Best things to do in Ushuaia

Ushuaia, the city at the end of the world, the last frontier, and the gatekeeper of the frozen continent of Antarctica. Unbeknownst to most, the city is probably one of the best-hidden gems in Latin America.

Is Ushuaia worth visiting? Yes! The city is so much more than the gateway to Antarctica, it is worth visiting for at least 3 days. Ushuaia has plenty of things to do, from astonishing hikes to walking with penguins to delicious food. The city and the region have many things to offer. For nature lovers, Ushuaia has one most beautiful landscapes I have ever seen. For animal lovers, there is countless wildlife to observe. Plus, Ushuaia is even a great place for foodies.

Here are the best things to do in Ushuaia! The travel guide also offers great travel tips to discover this beautiful region in 3 days.

The City

Ushuaia was born where the Andes Mountains meet the sea and is constructed in the mountains, on the shores of the Beagle Channel. While the city in itself is not very charming, the nature surrounding it is the highlight of your trip. At every corner, you will discover a new mountain peak or a part of the channel that you have not seen before.

The buildings are a mix-match of different architectural styles, some are similar to alpine wooden houses with bright colours while others look like containers. The vast majority of the houses look like they were handmade, built during the ‘80s industrial boom. The city does not have cohesive urban planning as you can see that the city was built at different booming times with few public resources. While going up and down the city, take the time to admire the numerous street art and graffiti that give a vibrant touch to the city.

A little bit of history

Ushuaia means “bay that enters to the west” in Yaghan language, a local indigenous language. Originally inhabited by indigenous peoples such as the Selk'nam and Yaghan, the area that is now Ushuaia was first encountered by European explorers in the early 16th century. It was the Englishmen who first settled this territory and implanted a missionary hub to evangelize local tribes. This sentiment of racial superiority, sadly, is still visible in the ways that history is narrated in museums and on monuments.

Later, the Argentinian government took possession of the territory and decided to create a maximum-security prison to incarcerate notorious criminals but also political prisoners during the dictatorship. After closing the prison in the mid-‘50s, the population of the city grew and grew and witnessed an economic boom during the ‘80s since the government gave generous incentives to live in this remote location. The city's strategic location near the Beagle Channel and its natural harbour facilitated the growth of industries such as fishing, timber, and tourism. Now, the city lives in manufacturing electronics and tourism. While visiting, you will see that Argentina still reclaims Las Malvinas, the Falklands islands, with numerous propaganda messages on buses, murals and monuments. Argentina considers Ushuaia to be the regional capital of these small South Atlantic islands that belong to the UK (even after a murderous war in the 80s). To better understand the intriguing past of the city, head to one of the museums such as the Maritime Museum, the Museum of the End of the World, the Prison Museum or the Think Malvinas Museum. Museo Yamana is a small museum dedicated to the indigenous peoples that once inhabited Tierra del Fuego.

Things to do in Ushuaia

Arakur Ushuaia Resort & Spa

Who doesn't love a spa with astonishing views? Enjoy the heated pools of the Arakur Hotel with a view of the city, the Andes Mountain range and the Beagle Channel. There is a swimming pool inside and the ones that steal the show are the 2 hot tubs on the outdoor deck with panoramic views. The spa is located in a luxury hotel, Arakur. The hotel is located in a natural reserve, Cerro Alarkén. So before heading to the pools, take the time to do the hikes around the hotel with viewpoints of the city and the Beagle Channel, valleys, glaciers, and Mounts Cortes, Olivia and Cinco Hermanos. The wellness center also offers massage treatments which are perfect after a day of adventure.

Should you choose to be an overnight guest at the hotel, the resort offers guided hikes and nature walks through the nearby Cerro Alarkén Nature Reserve, where guests can explore the region's diverse flora and fauna.

Parque Nacional Tierra del Fuego

The southernmost city is nestled among natural beauty so of course, the main thing to do is to go hiking!

