The 6 things to do in Ushuaia

Visit Ushuaïa: what are the best things to do and see in the city of the end of the world? We'll unveil our five must-sees!

City of 60,000 inhabitants located south of Argentina , Ushuaïa makes travellers from all over the world dream about its particular geography: it is the last city before the end of the world! Indeed, it is the southernmost city of the American continent, and even of the entire planet. Last stage before the white continent, Ushuaïa attracts thousands of travellers every year who want to board for Antarctica. This is where all the cruises to this preserved continent go.

Visit Ushuaïa is also an opportunity to make wonderful hikes. The extreme south of Argentina is of course, a journey that is not unharmed, often a long-standing dream for hikers looking for the most beautiful landscapes in the world. However, there are necessarily large spaces and deserted streets in this area so far from the rest of the world. But the experience is quite different: Ushuaïa is also a very touristic city where activities and excursions are numerous and the cost of life very high. This may seem disappointing for some, after days spent in the middle of nature in the Patagonia . But once warned, you can board for memorable hikes and put aside disappointments.

All travellers probably dream of unexplored and end-of-the-world lands, and if you’re here it’s certainly that you too. Do you want to know what to do in Ushuaïa to not miss this exceptional region? Here is our selection of the 6 essentials not to be missed!

1. Hiking in Fire Earth

When we ask that to visit Ushuaïa, the visit of the Tierra del Fuego National Park always returns. It is certainly the best known of travellers in Ushuaïa. It borders the Beagle Canal a few kilometers from the city centre and extends 650 km2, many of which are inaccessible to visitors by protection measure. The Tierra del Fuego National Park offers various hikes, most of which are easily accessible. The most mythical is certainly the coastal path that leads to the end of the Panamerican road. This trail will allow you to enjoy superb views on the Beagle Canal and the snowy peaks with a minor difficulty.

After a few hours trek, you can also descend the Lapataia River in canoeing, the opportunity to discover the site from another angle. You can also camp on site to explore the park for several days. To access it, you will have to pay an entry fee of about 20 €. And to make this visit even more exceptional, why not go to the Tierra del Fuego with the Train from the end of the world, another must-see in Ushuaia?

2. Discover Laguna Esmeralda

Visit Ushuaïa without turning around Laguna Esmeralda is impossible. It is one of the must-sees of travellers visiting this region of the world, and for reasons... This hike of about 10 km is easily accessible and has few positive elevations.

For nearly 3 hours round-trip, you will follow streams and expanses before discovering Laguna Esmeralda, surrounded by its snowy peaks. The emerald color of its waters will seduce you and will surely lead you to push back your return. This hike is accessible via group transport from Ushuaïa, to be booked in advance. This trek will also give you the opportunity to admire the wide variety of animals on the site and to observe the castors in their natural environment.

3. Go to meet the manchots

In Ushuaïa, you can go to meet the manchots on a day trip! Some agencies allow to land on the island Martillo , den of its animals, while others make tours of the island to observe them from afar. It will therefore be enough for you to choose the experience that will best meet your expectations.

There are many casks and you can discover several species including manchot de Magellan with black and white feathers. It will take about 100 € for a multi-hour trip.

4. The Martial Glacier

You will discover it soon enough: to visit Ushuaïa, it is to venture into a land of ice and eternal snow. The glacier Martial is certainly one of the most beautiful places in the area and one of the most disappointing. This is why hiking to the Martial glacier is not to be missed. It begins in the heart of Ushuaiah, above the Aldo-Motter . The climb to the top of the glacier will take you between 4 and 5 hours to go back.

Be careful to carry suitable clothes as you will be very exposed to the wind. During your climb, you will find eternal snow from 800 meters. And a little higher, at the top, it is a 360 ° panorama that awaits you on the valley of Ushuaïa, the canal of Beagle and the Chilean summits!

5. Explore Antarctica

What to do in Ushuaia, once we get to the end of the world? And go further! Antarctica, a little further south, is the most preserved continent in the world. In addition to the extreme conditions that limit the inhabitants, an International Treaty dating from 1959 protects it from the presence of Man. For example, nuclear testing is prohibited and highly controlled fishing. Indeed, by imagining this white and almost desert continent, Antarctica often becomes the ultimate dream of travellers. However, tourism is also very regulated. There are only 30,000 visitors per year. And to guarantee this number, the rates to access them are very high and the limited excursions.

Ushuaïa is the city par excellence in Antarctica. Crossing Drake's passage is sometimes even the primary motivation of visitors to Earth of Fire. But to embark on these famous icebreakers, it will take a certain budget and consciousness... Most of the proposed cruises last from 8 to 15 days. It will take several thousand euros to participate in these adventures of the world.

6. Other activities to be undertaken in Ushuaia:

• Hiking in Estancia Tunnel
• Do a sled dog trip to Tierra Mayor
• Enjoy the city centre of Ushuaia
• Visit the museums of the city: the Maritime Museum and the World End Museum
• Trek at Cerro del Medio
• Go to the sea wolves on the Beagle Canal

How to get to Ushuaia?

To reach Ushuaïa from France, you will have to reach Argentina. Flights are provided daily to Buenos Aires. Then you'll have to board for an internal flight. We can access Ushuaia from Buenos Aires but also from El Calafate, Rio Gallegos or Comodoro Rivadavia.

The price of flights being high enough to get to this remote area, do not hesitate to look for an interesting offer on our partner’s website Ulysses .

Where to stay in Ushuaia?

Due to the special character of this region of Argentina, hotel offers in Ushuaïa are limited and prices are easily climbed in the middle of the season (November to February). To reduce your budget, find a cheap hotel in Ushuaïa thanks to this Compare hotels . If you prefer to rent an apartment in order to limit meals at the restaurant for example and to enjoy a real “at home”, find the offers on the site Airbnb . Prices are often very interesting.

You can also consult all our tips to find the accommodation of your dreams in Ushuaïa by consulting our article " In which district house in Ushuaia "!