Ushuaia, capital of Argentina’s province of Tierra del Fuego, calls itself the southernmost city in the world: a town of colorful wooden and tin houses climbing the hills above the Beagle Channel, backed by snowy peaks and facing the mountains of Chile’s Navarino Island across the water. It is the main gateway to Antarctica, about 1,000 km (620 miles) away across the Drake Passage, and from October to March expedition ships leave its port almost daily. Even without a cruise, Ushuaia is worth several days: boat trips past sea lion colonies and the famous lighthouse, a penguin colony, the forests and bays of Tierra del Fuego National Park, the End of the World Train, a prison museum and hikes to glaciers and lagoons. Summer (December to March) brings long days and mild weather; winter brings snow, skiing and short days.
Right now in Ushuaia
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- Mon 12 Oct Day of Respect for Cultural Diversity (Día del Respeto a la Diversidad Cultural)
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Top tours in Ushuaia
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Ushuaia at a glance
- Best for: Antarctic cruises, Beagle Channel boat trips, penguins, hiking, scenery, and skiing in winter.
- How long: 3 days for the channel, the national park and the town; 4–5 days with hikes; add 10 days or more for Antarctica.
- Best time: November to March, with highs of about 11–14 °C (52–56 °F) and up to about 17 hours of daylight; June to September for snow.
- Getting there: Malvinas Argentinas International Airport (USH), about 3.5 hours by air from Buenos Aires, with flights from El Calafate in season.
- Fees to know: Tierra del Fuego National Park charges foreign visitors ARS 40,000 (about US$26) per day as of October 2026.
- Before you go: entry rules, money and general safety are in our Argentina travel guide.
Ushuaia’s areas: where things are
Ushuaia has about 85,000 people and stretches along the north shore of the Beagle Channel between the airport peninsula and the Olivia River. Avenida San Martín, one block up from the waterfront, is the main street of shops, restaurants and outdoor stores. The tourist pier and the cruise port are on the waterfront at the foot of the center, and the ski area and Martial Glacier road climb into the mountains behind town.
Antarctic cruises from Ushuaia
Ushuaia is the world’s busiest port for Antarctic tourism. According to Ushuaia’s tourism office, the Antarctic season runs from October to March, and the classic voyage lasts 10 to 12 days: two days crossing the Drake Passage, one of the roughest stretches of sea in the world, then several days of landings by inflatable boat among penguins, seals and whales around the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula, and the return crossing. Longer voyages of about 20 to 22 days add the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) and South Georgia, and some trips use helicopters to reach emperor penguin colonies in the Weddell Sea.
- Busy season: the port’s 2026–27 cruise season began in mid-September 2026, and more than 590 passenger ship calls were confirmed, about 100 more than the previous season, according to the Argentine government.
- When to go: November and December for snowy landscapes and penguin courtship; January and February for chicks and the warmest weather; February and March for whales.
- Booking: most travelers book months or a year ahead with expedition companies; some last-minute cabins are sold by agencies in Ushuaia, but availability is unpredictable. Check what the fare includes (flights, the hotel night before, landings, kayaking) and which ship size: smaller ships make more landings.
- Fly-cruise options: some companies fly passengers from Punta Arenas in Chile to King George Island to skip the Drake Passage.
- Insurance: cruise lines usually require travel insurance with medical evacuation cover.
Top things to see in Ushuaia
The Beagle Channel
Boat trips from the tourist pier sail east along the channel to the Isla de los Lobos (sea lions), the Isla de los Pájaros (cormorants) and the red-and-white Les Eclaireurs lighthouse, often called the “lighthouse at the end of the world.” Longer trips continue to Isla Martillo near Estancia Harberton, where Magellanic and gentoo penguins nest from about October to March; one licensed operator offers walks on the island in small groups. Trips range from about 2.5 hours to a full day. See our guide to boat trips.
Tierra del Fuego National Park
Created in 1960, the park protects southern beech forests, peat bogs, lakes and bays along the Chilean border, about 12 km (7 miles) west of town. Highlights include Lapataia Bay, where National Route 3 ends (the sign marks it as 3,079 km from Buenos Aires), the Senda Costera coastal trail, Laguna Verde and Lago Roca, and beavers’ dams (beavers were introduced from Canada and are an invasive pest). As of October 2026, foreign visitors pay ARS 40,000 (about US$26) per day, under the National Parks Administration’s fee table; the 50% discount for a second day applies only to tickets bought online.
