Argentina - Ushuaia - Tierra del Fuego (Land of Fire)

At the southern end of the Republic of Argentina, on the island of Tierra del Fuego Grande, lies the city of Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world and the capital of the province of Tierra del Fuego. Located on the Beagle Channel, it takes its name, which means a bay overlooking the West, from the Yámana indigenous language. Within the impressive setting made by the sea, the forests, the lakes and the mountains, Ushuaia is a picturesque city with a highly developed touristic services infrastructure, an elegant commercial centre, and an ever increasing level of social and cultural activity.
 
The natural surroundings of Ushuaia offer unexplored and untouched territories that invite visitors to discover and be adventurous. The main activities in this privileged corner of the World are therefore related to nature. Amongst these activities are hiking, horse riding, climbing and diving.
 
But Tierra del Fuego is also a place for contemplation undertaking activities such as the cruises and expeditions around islands, glaciers, bays and cliffs; not to be missed. The Tierra del Fuego National Park, with native animal and vegetable species and important testimonies from the first settlers of the area, protects lakes Fagnano and Roca, the Beagle channel and the southernmost sub-Antarctic forests.
 
Lured by the particular mysticism of its geography and its natural environment, tourists from all over the world visit Ushuaia every year, thus making it one of the most preferred destinations for a unique experience.
 
Here are some of the excursions from Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, that we include in out itineraries:

Train at the End of the World and Tierra del Fuego National Park

The ‘Tren del Fin del Mundo’ (Train at the End of the World) tour starts at the Southern Fuegian Railway station on the outskirts of Ushuaia. Also called the ‘Tren de los Presos’ (The Prisoner Train), it is a replica of the train that used to transport prisoners to work in order to supply Ushuaia with timber some 100 years ago.
 
At the End of the World Station, passengers can visit the maintenance workshops that manufacture spare parts for the locomotives and wagons. It is also possible to visit a museum that has photographic displays illustrating the history of this train.
 
The train leaves from the End of the World Station on exactly the same embankment used by prisoners some 100 years ago, and travels into the Cañadón del Toro gorge and crosses Río Pipo river over the Quemado Bridge. The train then stops at Cascada de la Macarena station, where you will be able to see a recreation of an indigenous Yámana settlement, one of the native tribes that inhabited these lands hundreds of years ago. It will also be possible to ascend to a view point in order to enjoy the views of the Pipo river valley and the La Macarena waterfall in Le Martial range. The train then continues the journey through Sub-Antarctic forest, one of the few existing in the world, skirting a typical peat bog and then arriving at Estación del Parque station inside the park.
 
Here, it is possible to walk around the Tierra del Fuego National Park, created in 1960, and extending over an area of 63,000 hectares (155,673 acres) and located in the eco-regions of the Patagonian forest and the high Andes. The region is characterized by a temperate to cold and damp climate with winter snows and rainfalls, and a rough and steep mountain landscape with glacial valleys.

Beagle Channel

The voyage starts at the city port, where a boat is boarded that will navigate the coast of Ushuaia and provide a view of the most important buildings in the city, the Maritime Museum and the End of the World Museum. It is also possible to see Olivia and Cinco Hermanos mountains, Fique and Túnel estancias, the Escarpados mountain range, and the Río Encajonado river.
 
The voyage then sails to the centre of the Beagle Channel until reaching Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse, which stands on a group of small islets in the Channel. Heading towards Isla de Los Lobos (Sea Lion Island), visitors can watch these sea mammals frolicking while sailing around the island.
 
The navigation continues to Isla de los Pájaros (Bird Island) to view the different species of sea birds: Magellan Cormorants, Imperial Cormorants, Albatrosses, Fullman Petrels, Giant Petrels, Skuas, among others. Later, the voyage will sail through Paso Chico on the return to Ushuaia while providing magnificent views of the city framed by Monte Martial and its homonymous glacier.

Harberton Estancia

Estancia Harberton is the oldest ranch in Tierra del Fuego; it was founded in 1886 by the Reverend Thomas Bridges and declared a National Historical Monument in 1999. It is located on the shores of the Beagle Channel, 85 kilometres (53 miles) to the east of Ushuaia.
 
The tour starts by traversing the foothills of Monte Olivia, runs through Carbajal Valley, the largest peat bog in the island, and continues through the winter resorts of Altos del Valle, Valle de Los Huskies, Refugio Nunatak shelter, Tierra Mayor, Las Cotorras and Cerro Castor ski resort, until arriving at Rancho Hambre. From there, the tour travels along a valley to Puerto Almanza. At this point, the magnificent coastal landscape of the blue waters of Beagle Channel, and Port Williams (Chile) on Navarino Island on the southern shore can be enjoyed. The tour continues through valleys filled with flag trees, named so due to their shape caused by prevailing westerly winds.
 
The principal house of the estancia is on the shores of a protected bay. It has been preserved in its original form and is built out of timber and zinc. The garden contains most species of native flora.
 
While at the estancia a guide explains about the activities traditionally performed at the Estancia, after which it will be possible to enjoy a delicious tea with homemade pastries. The tour then returns to Ushuaia.