In this post we detail an itinerary through Ushuaia in 4 days that will take you through the most outstanding places of the city at the end of the world.
From mountain hikes and cruises on the Beagle Channel, to exploring the history of the Ushuaia prison. If you are planning a trip to Ushuaia, stay tuned to this post for ideas on how to spend your days in this beautiful city and get to know the must-see spots.
Ushuaia, in Tierra del Fuego, is Argentina’s southernmost city and one of its most important tourist sites. Ushuaia has a lot to offer, but spending 4 days in Ushuaia will allow you to see the most important sights.
Two points to bear in mind are climate and transport. The weather is a major factor, with temperatures below freezing in winter and snow reducing mobility, or the Patagonian winds modifying boat trips. As far as transport is concerned, there are no public buses to the tourist spots outside the city centre, so you need to travel by excursion or rent a car.
🚗 Check here if you want to rent a car in Patagonia.
Table of Contents
Summary – Ushuaia Itinerary in 4 days
Day 1: Tour of downtown Ushuaia and sailing through the Beagle Channel
Day 2: Tierra del Fuego National Park and End of the World Train, Maritime Museum.
Day 3: Excursion to Fagnano and Escondido Lakes
Day 4: Laguna Esmeralda and Martial Glacier
🔎 Take a look at guide to travel to Ushuaia.
Day 1: Tour of the centre of Ushuaia and sailing through the Beagle Channel
We start this 4-day itinerary through Ushuaia by visiting the historic and commercial centre. Walk along its main avenue San Martin, where you can visit clothes shops, bars, restaurants and the Duty Free Shop, a duty free shop where you can buy perfumes, drinks and imported sweets at lower prices.
Nearby, on Avenida Maipú, take a break at the Almacén Ramos Generales, a historic café housed in what was once Ushuaia’s first grocery shop. Inside there are articles and photographs from its beginnings, as well as an exquisite pastry shop.
Finally, close your visit to the civic centre with a stroll through the Museo del Fin del Mundo, a small museum that takes you through the history of Tierra del Fuego and Ushuaia, from its original peoples, the Yámanas, to the navigators who sailed the Beagle Channel.
🚌 Enjoy a Panoramic Tour of Ushuaia.
📝 Travel tip: Don’t forget to pack warm clothes and a mackintosh. The weather in Ushuaia is very changeable on the same day in all seasons. Always carry something waterproof in case it rains or snows.
In the afternoon, enjoy a sail on the Beagle Channel. Don’t miss one of Ushuaia’s most impressive postcards. There are three types of canal rides to enjoy:
- Classic tour with Les Éclaireurs Lighthouse, the base for all Beagle Channel excursions. The duration is between 2 hours and a half. [See excursion]
- Lighthouse plus penguin colony, plus a visit to Martillo Island, where there is a penguin colony. The duration is four and a half hours. [See excursion]
- Estancia Harberton, in addition to the aforementioned, a tour of the Patagonian estancia is included with the possibility of having lunch there. Then, we return by land to Ushuaia.
The classic tour begins with a postcard view of the city of Ushuaia from the boat. The tour includes a visit from the water to Lobos Island, famous for the sea lions that inhabit it, and Pájaros Island, an island full of cormorant birds. Then you sail to the most famous spot: the Lighthouse at the End of the World, which is actually called the Les Eclaireurs. Finally, weather permitting, you will get off the boat at Karelo Island, take a short walk and have a beautiful postcard view of Ushuaia.
Closing this first day in Ushuaia, we recommend that you try some of the typical dishes of this area, such as spider crab or black hake.
📷 Check out this complete tour of Ushuaia with navigation through the Beagle Channel.
🔎 Check out 5 must-see places to visit in Ushuaia
Day 2: Tierra del Fuego National Park and the End of the World Train
The second day of the 4-day tour in Ushuaia is spent in the Tierra del Fuego National Park. Before arriving at the park, you will board the historic Train to the End of the World.
The steam-powered train starts its journey at the Fin del Mundo station and takes you along 7 kilometres of the old road that the inmates of the prison used to reach the forest to produce firewood for construction and daily life in Ushuaia. Enjoy the scenery, accompanying the course of the Pipo River and the lenga forest.
There are different types of services: normal, first, premium, premium and VIP class. It is heated and has a free guide in seven languages throughout the tour.
📷 Book your place on the End of the World Train.
Continue your journey from the National Park Station where the End of the World Train ends. Tierra del Fuego National Park has a large expanse of Magellanic forests and wildlife such as foxes, hares and beavers. There are several trails that can be done, but depending on the time of year you visit Ushuaia there are some that are closed.
Some of the places we recommend you to include in your visit to Tierra del Fuego National Park are:
- Rio Pipo waterfall: it is an easy hike of less than one kilometre. You walk along the banks of the Pipo River as you walk along the small waterfalls all the way. These small waterfalls were formed thanks to the dams built by the beavers.
