Ushuaia & Tierra del Fuego

Unpronounceable to most, the world’s southernmost city, likely derives from the native Yamana expressions Ushu and Waia meaning ‘bay facing the sunset’. Established on the shore of the Beagle Channel, the settlement grew as a notorious penal colony, you could say the Alcatraz of Argentina, to become Tierra del Fuego’s capital. 

Nowadays, the jail is a museum and the city’s population is about 80,000. Ushuaia’s wild frontier feel remains, yet it provides everything a traveller requires: the perfect place to base oneself for discovering both the stunning national park and beyond.

Given the island’s diverse ecosystems and unspoilt natural beauty, Tierra del Fuego offers wonderful opportunities for spotting various wildlife, especially birds. One can sometimes see both coastal and mountainous species, such as the emblematic Andean condor. Other wonderful species to sight are the characteristic Magellanic woodpecker (with its bright red-plumed head), and the ever-so cute Magellanic penguin - not seen in Antarctica. 

Guanacos, a relative of the llama, roam free in the northern part of the island, where no natural predator exists. Foxes are widespread, as are North-American beavers; a species introduced last century and now number in their hundreds of thousands across the archipelago. 

Tierra del Fuego excels in its local and authentic culinary offering: The queen of dishes is the centolla or king crab - the local speciality. Other fresh sea-food options are squid, sea bass, salmon and trout, which will only leave you wanting more. From the earth, one has to try the famous Argentine steak grills and especially the local king of dishes, the sumptuous lamb bbq: asado de cordero. Cooked slowly over hot embers, with a specially-made brine tossed on as it roasts, this dish is a must-try for any foodie visiting Tierra del Fuego. 

Fueguinos, as the locals are called, are proud of their regional dishes, and our featured 2-day experiences all contain great lunch options, meaning foodies will delight in their stay at the End of the World.

Dotted with protected areas, wild open spaces, a complex array of fjords, rivers, forests with mountains and glaciers abound, Tierra del Fuego merits time and dedication. The good news is that our itineraries are flexible; easily combined and tailored to your needs should you only have limited time to spend in Ushuaia en-route to Antarctica. Ushuaia offers a wide array of hotels, for all types of traveller, some truly superb dining options, and great local guides itching to show you their land and tell you about their history. We recommend at least 2 full-days in Ushuaia to really get a feel for the place, get over that long-haul jet lag and soak up the beauty of the region, before your trip of a lifetime.