & Tierra del Fuego
Ushuaia & Tierra del Fuego trips scored 4.8/5 from 8 reviews
Review:
Places to stay
Your Antarctic adventure may have some accommodation included, nonetheless Ushuaia has a superb variety of hotels for you to choose from. Catering to different budgets and requirements, there are luxury options for those looking for something special; great value options if you want to be in the city centre and want comfortable lodging; and budget options for travellers who look for functionality and location as paramount.
Mountain lake, Tierra del Fuego
Hiking in Tierra del Fuego
Authentic king crab lunch experience in Tierra del Fuego
Watching Magellanic penguins in the Beagle Channel
Canoeing the waterways of Tierra del Fuego
Offroad in Tierra del Fuego
Road trip in Tierra del Fuego
Reaching the Atlantic at Cabo san Pablo in Tierra del Fuego
Bringing in the catch, Tierra del Fuego
Out trekking in Tierra del Fuego, close to Ushuaia
Views of Tierra del Fuego National Park
Catching king crab in Tierra del Fuego
Exploring Tierra del Fuego in a 4x4
Hiking in Tierra del Fuego
Tierra del Fuego by canoe
Herd of guanaco, Tierra del Fuego
Ushuaia: Frequently Asked Questions
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How much time do I need in Ushuaia?
You will need to allow at least 1 night prior to sailing, in Ushuaia, as a buffer for flight delays as your ship will sail without you if you arrive late. Some ship operators will include 1 or 2 nights in a hotel in Ushuaia before embarkation as standard. Why not take advantage of this time to experience what Ushuaia has to offer?
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Can Swoop tailor my accommodation needs?
Yes, we will liaise with the ship operator and hotel in order to arrange any extra nights accommodation you feel necessary, so you don't have to worry about a thing. Each Antarctic itinerary is different, so we will help you organise this.
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Is Ushuaia a safe city to stay in?
Most travellers to Ushuaia have no issues with security. Many people in the city work in tourism which means travellers are made to feel very welcome and safe. Of course, you should always take the usual precautions such as keeping your valuables in the hotel safe, just in case.
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How can I get to Ushuaia?
Ushuaia can be reached by road or by air.
By road, Punta Arenas is a 10-12hr bus ride, depending on how long it takes to cross the international border and the strait of Magellan.
To access Ushuaia from mainland Argentina, the nearest city is Rio Gallegos, also about 10hrs away and involving 2 international border crossings.
By air, most planes arrive directly from Buenos Aires (4hrs) and some links also exist to and from El Calafate (1hr).
There are no direct flights to Punta Arenas, Chile; in order to fly to Chile, you must connect via Buenos Aires, and enter the country via Santiago de Chile.
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Can Swoop help book flights?
We are Patagonia travel specialists and would love to help you organise every aspect of your travel, for your peace of mind. We can provide advice on getting you to and from your destination, as well as travel within the region.
Ready to plan your Antarctic adventure?
Listen
We'll spend some time listening to your aspirations, then discuss the kind of experience that might suit you.
Match
Next we'll discuss the options, shortlist the best trips for you and present you our impartial recommendations.
Reserve
We'll place a 24 hour hold on your preferred option - without obligation - whilst we talk through the details.
With over 100 years of Antarctic experience between us, we can help guide you to exactly the right trip for you.
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