- Ensenada Zaratiegui: One of the most beautiful spots in the Tierra del Fuego National Park, with a beautiful bay overlooking Tierra del Fuego Island. This is also the location of the Post Office at the End of the World.
- Lake Acigami: also known as Lake Roca, it is the border between Argentina and Chile. It is a natural reservoir of the Lapataia River framed by mountains.
- Lapataia Bay and the end of Route 3: this is the end of the route that runs along the entire Patagonian coast from Buenos Aires. Lapatia Bay was formed as a result of melting glaciers. There are several footbridges to walk along this part of the Lapatia River and have a nice panoramic view. Don’t forget to take a photo at the huge sign announcing the end of the route.
🔎 Check updated ticket prices and road conditions on the Tierra del Fuego National Park website.
📷 Don’t miss this excursion through the Tierra del Fuego National Park.
In the afternoon, back in the city, visit the Ushuaia Maritime Museum. Several museums operate here, but the most prominent is the Presidio Museum.
This was the site of the city’s old prison, where Argentina’s most reckless prisoners were held. Its history is closely linked to the growth of Ushuaia because the inmates were used as labourers to supply materials for the construction of the city. Also within this wing, you can visit a sector that has been preserved unchanged to put yourself in the shoes of those who lived in the prison, spending cold winters in the southernmost city of Argentina.
Be sure to visit the Ushuaia Maritime Museum, Maritime Art Museum and Antarctic Museum. In them, you will find exhibitions related to the life of the city of Ushuaia, the exploration of Antarctica and contemporary art exhibitions. There is also a library and a souvenir shop.
🔎 Check out this article about the Maritime and Presidio Museum of Ushuaia
📝 Travel tip: The entrance ticket to the Ushuaia Maritime Museum is valid for two days at a time. For it to be valid, remember to stamp it before your departure.
Day 3: Lake Fagnano and Escondido Excursion
One of the excursions to do in Ushuaia in 4 days is to Lake Fagnano and Escondido. This tour starts early in the morning to enjoy a day in the nature surrounded by beautiful landscapes of Tierra del Fuego.
The tour starts along route 3, to the famous Cerro Castor, the southernmost ski centre in the world and one of the best in Argentina. Continue north to stop at Valle Carbajal viewpoint for a panoramic view of the Valdivieso and Carbajal-Vicinguerra Hills.
The ride continues to the Garibaldi Pass, crossing the Andes Mountains. At this panoramic point, 450 metres above sea level, you will be able to see the Escondido Lake, which as its name suggests, is hidden behind the mountains and Lake Fagnano.
Lake Fagnano is approximately 100 kilometres long. It is surrounded by steppe, forests and small towns like Tolhuin. If you like adventure, we recommend you book an excursion to explore the off-road circuits in a 4×4 or on horseback.
On the way back to Ushuaia at midday or in the afternoon, take the opportunity to rest and recharge your batteries in a winter resort such as Las Cotorras or Tierra Mayor. These places offer sports activities both in winter, such as cross-country skiing circuits or snowmobile rental, and in summer, with trekking and horseback riding. Both have restaurants specialising in Patagonian dishes such as lamb and trout.
📷 Book your Fagnano and Escondido Lake 4 x 4 tour.
Last day of 4 days in Ushuaia: Esmeralda Lagoon and Martial Glacier
In the latter, it is time to trek to Esmeralda Lagoon. This is a low difficulty trail of five kilometres that takes you through the forest of the Tierra Mayor Valley.
Crossing the valley, the landscape changes according to the time of the year. Winter colours the landscape white with snow, in summer the green of the lenga forest gives a completely different postcard. Once you reach the viewpoint, you will find the lagoon with its impressive emerald green colour contrasting against the mountain peaks that frame it.
To get to this area you can opt for a private tour with a guide or hire a transport that will take you to Tierra Mayor and then pick you up again. The trail to Esmeralda Lagoon is one of the best treks to do in Ushuaia in 4 days, the only thing you need is good shoes, especially in winter when there is usually a lot of mud, shelter and water.
📷 Don’t miss out on the Esmerald Lagoon trekking with picnic.
Close your last day in Ushuaia with a visit to the Martial Glacier. It is located just a few minutes from the historic and commercial centre of the city. It can be reached by car or even by walking up a steep hill. Cerro Martial can be visited both in winter, when there is a ski school for children, and in summer, when there are numerous treks to do.
One of the easiest and fastest trails is the ridge trail which can be done all year round. It is a 600 metre long trail and climbs up to 700 metres above sea level. The best thing is the panoramic view of the city centre of Ushuaia with the Beagle Channel in the background.
Enjoy a hot snack in the teahouse at the base, along with the visitor centre, and say goodbye to this magical place in Argentine Patagonia.
📝 Travel tip: Although the circuit is of low difficulty, don’t forget to wear suitable footwear and waterproof clothing.
🔎 See this article for more details on how to visit the Martial Glacier.
Where to stay in Ushuaia
🏨 See here where to stay in Ushuaia and find your ideal accommodation.
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