Visiting Ushuaia Argentina: The End of The World (Guide)

Located on the tip of South America, Ushuaia is the world’s southernmost city and the gateway to Antarctica. Often referred to as “The End of the World”, this unique city is surrounded by the dramatic landscapes of the Andes Mountains, the vast wilderness of Tierra del Fuego National Park and the incredible wildlife of the Beagle Channel.

By plane
Ushuaia has a small airport close to the city, and flying is usually the easiest way to get to Ushuaia. There are regular daily flights between Buenos Aires and Ushuaia, with several airlines operating flights, including Aerolineas Argentinas.

During the summer months, there are also flights between Ushuaia and El Calafate (the closest airport for exploring Argentine Patagonia). If you have the time, you can combine your trip to Ushuaia with an adventure in Patagonia.

Read next: Planning to visit Patagonia? Here’s a detailed guide to El Chalten, Argentina’s hiking capital in the heart of Patagonia.

By public transport
For those who prefer to explore overland, getting a bus to Ushuaia is possible.

If you’re starting in Buenos Aires, the journey will take you several days (ouch), but there are some great stops along the way. I would suggest taking the long bus journey to Puerto Madryn and spending a day or two there. It’s the best place in Argentina to go whale watching (although this is seasonal), and you can sometimes even see orcas beaching themselves to catch sea lions.

From Puerto Madryn, you then need to head to Rio Gallegos. It’s a long bus journey (around 16 hours), so plan to spend a night or two here to recover. The final bus ride from Rio Gallegos to Ushuaia takes around 13 hours.

Note: Buses in Argentina can be expensive, and it’s doubtful you’ll save much money by using them to get to Ushuaia instead of flying.

If you’re coming from El Calafate, you can take a bus to Rio Gallegos and jump on another bus to Ushuaia.

I use BusBud to book all of my buses in Argentina. It’s a reliable service with fantastic customer support.

By road
Planning a road trip through Argentina? The great news is that Ushuaia can be included in your itinerary. Just be prepared for some (very) long driving days across some unfriendly terrain.

For those driving from Buenos Aires, you’ll need to drive down Ruta 3. Google says the total journey time is 36 hours and over 3,000 km. Ushuaia is also connected to El Calafate. You’ll need to drive to Rio Gallegos and continue to Ushuaia.

If you’re an avid hiker, you may want to consider spending a few more days there. This way, you can build in time to hit several of the fantastic hiking trails in the area.

I spent just over one week in Ushuaia, just enough time to see most things in the area.

Despite being the summer, the temperatures stay much lower than in other parts of Argentina. Daytime temperatures rarely exceed 16°C/60.8°F, so it’s important to pack layers.

Ushuaia is the gateway to Antarctica, and most cruise and expedition ships heading there will depart from the city’s port. Although Ushuaia is well worth visiting even if you’re not going to Antarctica, I think it’s fair to assume that most people there also go on a cruise to Antarctica.

Luckily, the Antarctic expedition season coincides with the best time to visit Ushuaia. Most cruises operate between November and March. I visited in February, and the weather was ideal for hiking, albeit a bit muddy. There were a couple of rainy and cloudy days, too.

For those who plan to spend more than two or three days in Ushuaia, you may benefit from renting an Air BnB. This tends to be cheaper, and you’ll have access to cooking facilities should you get a bit tired of the food on offer at the restaurants.

I would try and avoid hotels on the hillside. The road is steep and more often than not, you’ll need to take a taxi.

Side note: Ushuaia tends to be quiet in the mornings before the cruise ship chaos begins, meaning many cafes don’t open until 9 a.m.

I can’t pretend the food in Ushuaia blew me away. Many of the menus feel very similar, and there is a lot of cheese and meat on offer (I was desperate for vegetables in Argentina!). Thanks to its popularity with day visitors from cruise ships, the restaurants are also quite expensive.

There are a couple of options when it comes to Beagle Channel cruises, here are a couple of my favourites:

Beagle Channel Cruise with trekking: This tour is a fantastic option if you want to include a mini hike on your trip. This half-day excursion includes a cruise through the Beagle Channel, a walk on Isla Bridges and a look at the famous Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse. There’s also tea and coffee on board.

Catamaran Cruise: This is a similar cruise but slightly cheaper. It takes place on a catamaran and includes stops at all the main sights, including Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse and Isla de Los Lobos (Island of the Wolves), where you’ll find sea lions and seals.

The tour explores part of the Beagle Channel and takes you to Martillo Island, where you can walk amongst Magellanic and Gentoo penguins (just be aware there are currently tighter restrictions due to bird flu).

The train was once known as “The Train of the Prisoners”, and was used to transport the timber they had logged in Tierra del Fuego. Now, the train has been converted into a tourist attraction that educates passengers about the history of the area and the train.

The 7-kilometre (4.3-mile) train ride begins at Estación del Fin del Mundo, just outside of Ushuaia. Passengers are then transported into the park, with the option of a short hike at the end.

You can book your ticket for the End of the World Train here, but you’ll need to arrange your own transport to and from the start and endpoints.

For most people, booking a tour is a better option as it includes all your transport and time to explore Tierra del Fuego.

This tour is a fantastic option. It includes transport, the train ride, time inside Tierra del Fuego, and a short hike.

You can explore independently by taking a shuttle bus to the park (or driving yourself), but a tour is a good option for those looking for a hassle-free experience.

