Ushuaia travel guide

Ushuaia - Well known as 'The City at the End of the World', Ushuaia and the rugged beauty of its surroundings have much to offer besides this geographical claim to fame. The town lies in the foothills of the soaring mountains of the southern Argentine province of Tierra del Fuego and is an important destination for skiing and hiking, as well as a starting-off point for excursions into Antarctica. Settled in 1870 by the British Missionary Society, Ushuaia’s shores were once a stop-off point and safety net for ships attempting to reach the other side of the world. Before the construction of the Panama Canal, this dangerous stretch of sea was the only way to travel between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. In 1884, following similar moves by several countries in other parts of the world, Argentina set up a prison in Ushuaia to isolate its prisoners and to use forced labor to help build the city.

Don’t miss…

Tierra del Fuego National Park - Just west of Ushuaia, the beauty of this national park is varied and captivating and includes jagged mountains, sub-Antarctic tundra, swathes of beech forests and icy lakes. Wildlife in the area includes condors, geese and grey foxes.

Estancia Harberton - Founded by British missionary Thomas Bridges, the estancia served as a sanctuary for shipwrecked sailors, as well as the Yámana and other indigenous peoples of the area.

Skiing - Ushuaia is close to the area’s largest and most popular ski resort, Cerro Castro. As well as skiing, there are also options for dog-sleigh trips, ice-skating and snow mobile rides during the winter months (June-Aug).  

Museums – There are a number of museums in the city, including the Museo Yámana, which chronicles the history of the now extinct indigenous people, and the Museo Penitenciario, providing a history of the notorious Ushuaia prison, which was closed in 1950.

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