Tierra del Fuego National Park has countless trails, some can last various days while others are shorter, around 5 km. Through the numerous treks, you will enter virgin forests, rivers, lakes, and glaciers and see an array of birds and if you are lucky, foxes. The National Park protects more than 630 square km, it extends from the Beagle Channel to Fagnano Lake (also called Cami Lake).

We chose to do the Bahia Lapataia trail. Close to the Bahia, you will see where the national highway, la Ruta Nacional 3, ends. The highway starts up north in Buenos Aires and ends in the national park as it crosses almost the entire country for more than 3.000 km. This easy trek is around 7 km and lasts around 3 hours. You can also choose to do a private tour.

Another popular attraction here is the  End of the World Train. This is a replica of the prison train that once transported dangerous prisoners to the southernmost prison.

Escondido and Fagnano Lakes

Escondido Lake and Fagnano Lake, also known as Lago Escondido and Lago Fagnano in Spanish, are two large freshwater lakes that are notable for their scenic beauty.

Lago Escondido, which means "Hidden Lake," is the smaller of the two lakes and is situated to the northwest of Ushuaia, near the border with Chile. Lago Fagnano, also known as Lake Cami, is the largest lake and stretches across the border between Argentina and Chile. It is approximately 100 kilometers long and is renowned for its pristine beauty and remote wilderness. Lago Fagnano is a popular spot for fishing, particularly for trout, and also attracts visitors interested in birdwatching and outdoor recreation.

Laguna Esmeralda

This is said to be one of the most beautiful views of the mountains with an emerald green lagoon in the middle. We, unfortunately, could not do the trek because it started to rain with thunderstorms so we decided to postpone it and eventually did not have time to do it.

The hike lasts around 4 hours and takes you through different vegetation zones, beaver dams and peat bogs. Did you know that beavers were introduced by men in Patagonia and now they are considered a pest?

Only 5 min from the lagoon, take the time to go to the Olivia River Bend, the view is worth the stop! The location was used for one of the scenes of The Revenant, the movie with DiCaprio, where the confrontation between Glass and Fitzgerald.

Another hiking trail you can embark on is the Ojo del Albino for a full-day hiking excursion. The trail is a continuation of the Laguna Esmeralda trail

Martial Glacier

This glacier is only 7 km from the city. From the top, you can appreciate the views of the city and across the Beagle to Isla Navarino. You can ascent to the top with the many trails but keep in mind that the higher you go, the more difficult it gets. When we went, the wind was very strong and the trail was on the limit of the unpleasant as it was getting colder and colder.

To get warm after the hike, go to the tea house, La Cabaña Casa de Té, at the foot of the mountain. The tea house has a great tea selection alongside some yummy pastries.

Glaciar Vinciguerra

Glaciar Vinciguerra, also known as Vinciguerra Glacier, is part of the larger Martial Mountain Range. Many visitors to the port town embark on guided hikes or treks to explore the glacier and its surrounding landscape. The glacier is also a popular destination for winter sports such as skiing and snowshoeing. One of the main attractions is the lagoon filled with icebergs. This glacier is referred to as Vinciguerra or Laguna de lo Tempanos (Lagoon of the Icebergs) interchangeably.

If like glaciers, chances are you have already read about the famous Perito Moreno glacier which is near el Calafate and is a 1h flight duration by plane.

Navigation through the Beagle channel

The Beagle Channel is one of the most iconic parts of the city. To take full advantage of it, take a navigation tour and enjoy the views from a Beagle Channel cruise. This tour will give you plenty of opportunities to do wildlife observation, from sea lions to more than 20 different types of birds.

Most of the tours will take you through the Isla de Lobos, the island of preference for sea lions. The second island approached is the Isla de Pájaros, birds islands, where you will be able to see more than 20 species of sea birds on this rocky outcrop. The route continues to the iconic Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse. Finally, the Beagle Channel tour stops on a small island in the middle of the Channel. There you can disembark and enjoy the beautiful scenery of the sea and mountains. The stop lasts around 15 minutes. Do take the time to walk a little and enjoy the breathtaking nature.

