Things to do in Ushuaia
And where to stay, the best time to visit, what a day costs, and the traps to skip.
Best time to visit Ushuaia
• a note or something on ✦ an occasion worth the trip
Spring shoulder. Penguins arrive mid October, trails reopen, prices lower, Esmeralda mud at its worst.
Austral summer peak. Longest days, everything open, highest prices and the main sell out season.
Autumn shoulder to mid April. Lenga forest turns red gold, crowds thin, penguins until mid April.
The gap. No penguins or Antarctica, most tours paused, lowest prices. Worst window for most visitors.
Winter second peak. Cerro Castor runs late June to early or mid October, with huskies and snowshoes in the valleys.
What's on
- Antarctica expedition season November to March
Embarkation days change the energy of every bar and restaurant in town.
- Fiesta Nacional de la Nieve winter season
Snow season festivities in town around the Cerro Castor season.
- Bajada de Antorchas mid winter
Torchlight descent period giving the ski weeks a festival edge.
- Endurance and trail events March
Trail and endurance events use the national park and Esmeralda corridors.
Best things to do in Ushuaia
Museo Marítimo y del Presidio de Ushuaia
The old prison museum complex explains why Ushuaia exists, with preserved cell blocks and maritime and Antarctic exhibits.
Cartel Ushuaia
The big Ushuaia sign on the harbour walk, with the town, bay and mountains as the backdrop everyone photographs.
Saint Christopher
A beached Second World War era rescue tug on the waterfront, now an unofficial monument to Beagle Channel shipwrecks.
Plaza Islas Malvinas
The sober Malvinas war memorial on the harbour walk, a reminder that this port history is not only tourist history.
Glaciar Martial
The glacier above town gives the classic panorama of the grid, bay, Beagle Channel and Chilean mountains on a half day hike.
La Cabaña Casa de Té
A beloved teahouse at the Martial base where a weather aborted hike becomes hot chocolate and cake instead.
Refugio de Montaña
A mountain teahouse at the Martial base, treated by locals as a destination in itself on a poor weather day.
Tren del Fin del Mundo
The prisoners railway recreated as a scenic ride into the national park, charming and photogenic but expensive for an hour.
Where to stay in Ushuaia
Downtown
first trip, car free base, pre and post Antarctica stays
The flat blocks by Maipu and San Martin put the pier, tour pickups, restaurants and museums at your feet.
Hillside streets above the centre
hikers and travellers who want views and quiet
A few blocks up buys bay views, quieter streets and walkable trailheads, paid for in steep and sometimes icy streets.
West along the Beagle Channel
splurge and honeymoon stays with a shuttle mindset
Resorts 5 to 7 km west trade walkability for channel frontage, spas, shuttles and the best room views in town.
Cerro Alarkén
destination resort stay
One landmark hotel in its own nature reserve looking down on the whole bay, shuttle dependent by design.
Residential areas toward the airport and Río Pipo
families, groups and long self catering stays with a car
Apartments are cheaper and roomier, but you are taxi dependent for meals, tours and early pickups.
Think twice about
- Far flung cabañas and houses 5 to 10 km out of town
Without a car they strand you, with no signal at trailheads and taxis needed for every meal and tour pickup.
- Steepest upper streets in winter
Not unsafe as neighbourhoods, but ice on steep grades is treacherous with luggage, kids or any mobility limit.
- Industrial port edge blocks east of the centre
Truck traffic and noise, no views, and still not easily walkable at night. The one zone with no upside.
Best restaurants in Ushuaia
Kalma Restó
The most ambitious cooking in Tierra del Fuego, a tasting menu of foraged, fished and farmed Fuegian ingredients.
Kaupé
Classical elegance since 1990 in a house above town, where scallops and centolla are done properly with a bay view.
El Viejo Marino
The people champion of centolla, family run and supplied by the owner own fishing, with a famous pre opening queue.
Tía Elvira
Centolla since 1978 a few doors from the queue, with water views, a good wine list and tables through the afternoon.
Volver
Centolla in one of the oldest houses in Ushuaia, with more atmosphere and a broader menu for non seafood eaters.
María Lola Restó
A romantic but relaxed mid tier star with sunset views, Beagle mussels, centolla risotto and exceptionally warm service.
Chez Manu
French technique and Fuegian ingredients above town, and the address for merluza negra, scallops and creme brulee.