There are various notable sights inside the park, including the End of the World Post Office, several hikes, and a visitor centre. This tour is a fantastic option for those who want to see the main highlights with minimal effort. You can also upgrade the tour and ride back on the famous train. This tour is another popular option.

This full-day tour begins with a hike through the park before suiting up and canoeing towards Lapataia Bay.

It’s a fantastic way to get off the beaten path and experience Tierra del Fuego at its finest.

This incredible hike weaves through stunning meadows and forests, rewarding hikers with incredible views of the famous Laguna Esmeralda. With a relatively easy trail and fantastic views, this is one of the most popular hikes in Ushuaia.

If you want to join a tour, this one is a popular option, and it’s highly rated.

It’s also possible to get a taxi to the trailhead or use one of the shuttle buses from the main bus station in the city centre. Just be aware that the buses operate on a schedule, and if you’re late, they won’t wait for you. I’d suggest visiting the bus station the night before to get the latest schedule and pre-book your tickets.

There are several helicopter tour options to explore the area and get a birds-eye view of the stunning scenery, including snow-capped mountains, giant glaciers and turquoise lagoons.

This activity will set you back a bit budget-wise, but it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience and a memorable way to see one of Earth’s most beautiful and remote places.

The cheapest option is to take a seven-minute helicopter ride and fly past various scenic points and above Ushuaia. There’s also a fifteen-minute option available, which includes more iconic spots.

You can do the hike independently, but if you don’t want to hike alone or worry about transport, this tour is a great option.

There are several fantastic hiking trails inside of the park. I would recommend getting a shuttle bus from the Ushuaia town centre to the End of the World Post Office. From here, you can walk the relatively easy 5-mile/8-km Coastal Trail (Senda Costera) trail to the Visitor Centre, where you can warm up with a hot drink.

The 4-mile/6.4-km hike is moderately challenging and involves a steep uphill climb, which can sometimes be muddy from the snowmelt. At the end of the trail, you’ll see the famous Martial Glacier and stunning views of the area. It’s important to know that you can’t walk on the glacier.

The Museo Marítimo y del Presidio (Maritime and Prison Museum) is an option for those interested in the city’s maritime past and its dark history with the Ushuaia Prison.

The Museo del Oro (Gold Museum) is another museum in the city which showcases information about gold mining in the Tierra del Fuego region.

All of the museums have a small entry fee, but they’re well worth visiting for those interested in learning more about the city’s fascinating history.

There’s also a small artisanal market close to the main port.

Be prepared for any weather
Although the summer months are a great time to visit Ushuaia, the weather can still be unpredictable and extreme. Ensure you’re prepared for cold weather, wet weather, and potentially even some snow.

Be patient
One of the things I noticed in Ushuaia was how slow many things felt, especially when it came to service in restaurants. We often had to wait a significant amount of time to order food and pay our bills. The supermarket also involved a lot of long lines. One time, I waited over thirty minutes to pay for some groceries.

This is generally the case for most places in Argentina, but it was particularly noticeable in Ushuaia. It’s nothing to complain about as such, but it’s important to be aware of it so you can build in enough time.

Consider booking in advance
Ushuaia can get very busy during the summer, especially when the large cruise ships have docked for the day. Most visitors plan to do the End of the World Train or a tour into Tierra del Fuego. If there’s something you want to do, I recommend booking it in advance. The train had sold out when I was there.

The mornings are quiet
Mornings in Ushuaia can be very quiet, and most cafes and restaurants don’t open until 9 a.m. It almost feels a little bit like a ghost town. It’s worth checking the opening and closing times for whenever you plan to go. I felt like Ushuaia catered towards the large cruise ship visitors, so everything was open during the day but not so much in the mornings and evenings.

The main bus station offers affordable shuttles between most attractions, including Tierra del Fuego, Laguna Esmeralda and other hiking points.

Of course, having a car means you don’t need to rely on a bus or stick to a timetable. However, parking can sometimes be an issue in the area, so I wouldn’t say hiring a car is that much more beneficial.

If you’re heading off on an expedition to Antarctica and considering whether to spend time in Ushuaia, the answer is YES. I recommend spending at least two days in Ushuaia before or after your cruise. This will give you time to explore the city and surrounding area and prepare for or recover from your cruise.

For those not planning to go to Antarctica, it’s a bit more complicated. If you love hiking and want to see as much of Argentina’s incredible wilderness as possible, then a trip to Ushuaia is a must. Honestly, Ushuaia is an outdoor lover’s paradise. Tierra del Fuego is beautiful, and there are several hiking trails that feel completely different to the ones in El Chalten.

If you’re on a time limit and deciding between Ushuaia and El Chalten, I would probably suggest El Chalten (at least when it comes to hiking). While Ushuaia is a unique and fascinating place to visit, El Chalten is home to one of the best hikes in Argentina (Mount Fitz Roy), and there’s a little bit more to do (such as the Perito Moreno Glacier hike).

If you’re not planning to hike in Ushuaia, the city is still worth visiting. As I’ve discussed above, there is plenty to do in the city, including a cruise of the Beagle Channel and a ride on the End of the World Train. Just be prepared that it’s a long journey to get there, and you’ll probably only need two or three days to see everything.

I hope you’ve found this guide to Ushuaia useful. Remember to share on social media or save for later.