What to see in Ushuaia in two days

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Ushuaia suele estar en la parte superior de las listas de la mayoría de las personas cuando viajan a Argentina.

The southernmost city in the world is an attraction precisely because of its location, but what else is happening in Ushuaia? We found out in our definitive guide to the city at the end of the world. What to see in ushuaia in two days

What to see in Ushuaia in two days

Nature

There are many things to see and do in Ushuaia, but it is famous mainly for the wealth of natural landscapes to enjoy.

The city of Ushuaia is used as a base by many tourists who want to explore the surrounding waterways and mountains, but the city itself has a lot to offer.

The Martial Glacier is accessible from Ushuaia, but the hike is long and many people prefer to take an inexpensive taxi from the city to the base, and then walk or take the chairlift (often only in summer) from there.

The hike to the glacier provides beautiful views over Ushuaia and the bay.

Visita en Barco Ushuaia
Visita en Barco Ushuaia

Tierra del Fuego National Park, seven miles (11 km) from Ushuaia, is also a popular place for lovers of nature and outdoor activities.

There are many well-marked trails and short walks for those who wish to spend the day exploring the park independently.

For those who want to see a little more, longer trails and hikes are available;

The Paso de la Oveja or “Paso de las Ovejas” takes two days, while a longer hike of four days can be done in the Sierra Valdivieso Circuit.

The park also has two beautiful lakes and some waterfalls.

david stanley donde esta ushuaia 1 What to see in Ushuaia in two days
Beaver Dam in Tierra del Fuego National Park | © Anne Dirkse / WikiCommons

Culture

There are many museums, including the End of the World Museum, which has a great bird exhibit, and the Yamana World Museum, which explains the indigenous history of the local Yamana Indians.

One of the biggest attractions is the Maritime Museum and the Presidio Prison. Located on the same site, you can visit the Maritime Museum and also get the entrance to the prison.

Ushuaia was once the location of a former military base and penal colony, and the prison itself, “the End of the World Prison,” is well preserved and worth a visit.

Activities- What to see in Ushuaia in two days

The End of the World Train is another fun excursion that may appeal to those who prefer a more relaxed holiday activity.

The End of the World Station is 8 km from Ushuaia and takes passengers through the Quebrada de Toro and the national park and forest, ending at El Parque Station.

Another right of way for any visitor to Ushuaia is to stamp their passport and send a postcard home from the End of the World, both of which can be done at the post office in the center of the city.

Lago Turquesa en Ushuaia
Lago Turquesa en Ushuaia

Arguably the most popular activity in Ushuaia is navigating the Beagle Channel.

The channel is named after HMS Beagle, the ship that took Darwin on an expedition to Patagonia.

The canal is approximately 150 miles (240 km) long and can be explored by the many catamarans that depart frequently from Ushuaia.

You can also see the End of the World lighthouse from the Beagle Channel boat trip.

Ushuaia is also the starting point for those wishing to visit Antarctica, and cruises depart from the port.

They must be booked well in advance, as spaces and departures are limited due to the protected nature of Antarctica.

Location and history

Tierra del Fuego, Ushuaia’s home province, is located in southern Argentina and is an archipelago separated from mainland South America by the Strait of Magellan.

It was discovered by the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan on his expedition of 1520.

The Argentine Antarctic falls in the province of Tierra del Fuego and, when you are in Argentina, it is advisable to consider the Falkland Islands as Argentine territory.

Although technically these islands are considered British Overseas Territories.

Tierra del Fuego significa “Tierra de Fuego” en inglés, y es la provincia más austral de Argentina.

The provincial capital of Ushuaia is commonly known as the southernmost city in the world, which gives it the name “End of the World.”

Ushuaia means “bay looking west” in the ancient Yamana indigenous language, and is bounded by the Martial Mountains to the north and by the Beagle Channel to the south, enclosing it between land and sea.

donde está Ushuaia
Embarcaciones en el puerto de Ushuaia con increíbles montañas al fondo | © David Stanley / Flickr

Tierra del Fuego is famous for many reasons, one of the most interesting is that, as a young naturalist, Charles Darwin came to Tierra del Fuego.

He spent more than four years in Patagonia researching and gathering information on the local flora. indigenous fauna and indigenous cultures.

Traveling with an expedition led by Captain FitzRoy on the HMS Beagle that set sail from Plymouth, England in 1831.

Darwin spent just over three years exploring the land of Tierra del Fuego and another 18 months navigating the seas, straits, and passages around it.

The archipelago. Many of his findings, including conclusions about three captured Fuegian Indians who had spent a year in England and were brought to Patagonia as missionaries, greatly influenced what would later become his Theory of Evolution.

When to go- What to see in Ushuaia in two days

Although it has a subpolar oceanic climate, because it is surrounded by forests, Ushuaia and its surroundings enjoy a relatively mild climate considering the location.

In winter, temperatures average 34.9 F (1.6 C) degrees and in summer 50.5 F (10.3 C) degrees.

However, due to the unpredictable Patagonian weather, it may be best to go in spring or summer, as the weather is more likely to be sunny, although Ushuaia suffers from fairly constant cloud cover.

Avoid in winter unless you want to participate in some of the winter sports on offer.

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About the author

I am Matias, born in Patagonia, and a lover of my land.

For more than 20 years I help foreign travellers to organise their trip to Patagonia.

I also manage this exotic accommodation on the Atlantic coast.