Chiko
A Chilean owned seafood house a street back from the waterfront, known for seafood paella and good value plates.
Outdoor things to do in Ushuaia
Isla Martillo
The only landing walk among Magellanic and Gentoo penguins, in small supervised groups, and the best paid excursion here.
Beagle Channel
Sailing the channel past sea lions and cormorants is the water trip every Ushuaia visitor should do at some level.
Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse
The red and white lighthouse in every Ushuaia photo, circled on channel sailings past the sea lion and bird islands.
Isla Bridges
A small boat landing adds a guided walk past Yamana shell middens to a channel viewpoint, with guides you can talk to.
Parque Nacional Tierra del Fuego
Argentina only coastal national park, where lenga forest meets the channel and a full day on foot beats a bus window.
Senda Costera
The signature coastal trail links shoreline coves and forest from Ensenada toward the park interior and Lago Roca.
Bahía Lapataia
The boardwalk viewpoint where Ruta 3 and the Pan American highway literally end at the end of the Americas.
Laguna Esmeralda
A well marked forest and bog hike to a milky emerald glacial lagoon under the Ojo del Albino glacier.
Best hotels in Ushuaia
Arakur Ushuaia Resort & Spa
The landmark resort in its own reserve above town, with pools, spa and the view every other hotel is compared to.
Los Cauquenes Resort + Spa + Experiences
The only hotel with private Beagle Channel beach access, all rooms facing water or mountains, with a strong spa.
Las Hayas Ushuaia Resort
A traditional five star in lenga forest above town, quieter luxury with indoor pool and spa, a few minutes from the harbour.
Lennox Hotel
The downtown boutique standard on the main street, steps from the channel, and the default first car free stay.
Cilene del Faro Suites & Spa
Apartment style suites near the channel and museums, whose extra space suits longer bases and pre expedition gear.
Fueguino Hotel Patagónico
A solid, warm, central four star a short walk uphill from the port, repeatedly praised for staff and value.
Hotel Albatros
The classic port side location steps from the pier, making it the embarkation day convenience pick.
Hotel Alto Andino
A downtown value pick within walking distance of restaurants, the port and the Presidio museum.
Is Ushuaia expensive? What a day costs
| Budget | ARS 100,000 a person |
|---|---|
| Classic | ARS 285,000 a person |
| Splurge | ARS 650,000 a person |
A day of food, drink, sights and getting around, before the room
What to book ahead
- Isla Martillo: months ahead
- Glaciar Vinciguerra: a few days ahead
- Cerro Castor: a few days ahead
- Antarctica: months ahead
- Kalma Restó: a few days ahead
- Kaupé: a few days ahead
- María Lola Restó: a few days ahead
- Chez Manu: a few days ahead
- Book the Piratour penguin walk months ahead for December to February. It is one operator with about 40 to 50 visitors a day.
- Book Antarctica 12 to 18 months ahead for peak cabin choice, and arrive at least one full day before sailing.
- Reserve Kalma and Kaupe days ahead, buy Cerro Castor passes ahead in July, and book Buenos Aires flights early.
Is Ushuaia safe?
- Ushuaia is among Argentina calmer cities. Watch gear in port crowds and use official taxis or remises at night.
- The real hazards are wind, ice, mud, fast weather changes and no phone signal on hikes. Download offline maps and tell your hotel your plan.
- Tap water is fine. Cards are widely accepted in town, but carry cash for shuttles, park entry and small operators.
Ushuaia travel tips: tourist traps to skip
- The End of the World Train as a standalone splurge, and a big catamaran channel cruise right after Antarctica.
- Paying a premium for Les Eclaireurs as the Lighthouse at the End of the World. It is not the Verne lighthouse.
- Whole centolla without asking weight and price first, frozen crab at fresh prices, and San Martin souvenir pricing.
Getting around Ushuaia: public transport and more
- Walk the flat centre along Maipu and San Martin, and use taxis, remises, shuttles or Uber and DiDi for hills and trailheads.
- Fix return pickups before you lose signal, which happens quickly outside town, in the park and toward Almanza.
- Rent a car for Almanza, Harberton and Garibaldi days. It is unnecessary for a centre based three day stay.
Who Ushuaia suits
| Solo travellers | Good |
|---|---|
| Groups of friends | Good |
| Couples | Great |
| Bachelor parties | Not ideal |
| Families | Good |
| Bachelorette parties | Not ideal |
Make Ushuaia your trip
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