ArgentinaSouth America

Travelling to Ushuaia. A great adventure begins at the end of the world.

Ushuaia, Argentina

A guide to Ushuaia

Dreaming of the end of the world

The first time I heard about beauty of Ushuaia was around a year ago on one of the travels blogs. ‘Trip to the end of the world’ immediately caught my attention and I already knew that Ushuaia will be on my travel list.

I impatiently waited for the day I reach the end of the world. Trip was planned, flights booked and bags packed to explore an extensive territory of Patagonia.  The was a one problem: our time-wise calculations did not work as well in practice as in theory on the paper. The fear that we might be able to get to the far corner of the world was unacceptable. We at that point drove for a week, from Punta Arenas in Chile, through Perito Moreno, to the land of fire. With a dreadful night in Rio Gallegos, we happily continued our trip.


Favourite travel resources:

  • Booking.com for searching best prices on accommodation.
  • Discover Cars is a great website as they search both local and international car hire services, so you can choose the best deal for yourself. Make sure though, that the company has a good reputation and reviews.
  • Get Your Guide is my place to go for searching and booking tours and excursions, especially when I travel solo.
  • World Nomads travel insurance. I like them because they have quite extensive coverage of different activities. Travel insurance is a must in South America. Don’t skip it. 
  • Jack’s Flight Club is a service that can save you hundreds of dollars on flights, it works especially well in Europe.
  • Trivago where you can search and save on hotels.
  • Go City is a perfect site for booking bucket list experiences and attractions all in one to avoid paying for multiple tickets. Easy and saves money.
  • Trip Advisor amazing for good quality recommendations.
  • Skyscanner is a perfect website for searching flight routes and comparing prices.

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Ushuaia, ArgentinaHow to get to Ushuaia

Ushuaia, often referred to as the “End of the World,” is located at the southern tip of Argentina and is accessible by various means of transportation.

The most common way to reach Ushuaia is by air, with flights available from major cities in Argentina such as Buenos Aires. The Ushuaia Malvinas Argentinas International Airport serves as the primary gateway to the city.

Additionally, travelers can opt for scenic bus journeys from other parts of Argentina, offering breathtaking views of the Patagonian landscape along the way. Another option is to arrive by a ferry with a rented car by crossing The Magellan strait. This is what we did. 

Keep in mind the weather changes

The way to Ushuaia is not that simple.

No surprises here, I wouldn’t expect anything different on my way to the end of the world.

No land connections and only two boats reaching the land of fire from two different ports. The strong winds stopped many boats from crossing the Strait of Magellan.

We were told to wait in the line and see if the next boat will take us. Luck was on our side and hour later we put our feet on Tierra de Fuego. The sun was high and there was still a few hundred kilometers of driving left to ‘the end of the world’. Should we try, should we not?! We asked ourselves. Normally it would not be an issue…but the flight was booked for the next evening. What if the boat service is canceled again? What if we won’t make driving there and back in time? Heart versus reasoning… difficult battle. “Ehhh!!! “. He produced a sound. “We came to see ‘the end of the world’, not ‘almost the end of the world’. And before I knew we were on a doubtfully promising mission to reach the end of the world and go back to Punta Arenas the next day in time to catch the flight.

RENT YOUR CAR TO DRIVE THROUGH TIERRA DEL FUEGO

Ushuaia, Argentina

We even risked a meal in a hotel on the way. Not many places to grab a quick bite and dry bread and cheese in a cold weather were not satisfying anymore. We needed hot soup! The waiter overheard our plans to reach Ushuaia. With the eyes wide open he told us that it has been snowed in and it will be rather difficult for us to get there. ‘Snowed in?!”- we were rather untrusting in that matter since the sky was baby-blue with no signs of snow. Yes, I know, we were approaching the territory after which there is only Antarctica.

How could we not believe the old wise man, a resident of Tierra de Fuego for the last 60 years?! We heard what he said, but with a doubt and foolish hope we continued our journey.

Ushuaia, Argentina

Through the air of snowflakes

Driving through the mystical land of Tierra del Fuego is always an amazing experience. It is the world where humans are guests of nature. The roads were wobbly and llamas seemed to own the land. Sun was shining, strong wind blowing and crisp air penetrating our nostrils.

We drove for a few more hours. The sun was long asleep then. In the darkness the world seemed even more mystical. Still no signs of snow we were warned about. The old man was probably mistaken, we thought.