The End of the World Train
A steam-hauled narrow-gauge tourist train runs from a station near the park entrance into the park along the route of the prisoners’ logging railway of the early 1900s. The ride takes about an hour each way with a stop, and many tours combine it with the national park.
The Presidio and Maritime Museum
The old prison of Ushuaia, which held convicts from 1902 to 1947 and helped build the town, is now a museum complex with cell blocks, a maritime museum and exhibits on Antarctica and the region’s history.
More to see
- The waterfront and the “Fin del Mundo” sign: the town’s classic photo spot near the tourist pier.
- Museo del Fin del Mundo: the region’s natural history and the Indigenous Yámana and Selk’nam peoples.
- Estancia Harberton: the island’s first ranch, founded in 1886, about 85 km (53 miles) east, with a marine mammal museum.
Other things to do in Ushuaia
Hiking
- Martial Glacier: a road and trail climb from the edge of town to the small glacier and views over the channel; about 2–3 hours return from the end of the road.
- Laguna Esmeralda: a popular half-day hike through forest and peat bog to a turquoise lake, about 9 km (5.5 miles) round trip from Route 3; the trail is muddy, so wear waterproof boots.
- The park’s coastal trail: about 8 km (5 miles) along the shore between Ensenada Zaratiegui and Lapataia.
See our guide to hiking.
Winter sports
From about June to September, Cerro Castor, about 26 km (16 miles) from town, is the southernmost ski resort in the world, with slopes facing the channel; Nordic skiing, snowshoeing and dog sledding are offered in the valleys nearby.
Food
Ushuaia’s specialty is centolla, southern king crab, served in restaurants along the waterfront; also try Patagonian lamb roasted on a cross (cordero al asador) and local black hake (merluza negra).
Day trips from Ushuaia
- Lakes Escondido and Fagnano: a scenic drive north on Route 3 over the Garibaldi Pass to two big lakes; many tours include 4×4 forest tracks and a barbecue.
- Estancia Harberton and Isla Martillo: a full day by road or boat for the historic ranch and the penguin colony.
- Puerto Williams (Chile): a small Chilean naval town across the channel, reached by boat or small plane when services operate; bring your passport.
More trips from Ushuaia
- Cape Horn flights and cruises: sightseeing flights and expedition cruises through the Chilean fjords toward Cape Horn operate in summer; most cruises start or end in Ushuaia.
- Río Grande: the province’s other city, on the Atlantic steppe, is famous for sea-run brown trout fishing from about January to April.
- Tolhuin: a village at the eastern end of Lake Fagnano, known for its bakery, a classic stop on the road north.
Getting there and getting around
By air
Malvinas Argentinas International Airport (USH), on a peninsula about 5 km (3 miles) from the center, has flights from Buenos Aires (about 3.5 hours), El Calafate and other cities; taxis run to town. Antarctic cruise passengers usually fly in a day or two before departure, to allow for weather delays.
By road
Ushuaia is the end of National Route 3. Buses from Río Grande and from Punta Arenas in Chile reach it via the Strait of Magellan ferry and the border crossing; it is a long journey.
Getting around
The center is walkable but hilly. Taxis are plentiful; minibuses and tours run to the national park, the train station and Martial Glacier. A rental car is handy for Lakes Escondido and Fagnano and Harberton, but drive carefully on gravel and in winter conditions.
Getting around: practical details
The tourist pier on Avenida Maipú is the hub for Beagle Channel boats, with ticket booths for several operators; compare routes, boat sizes and whether the trip lands at the penguin colony. Minibuses to Tierra del Fuego National Park and the train station leave from the waterfront in the morning and return in the afternoon. Taxis are cheap enough for short hops up the steep streets and to the Martial Glacier road. Antarctic ships berth at the port next to the center; passengers usually check in at the expedition company’s meeting point in town on embarkation day. In winter, streets can be icy, and chains are needed on mountain roads such as the Garibaldi Pass.
