Here is a complete guide to travel to Ushuaia, the city at the end of the world and one of the main destinations if you are going to travel to Patagonia. Surrounded by high mountains, forests and on the shores of the Beagle Channel, it has unique landscapes.
Table of Contents
Orientation, travel to Ushuaia
Ushuaia is located in the extreme southwest of the island of Tierra del Fuego, on the shores of the Beagle Channel, an important maritime communication route between the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. It is a city that has grown a lot in number of inhabitants in the last decades, playing a fundamental role in tourism within Argentina.
Getting there and away
– Direct Flight to Ushuaia
If you are a foreigner arriving to the country through Buenos Aires, there are direct flights to Ushuaia from the Argentine capital all year round, with a flight duration of 3.5 hours and daily frequency.
The airline that makes the trip (and has more frequency) is Aerolíneas Argentinas, the argentinian flag airline. Most flights from Buenos Aires depart from Jorge Newbery airport (also called Aeroparque), located in Buenos Aires city. Only one flight departs from Ezeiza International Airport.
If you are not in Buenos Aires, you can also fly directly from Córdoba or El Calafate with Aerolíneas Argentinas.
On the other hand, the airlines FlyBondy and JetSmart operate flights from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia, with fairly frequent weekly flights. LADE also operates flights from Río Gallegos and Comodoro Rivadavia to Ushuaia, but with very low frequency.
✈️ Check here for cheap flights to Ushuaia.
The 5 km separating Ushuaia airport from the city center can be done by taxi or private transfer, but there is no public transportation.
– Getting to Ushuaia by bus
There are no direct buses between Buenos Aires and Ushuaia, despite how long it would take for the distance (about 2,800 km). There are two options to get to Ushuaia by bus:
- From Río Gallegos in Argentina: Río Gallegos can be reached by bus from Buenos Aires, and then travel to Ushuaia from the Rio Gallegos Bus Terminal. The trip takes about 8 hours, including the ferry crossing through the Strait of Magellan and the border crossing between Argentina and Chile (to get to Ushuaia you have to cross Chilean territory).
- From Punta Arenas in Chile: it lasts 10 hours, including crossing the border and the ferry to cross the Strait of Magellan.
– Arriving in your own car or renting a car in Ushuaia
If you want to arrive by car to Ushuaia, you must use the ferry that crosses the Strait of Magellan and make the customs between Chile and Argentina. The ferry service is provided by the company Tabsa.
🚢 Check schedules and prices in the Tabsa official website.
If you drive from Argentina, you have to take RN 3 from Río Gallegos to the border crossing with Chile, then cross the Strait of Magallanes by ferry, then continue in Chilean territory, customs again to enter Argentine territory and reach Ushuaia. It is a trip that can last about seven hours, depending on the customs formalities and the ferry schedule.
🚗 Check here if you want to rent a car in Ushuaia.
Best time to travel to Ushuaia
Considering that it is located in the extreme south of the American continent, the climate in Ushuaia is very cold, with extremely low temperatures in winter and pleasant climate for hiking in summer. So if you are going to travel to Ushuaia, you should always wear a coat, no matter what time of year you go.
In Ushuaia in summer, daytime temperatures range from 10 to 15ºC (50 to 59ºF), although at night it cools down to below zero. This is the ideal time of year for hiking in Tierra del Fuego National Park, sailing in the Beagle Channel and outdoor activities. The duration of sunlight in these months reaches 16 hours during the day, so it’s a plus point to travel to Ushuaia.
Travelling to Ushuaia in autumn has its charms, the maximum temperatures drop and the minimum temperatures usually go below zero. The color of the leaves of the trees changes, which offers a different landscape to other seasons of the year.
In Ushuaia in winter, the climate is very cold with maximum temperatures that do not exceed 5ºC (41ºF) and minimum below zero. This is the ideal time to enjoy ski resorts or sled in the snow. Keep in mind that the duration of sunlight is only six to seven hours in the day.
Ushuaia in spring mixes cold weather with the beginning of outdoor activity. During October you can hike on trails, while enjoying the high snow-capped peaks. The days begin to lengthen in terms of the duration of sunlight.
🔎 Want to live a unique experience near Patagonia? Check out our guide to travel to Antarctica.
Getting around Ushuaia
The city itself is small, you can easily walk and stroll along the shore of the Beagle Channel, as the distances are short. There are three public transportation lines that serve the city, you can check the route from here.
🚌 Check routes and schedules of the lines in the Ushuaia government website (in Spanish).
To pay the ticket, you have to buy a SUBE card (plastic card with the size of credit cards) and charge it at many of the stores that are “Puntos Sube”. Once on the bus, you have to tell the bus driver where are you going, hold your card over the electronic reader and the appropriate fare will be discounted from your SUBE card. You can also use the balance in other argentinian cities.
📌 See more in the SUBE official webpage (in Spanish).
If you want to go to the most touristic places in the surroundings, such as Tierra del Fuego National Park, Tren del Fin del Mundo or the ski resorts, you must do it with your own car, excursion, private transfer or taxis.
How many days are needed to visit Ushuaia
If you are on a trip to Patagonia Argentina, you should spend at least 2 days in Ushuaia. But if you want to fully explore the city, we recommend staying in Ushuaia for about 4 days, so that you can see most of the attractions.
What to pack to Ushuaia
Regardless of the time of year, Ushuaia is located in the extreme south of the country, so the weather is cold all year round.
Whether in summer or winter, you should bring a warm coat, a mackintosh and trekking shoes. Don’t forget sunscreen and sunglasses, especially if you go up the mountains and sail the Beagle Channel.
In winter, due to the presence of snow, you have to be careful when walking. It is advisable to be dressed in several layers of clothing, wearing a mackintosh on the last layer, of course, to avoid getting your clothes wet when the snow melts.
Is it possible to visit Ushuaia with children?
Of course you can, just the sighting of marine wildlife such as penguins, sea lions, a ride on the train at the end of the world and sending a postcard from the post office at the end of the world, are activities that they will undoubtedly enjoy.
Of course, always have warm clothes available for any outing, because the temperature can drop considerably in a few hours.
🔎 If you are looking for information about traveling to Ushuaia as a family, check out our article about things to do in Ushuaia with kids.
Accommodation in Ushuaia
🏨 Check here where to stay in Ushuaia and get your ideal accommodation.
Ushuaia must-see sights and attractions
There are many places of interest, especially the nature that surrounds the city with forests, mountains, the Beagle Channel and bays. If you want to know the essential things to do in Ushuaia check out our article top 5 places to see in Ushuaia.
Ushuaia is also an ideal destination for outdoor activities and sports such as trekking, sailing, mountain biking, and of course, skiing in the ski resort.
📷 Take a look at these tours in Ushuaia with a local agency. Book your place!
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