Then suddenly, out of nowhere the air turned white and we drove into a cloud of snow. We still had around 200km remaining to Ushuaia and really hoped that this storm-like weather would pass soon. It was getting late and driving was rather difficult. In a total wilderness, darkness and with literally 1 meter visibility, it really started feeling  like the beginning of a real adventure. After many hours of driving though the flats of Patagonia and Tierra de Fuego, we were quite nicely surprised to notice some rising peaks.


See also:

An afternoon with king penguins in Tierra de Fuego.

Charming churches in Chiloé.

Muelle de las almas. The magic in Chiloé island.

I saw penguins and whales! A boat tour to rememeber in Chiloé island.


Ushuaia, Argentina

Finally at the end of the world

We arrived to Ushuaia around 2am. After many hours of struggling with the weather and voting whether we should continue or not through the million of floating snowflakes and strong wind, we were finally there!

Ok, where do we sleep? Of course we did not have any place booked. Adventure must be as adventurous as possible, right? Well, the reason why we did not book anything was simple: we were not sure what the next day will bring and where our feet will take us.

We stopped the car and I started a search of a warm bed, my only dream at that point. And we knew that the search needs to be successful quickly as the first thing in the morning we need to start our journey back to be on time to catch the flight. Iced hilly streets of the town made it extra difficult for me to run around from hotel to hotel asking if they have any rooms available. It seemed though that the beautiful snow attracted many people hungry for skiing at the end of the world. After 40 minutes of clumsy walking around I found a room in a loud, party hostel. It did not matter much. We were so exhausted that I don’t even remember lying my head on the pillow.

Ushuaia, Argentina

Two hours of the dream coming true

We were woken up by a cruel clock alarm at 7am. There will be time for sleeping later, then we needed to squeeze the adventure into two hours before heading back. The sun was shining and the view of the white wonderland made us forget that we are tired and have a long way to drive before the evening.

We walked around with a smile that even though it is a short visit, we made it to the end of the world. It is in the nature of humans to like the biggest, the most important, the most beautiful, the most famous. So, we liked visiting the most southern city in the world, after which there is only Antarctica! A pity that the trip is very expensive…one day maybe.

What to do in Ushuaia

  • Tierra del Fuego National Park: Explore the rugged beauty of Patagonia’s wilderness in Tierra del Fuego National Park, where you can hike scenic trails, cruise along pristine waterways, and spot diverse wildlife.
  • End of the World Train: Ride the historic End of the World Train, which takes passengers on a journey through the region’s history and stunning landscapes, offering panoramic views of the Tierra del Fuego scenery.
  • Beagle Channel Cruises: Embark on a boat tour of the Beagle Channel, where you can sail past majestic glaciers, visit remote islands inhabited by penguins and sea lions, and marvel at the breathtaking beauty of the surrounding mountains.
  • Lapataia Bay: Visit Lapataia Bay, located within Tierra del Fuego National Park, to witness the stunning convergence of the Andes Mountains and the Beagle Channel, offering spectacular photo opportunities.
  • Cerro Martial: Hike or take a chairlift to the summit of Cerro Martial for panoramic views of Ushuaia and the surrounding mountains, perfect for outdoor enthusiasts and photographers alike.
  • Museum Marítimo y del Presidio de Ushuaia: Explore Ushuaia’s maritime and penal history at the Maritime and Prison Museum, housed in a former prison building, offering insight into the city’s fascinating past.

Ushuaia, Argentina

Time to catch the flight

The way to get to Ushuaia was long and the visit was compacted into a few hours of sleep and a short morning walk. Nevertheless, we will remember the place for long. We’ve been at the end of the world, right? On the way back we could actually see what we missed the previous night. It looked like this:
Ushuaia, Argentina

I am happy to share with you that we did not only made it in time for the flight, but also had some spare time to have an amazing dinner in Punta Arenas.

Thank you for stopping by. Do you have any travel stories to share? I would love to hear from you.

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Ushuaia, Argentina


Please note that this post included affiliate links, when you decide to purchase anything through these links I get a small commission at NO extra cost to you, it helps me to keep running this blog! I only promote products and services I use or would use myself. All images are the property of Postcards from the World and cannot be used without permission. 


 

  1. Oh I love Ushuaia! I was there on the way to Antarctica (and obviously on the way back!) but it was summer then so only snow on the mountaintops. I loved walking up to the glacier and then back to the town. And love your pictures too!

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