When to go and how long to stay
Weather for your datesSunrise and sunset
Ushuaia has a cold, damp subpolar climate with cool summers, chilly winters and changeable weather in every season; snow can fall in any month. The table uses the National Meteorological Service’s 1991–2020 normals for the Ushuaia airport station, as published by the World Meteorological Organization: average daily highs, average daily mean temperatures and days with at least 1 mm of precipitation.
| Season | Average high / daily mean | Rainy days per month | What it’s like | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer (Dec–Feb) | 13–14 °C (54–56 °F) / 9–10 °C (47–49 °F) | 8–9 | Mild, windy, very long days | Antarctic cruises, penguins, hiking |
| Fall (Mar–May) | 12 °C falling to 7 °C (54 to 44 °F) / 8 °C falling to 4 °C (47 to 40 °F) | 8–9 | Red beech forests in April, getting colder | Hiking, photography, quieter town |
| Winter (Jun–Aug) | 5–6 °C (40–42 °F) / 2–3 °C (36–37 °F) | 8–9 | Snow, short days of about 7 hours of light | Skiing, sled dogs, winter landscapes |
| Spring (Sep–Nov) | 8 °C rising to 12 °C (46 to 53 °F) / 4 °C rising to 7 °C (40 to 45 °F) | 7–9 | Cold and windy, then the start of the cruise season | Antarctica from October, birds returning |
The airport station records about 460 mm (18 in) of precipitation a year, spread evenly across the months; July’s average low is just above freezing, at about 0 °C (32 °F).
Ushuaia month by month
Average daily highs and daily mean temperatures at the Ushuaia airport station (SMN 1991–2020 normals, via the WMO).
| Month | High / daily mean | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| January | 14 °C (56 °F) / 10 °C (49 °F) | Peak summer and Antarctic season; penguin chicks |
| February | 14 °C (56 °F) / 9 °C (49 °F) | Busy; whales and penguins, long days |
| March | 12 °C (54 °F) / 8 °C (47 °F) | End of the Antarctic and penguin seasons |
| April | 9 °C (49 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F) | Red and gold forests, quiet town |
| May | 7 °C (44 °F) / 4 °C (40 °F) | Low season, first snow |
| June | 5 °C (40 °F) / 3 °C (37 °F) | Shortest days; ski season begins |
| July | 5 °C (40 °F) / 2 °C (36 °F) | Coldest month; winter holidays, skiing, sled dogs |
| August | 6 °C (42 °F) / 3 °C (37 °F) | Snowy, good for winter sports |
| September | 8 °C (46 °F) / 4 °C (40 °F) | Late snow, cruise ships start arriving |
| October | 10 °C (50 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F) | Antarctic season opens; penguins return |
| November | 12 °C (53 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F) | Spring, long days, fewer crowds than summer |
| December | 13 °C (55 °F) / 9 °C (47 °F) | Summer begins; busy port |
Crowds and prices: busiest from December to February, when cruise passengers and Argentine holidaymakers fill hotels and boats, and in the July ski holidays. October, November and March are quieter but colder.
3 days in Ushuaia
Day one, the Presidio and Maritime Museum and a walk along the waterfront and Avenida San Martín. Day two, a Beagle Channel boat trip to the lighthouse and sea lions, then centolla for dinner. Day three, Tierra del Fuego National Park with the End of the World Train or the coastal trail.
5 days
Add Laguna Esmeralda, the Martial Glacier, a full day to Harberton and the penguins, and a drive to Lakes Escondido and Fagnano, or keep a spare day before an Antarctic departure.
Where to stay in Ushuaia
- The center: hotels, guesthouses and hostels near the waterfront and Avenida San Martín, close to the port and tour desks.
- The hillside and the Martial road: hotels with views over the channel, a taxi ride from town.
- Outside town: lodges in the forest and on the channel to the east and west.
Foreign tourists who pay for accommodation with a card issued abroad don’t pay Argentina’s 21% VAT (IVA) on the room; give the hotel your passport details.
Choosing where to stay
The center, between the waterfront and Avenida San Martín, is best for first visits and for Antarctic passengers, who need to reach the port with luggage. Hillside hotels toward the Martial Glacier have the best views but need taxis. Forest lodges east and west of town suit travelers with a car who want quiet and nature. Hotels fill in December to February, so book early, especially for the nights before and after cruises.
Food and drink in Ushuaia
The local star is centolla, southern king crab, served whole, gratinated or in soups and ravioli; restaurants with live tanks advertise it in their windows. Black hake (merluza negra), mussels and trout are also common, as is Patagonian lamb roasted on a cross. Ushuaia has its own craft breweries, and calafate berry products are everywhere. Prices are among the highest in Argentina, especially for seafood; set lunches are better value than dinners. Many restaurants take reservations in summer, when cruise passengers crowd the center.
