Things to consider

  • Tierra del Fuego is split between Chile and Argentina, and roads that cross the border are few and far between
  • Much of the landscape is made up of fjords and waterways, best seen by cruise
  • This region is vast, make sure you factor in enough time to your itinerary if arriving by land or cruise
  • Most flights to Ushuaia come from Argentina, flights from Chile are rare and unreliable

How do I get to Tierra del Fuego?

Illustrated Guide

How to get to Tierra del Fuego from...

Buenos Aires

There are up to five flights a day from Buenos Aires (AEP) to Ushuaia, taking approximately 3 hours 40 minutes. From Ushuaia airport, it's a short 15 minute drive into the centre of town.

How to get to Tierra del Fuego

El Calafate

El Calafate is the gateway to the Los Glaciares region of Argentina, with its famous Mount Fitz Roy and Perito Moreno Glacier. There are daily flights from El Calafate to Ushuaia, taking 1 hour 15 minutes. 

How to get to Tierra del Fuego

Torres del Paine

Torres del Paine is in Chile, and it is a 5 hour drive to Punta Arenas, on the edge of Chilean Tierra del Fuego. From here, you can travel to Ushuaia by bus, ferry, or cruise. See below for more information on getting there from Punta Arenas.

Travelling to Ushuaia from Chile does require a little planning; the vast majority of tourist attractions in Tierra del Fuego are based out of Ushuaia, which is on the Argentinian side. Relations between the two countries have historically been a little frosty, and consequently tourist routes between the two sides of Tierra del Fuego are few and far between. 

Base of the Towers, Torres del Paine

Base of the Towers, Torres del Paine

Punta Arenas

Bus: Departs to Ushuaia nearly every day, taking approximately 11 hours - it's better than it sounds!

Ferry: The ferry to Ushuaia takes 24 hours and allows you to see some of the fjords, glaciers and wildlife along the way

Cruise: By far the most enjoyable way to travel from Punta Arenas to Ushuaia. By day you'll experience thrilling excursions on small zodiac boats, exploring the Magellan Straits and getting up close to penguin colonies and hanging glaciers.

Fly: There are a few flights a week between Punta Arenas and Ushuaia, but they're not recommended. Instead, fly to Puerto Williams on Isla Navarino, from where you can take a short 2 hour ferry to Ushuaia.

How to get to Tierra del Fuego

Discover Tierra del Fuego

Ushuaia

Ushuaia Tours

Ushuaia is the southernmost city before Antarctica, and boy are they proud of it! Set with a mountain range to the north and the Beagle Channel to the south, the city is nestled …

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Ushuaia, Patagonia, Argentina

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Ushuaia is the southernmost city in the world. It is also the gateway to some of the best trekking and wildlife experiences in Tierra del Fuego, and the jumping off point …

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Isla Navarino

Isla Navarino

Chile's claim to 'the end of the world', Isla Navarino sits proudly in the Beagle Channel, its shores shaped harsh winds and battering seas. Like much of Tierra del Fuego, visitors…

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Trekking in Tierra del Fuego

Hiking in Tierra del Fuego

Tierra del Fuego is a land of extremes. Swathes of isolated steppe are punctuated with windswept trees, endless peat bogs and craggy outcrops crowned with glaciers. Here is …

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