Located at South America's southernmost point, this remote island contains snow-capped peaks, glaciers, and rugged coastlines where the Yaghan people maintain their ancient fishing traditions.
Tierra del Fuego, Argentina's southernmost province, covers the eastern half of a windswept island split with Chile. The Andes meet the Beagle Channel here, forming sharp mountain peaks, evergreen forests, and coastal waters scattered with icebergs. Ushuaia, the southernmost city globally, provides access to Tierra del Fuego National Park, the Martial Glacier, and boat trips to see Magellanic penguins. Former prison buildings now hold museums, century-old trains still run, and restaurants prepare king crab caught in nearby straits. This isolated area presents stark open plains where guanacos graze and condors fly over subantarctic woodlands.
Ushuaia: Activities and Key Landmarks
Ushuaia sits on the slopes of the Martial Mountains beside the Beagle Channel, with brightly painted houses overlooking a harbor filled with fishing boats and expedition vessels. Stroll down Avenida San MartĂn to explore shops selling hiking gear and cafes where you can order submarino hot chocolate. Board the Tren del Fin del Mundo, a narrow-gauge railway originally built to transport prisoners, which now takes passengers through forests covered in moss to Tierra del Fuego National Park. Hike the steep path to Glacier Martial for views of the city, passing through lenga beech forests before reaching the ice fields. Join boat tours departing from the port to see Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse and islands where Magellanic penguins nest.
Tierra del Fuego National Park: Trails and Wildlife
Spanning 156,000 acres along the Chilean border, this park includes mountain ridges, turquoise lakes, and peat bogs. Begin at Ensenada Bay to walk trails along the coast where waves hit reddish rocks, then follow the Senda Costera path through forests of coihue trees with twisted trunks. Lapataia Bay, the endpoint of Argentina’s RN3 highway, has a signpost marking distances to Alaska and Buenos Aires. Watch for Andean condors flying over Guanaco Pass and southern river otters hunting in the Lapataia River. Park rangers lead walks explaining how the Yamana people historically used marine life and how non-native beavers have affected the ecosystem.
Transportation Options in Tierra del Fuego
Most travelers fly into Ushuaia’s Malvinas Argentinas International Airport, which has daily flights from Buenos Aires. Buses run between Ushuaia and RĂo Grande, taking four hours and passing Tolhuin near Lake Fagnano’s northern shore. Renting a car lets you reach remote estancias and trails along the Atlantic coast, but gas stations grow scarce east of RĂo Grande. Ferries operated by Tres Puertos and Tabares connect Ushuaia with Chilean ports like Puerto Williams, with crossing times ranging from 30 minutes to four hours. During winter, check road conditions for RN3 between RĂo Grande and Ushuaia, as snowstorms sometimes close high-altitude stretches.
Winter Sports and Snow Activities
Cerro Castor, 26 km from Ushuaia, has South America’s southernmost ski slopes, with consistent snow from June to October. Its 34 runs accommodate all skill levels, including a challenging descent starting at 1,007 meters above sea level. Rent snowshoes at the base to explore quiet forests of ñire trees, or ski at night under floodlights. The resort’s Nordic center maintains 12 km of cross-country trails across frozen marshes. Guided snowmobile trips take visitors to remote valleys near Lake Escondido, where ice clings to granite cliffs.
Museums and Historical Sites
Ushuaia’s Museo MarĂtimo operates inside a red-brick former prison that held inmates until 1947. Displays cover Antarctic exploration missions, indigenous methods of building canoes, and 19th-century missionary ships that charted the Beagle Channel. A detailed reconstruction shows how Yamana families survived freezing temperatures using seal fat and open fires. In RĂo Grande, the Museo Virginia Choquintel exhibits Selk’nam artifacts like ceremonial body paint and tools crafted from guanaco bones. Near Tolhuin, abandoned sawmills around Lake Fagnano reflect early 20th-century logging history.
Food and Regional Dishes
Waterfront restaurants in Ushuaia focus on centolla, a southern king crab served cold with lemon or baked in rich sauces. Order crab empanadas at La Cantina Fueguina or try grilled merluza negra fish at MarĂa Lola RestĂł, sourced from the Beagle Channel. Estancias near RĂo Grande cook asado de cordero fueguino, lamb slow-roasted over fire pits using methods from early sheep ranchers. CervecerĂa Beagle brews dark beers infused with calafate berries, a local fruit similar to blueberries. Book the “Prisoners’ Dinner” at Kalma Resto to sample updated versions of meals once served in Ushuaia’s prison.
Weather Patterns and Best Times to Visit
December to March brings summer temperatures of 5°C to 15°C, with up to 17 hours of daylight perfect for hiking and boat tours. Reserve hotels and Antarctic cruise tickets early during this busy period. April and May see fewer visitors, cool mornings, and lenga forests turning red and gold. From June to August, expect reliable snow for skiing, though storms can disrupt flights and ferries. Bring waterproof clothing, UV-protective sunglasses, and sturdy boots—weather shifts quickly from sun to driving rain. Wear windproof jackets on Beagle Channel boat trips, where gusts often surpass 100 km/h.
Visiting Chilean Tierra del Fuego
Take a catamaran from Ushuaia to Puerto Williams, a small Chilean town on Navarino Island with basic lodging and trails leading to the Dientes de Navarino peaks. Drive 40 km from RĂo Grande to the San Sebastián border crossing, then take the BahĂa Azul ferry to Chilean Tierra del Fuego’s oilfields and the King Penguin Park near Porvenir. Most Argentine rental car companies forbid crossing into Chile. Chilean immigration requires passport stamps even for short visits, and you cannot bring fresh produce across the border.