This is definitely a must-do during your stay in Ushuaia, I highly recommend it!

Walk among penguins in Ushuaia

Yes, you read it right! You can walk among penguins in Ushuaia! Can you imagine walking close to these cute animals that walk funnily balancing from side to side? This was one of the main reasons why we decided to go to Ushuaia on our Argentine itinerary. The Magellanic penguin colony is located in Isla Martillo (Martillo Island), a small island in the Beagle Canal with the shape of a hammer, hence its name.

There are many tours that will take you close to the pingüinera, the island where the penguins have their colony, but there is only one tour company, Piratour, that will take you ON the island.

Piratour has numerous tours and activities through Patagonia but if you want to go see the penguins, you will need to book either Penguin Rookery - Harberton Ranch or Penguin Rookery + Beagle Channel. We decided to do the latter one so we could navigate through the iconic Beagle Channel and see the penguins in our one day tour.

You can read my experience with the penguins and the channel of the full day tour in my other article. The tour also takes you to Estancia Haberton. The Estancia Harberton was established in 1886 by the missionary Thomas Bridges and is a HUGE terrain that contains several islands, one of which is Isla Martillo, the Pinguinera.

Penguin Etiquette: The guide reminds you of the rules, do NOT touch the penguins, leave at least 3 meters distance between you and the animals and do not feed them, do not take anything from the island and do not pollute. You cannot go wander around the island, you are asked to stay within the permitted perimeter. These are wild animals and you are intruding into their territory so be mindful of them! Please do follow these rules since it is important to preserve the habitat and the animals.

Wandering is there are other places to observe penguins, Punta Arena in Chile has the biggest colony.

Playa Larga

This beach is off the radar of many travellers. It was the owner of Patagonia Villa, the hotel we stayed in, that recommended it to us. And we were grateful for this recommendation! Playa Larga has spectacular panoramic views of the bay with the distant snow-capped mountains. There are many hiking trails but this spot is also great to have a barbecue or a picnic. This is the hang-out spot for many locals. From there, you can see some of the arboles bandera, the famous flag trees. These are Fuegian trees that are drastically bent by the high-intensity winds of Ushuaia, hence their name. This is a place where you would want to go in a car since you can spend as much time as you want there, without worrying about how you are going to get back to the city.

Another less popular beach is Cabo San Pablo which faces the Atlantic Ocean. You will a long pebble beach, a light house and a shipwreck dating back 1983.

Where to eat in Ushuaia

With all the hikes that you will do, you will get hungry! Well, Ushuaia is the place for you if you love fish and seafood!

The must-eat dishes are the Centolla (king crab), merluza negra (sea bass) and cholgas (large mussels.) Of course, the dish of choice in the rest of Patagonia is the slow-cooked lamb. And like in the rest of Argentina, beef and asados are a must-try. I love crab so this was a great food highlight for me!

Try the restaurants by the pier, you will think they all are tourist traps but they are delicious. We tried Tia Elvira which has been open for more than 30 years. The restaurant offers home-cooked meals with fresh fish from the Ocean. El Viejo Marino is always characterized by a long waiting line to go inside. I would recommend going early! The restaurant offers a simple menu but with great quality! The restaurant closes during the afternoon to prepare for the night shift. Of course, a visit to Argentina without eating an Alfajor, will be a crime! If you have a sweet tooth, I will recommend going to Chocolates Abuela Goye, they are one of the best Alfajores, I’ve tried!

La Cravia

After the spa, head to one of the two restaurants of the Hotel Arakur. We decided to eat at the buffet section of the La Cravia restaurant. The buffet has only fresh products from the region and is full of savoury and healthy options. Forget the cheap and greasy buffets that you have in mind, this is a high-end one. The buffet has a salad bar, slow-cooked asado and several cooked meals like salmon and paella. My favourite dish was the king crab salad. The restaurant also has a great local wine selection that will perfectly pair with your meal. Like the upper deck pools, the restaurant has tall windows with a view on the Channel. The views will be as delicious as the food!