What a trip to Ushuaia costs
Money exchange (ARS)Tip calculator
These are our estimates for October 2026 at about ARS 1,520 per US dollar, except the park fee, which is official; Antarctic cruises are priced in US dollars by expedition companies.
| Item | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Tierra del Fuego National Park, foreign visitor, per day | ARS 40,000 (US$26), official |
| Beagle Channel boat trip, half day | ARS 70,000–120,000 (US$46–79) |
| End of the World Train, round trip | ARS 70,000–120,000 (US$46–79) |
| Hostel bed | ARS 30,000–50,000 (US$20–33) |
| Mid-range double room | ARS 150,000–260,000 (US$100–170) |
| King crab dinner | ARS 70,000–130,000 (US$46–86) |
| Classic Antarctic cruise, per person | usually US$7,000 or more |
Practical tips for Ushuaia
- Park tickets: buy Tierra del Fuego National Park tickets online to get the second-day discount.
- Money: cards are widely accepted; foreign cards are settled at the financial dollar rate. On October 2, 2026, the Central Bank’s reference rate was about ARS 1,520 per US dollar.
- Daylight: plan around very long days in summer and short ones in winter.
- Weather: pack for rain, wind and cold in any season, and expect occasional flight delays.
- Safety: Ushuaia is calm and safe for a city; the risks are outdoors. Stay on trails, take wind and sudden snow seriously, don’t approach wildlife, and on the water follow crew instructions. For emergencies, call 911.
What to pack for Ushuaia
A warm waterproof and windproof jacket, fleece or down layers, hat and gloves (even in summer), waterproof hiking boots for muddy trails, sunglasses and sunscreen (the spring sun is strong), and seasickness tablets for the Beagle Channel or Drake Passage. Antarctic cruises often lend parkas and boots; check with your ship. Argentina uses 220 V and type I plugs.
Ushuaia travel FAQ
When is the Antarctic cruise season from Ushuaia?
From about October to March, according to Ushuaia’s tourism office. The 2026–27 season started in mid-September with more than 590 ship calls confirmed.
How long is an Antarctica cruise from Ushuaia?
The classic voyage to the Antarctic Peninsula lasts 10 to 12 days, including about two days each way across the Drake Passage; trips adding the Falklands and South Georgia take about 20 to 22 days.
Can I book a last-minute Antarctic cruise in Ushuaia?
Sometimes, through local agencies, but cabins are limited and prices unpredictable; most travelers book months ahead.
How much is Tierra del Fuego National Park?
As of October 2026, foreign visitors pay ARS 40,000 (about US$26) per day; the second-day discount applies only to tickets bought online.
Where can I see penguins near Ushuaia?
On Isla Martillo near Estancia Harberton, where Magellanic and gentoo penguins nest from about October to March; boat trips and a small-group walking tour go there.
What is the weather like in Ushuaia in summer?
Cool and changeable, with average highs of about 13–14 °C (54–56 °F), wind and up to about 17 hours of daylight.
Is there skiing in Ushuaia?
Yes. Cerro Castor, about 26 km (16 miles) from town, usually opens from about June to September.
Where should I stay in Ushuaia before an Antarctic cruise?
In the center, close to the port, and arrive at least a day before departure in case of flight delays.
What food is Ushuaia famous for?
Centolla (southern king crab), black hake, trout and Patagonian lamb.
How cold is Ushuaia in winter?
Average highs of about 5–6 °C (40–42 °F) from June to August, with snow and short days.
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Sources · last reviewed 4 October 2026
Researched and last reviewed on 4 October 2026. Antarctic season, voyage lengths and itineraries: Ushuaia’s municipal tourism office; the 2026–27 cruise season and ship calls: the Argentine government (argentina.gob.ar, September 14, 2026); national park fee: the National Parks Administration (APN) fee table in force since June 1, 2026; exchange rate and card rules: the Central Bank of Argentina; VAT refund on hotels: the tax agency (ARCA); climate: the National Meteorological Service’s 1991–2020 normals for Ushuaia airport, as published by the World Meteorological Organization. Distances, population, the prison’s history, penguin seasons and the Isla Martillo walk, train and trail details, Cerro Castor’s season, flight times and daylight hours come from general references and are flagged for checking. Prices and seasons change, so check the official sites before you go. For entry rules and money, see our Argentina travel guide.
Place data: Wikidata (CC0)