Volver Restaurant

One of the most famous restaurants in the city. Their most tried dish is the ceviche de la puta madre, a spicy ceviche with the freshest elements from the sea.  The food is simple but cooked to perfection. The restaurant is decorated with elements of old newspapers and old memorabilia.

Kuar

These are two restaurants, we ate at the Perito Moreno, by the industrial pier. The restaurant has a great view and good food. I took the king crab ravioli. To have a table with a view I would recommend calling in advance and asking for the table on the first floor.

Craft beer

Ushuaia also has great craft beers as the two biggest brands are Beagle Beer and Cape Horn. These two beers can easily be found in Ushuaian restaurants. To try smaller breweries, go to Santos, they have a great selection of craft beers from the region.

Practical information & travel tips

Getting around

The most practical way to move around is by renting a car. This will give you great flexibility to go from one park to another. However, you can easily navigate the city and the parks by taxi or remis. Remis is a sort of taxi cooperative. The driver calculates the price by zone and not with a meter. These are much much cheaper than taxis.

We decided to do a combination of both, we rented a car for the first two days and for the rest, we used remis and taxis. The rental cars can be reserved at the airport.

how many days to stay?

We stayed for a total of 4 days but I found that it was too short, especially if you count that one day will be lost in transportation. I wish I could have stayed at least 2 more days to enjoy everything that the region has to offer. I guess we will have to go back.

WHEN TO GO

Ushuaia is located at the southern tip of South America and the temperatures are on the colder side. Argentina has 4 seasons, so it all depends on which season you prefer to travel. When we went to Ushuaia, it was during the summer months and the temperatures were around 5°C. The region has a lot of wind so do come with the right clothing for your trip to the end of the world. If you decide to come in winter, you will need to dress appropriately and in layers. The temperature in winter is an average of -5°C to -10°C (23°F to 14°F) or even lower. The winter months offer plenty of winter sports options like skiing. The region has the southernmost ski resort in the world, Cerro Castor.

Where to stay in Ushuaia

If luxury hotels are within your budget, then you definitely should stay at Arakur! The rooms are said to be one of a kind, plus you will get access to the restaurant, hiking trails, spa, game rooms, gym and free shuttle to go to the city.

However, we decided to stay at Patagonia Villa. This is a small cabin complex located in the Patagonian forest. The wooden cabins are only a few minutes drive from downtown. Since we were a group of 4, this was perfect since we had a whole lodge for us. The 3-star hotel has different cabins size. You can read more about Patagonia Villa here!

Getting to Ushuaia

The easiest way to get to Ushuaia is by plane. Malvinas Argentinas International Airport has daily flights. Getting to Ushuaia from Buenos Aires takes around 3h30min. You can also take a bus but it will take you a few days to arrive.

IS IT DANGEROUS?

The city is super safe as it still has this small-town vibe where everyone knows each other.

TAP WATER

You can drink tap water so ditch your plastic bottle and fill your reusable bottle at the hotel, or fill it up in one of your treks, the water comes directly from the glaciers.

CURRENCY

The currency of the country is the Argentinian Peso. The sign is $, so don’t get mixed up with USD or CAD! Due to the monetary crises that have constantly beaten Argentina in the past decades, it is very hard to find pesos outside of the country since they need to stabilize their monetary reserves. I would suggest exchanging money upon arrival. You can also pay with a credit card in most places.

POWER

In Argentina, the power plugs and sockets are of type C (characterized by 2 pins) and I (characterized by 3 pins, it kind of looks like a crying smiley face). The standard voltage is 220 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz.

So, do you need more reasons to visit a magical place called Ushuaia?

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 Disclaimer: We enjoyed a free entrance to the pool and to the buffet of Arakur in exchange for visibility. All opinions are my own

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