Day hiking in Tierra del Fuego
Tierra del Fuego is a land of mountains, lakes and glaciers that are perfect for day hikes, from a base in Ushuaia or Navarino Island.
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Reasons to go to Tierra del Fuego
- Discover the wild landscapes around Ushuaia on hiking trails to remote mountain lakes and glaciers
- Relax at a secluded ecolodge on Navarino Island, or challenge yourself there on the southernmost trek in the world
- Take an adventure cruise past hidden iceberg-strewn bays and brave the high seas on the way to Cape Horn
- Visit penguin colonies or sail through the Beagle Channel to watch sea lions, whales and dolphins along South America’s final frontier
- Explore Tierra del Fuego’s history and culture from both sides of the Chilean and Argentinian borders
Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world
Torres del Río Chico trek
Cape Horn monument
Kayaking on the edge of the Beagle Channel
Magellanic Penguins, Isla Magdalena
Street art in Ushuaia
Laguna Esmeralda hike
Shipwreck at Cabo San Pablo
What to see & do in Tierra del Fuego
Hiking
Hikers and trekkers are starting to discover that Tierra del Fuego has some of the most exciting – and least explored – mountains in Patagonia.
The main gateway city of Ushuaia is perfectly placed for easy and spectacular day hikes to mountain lakes and glaciers. Alternatively, you can push yourself on one of Tierra del Fuego’s stunning multi-day treks, where you can truly leave the crowds behind to get deep in the wilderness – crossing glaciers on the Sierra Valdivieso Circuit or exploring the high passes of the Torres del Río Chico Trek.
Navarino Island holds an even more allure, with the southernmost trek in the world on a circuit through the Dientes de Navarino mountains.
Hiking near Ushuaia
Adventure cruises
Tierra del Fuego consists of one massive island that’s fringed by an archipelago of smaller islets, making an adventure cruise the best way to explore. These small ship cruises sail between Ushuaia and Punta Arenas, exploring landscapes that would otherwise be impossible to reach.
They sail to coastlines fringed with forest-clad mountains, where glaciers descend from great heights down to sea, to penguin colonies on lonely islands and even Cape Horn itself.
Daily zodiac excursions offer plenty of opportunities for hiking in some of the remotest locations on the planet.
Glacier cruising in Tierra del Fuego
Swoop says
Few adventure hubs can be better placed than Ushuaia. It has endless crinkled mountains in its back yard and the promise of the Beagle Channel and Cape Horn on its doorstep. What more could you ask for?
Lujan Torrontegui Patagonia Assistant Sales Manager
Wildlife
Tierra del Fuego’s landscapes are incredibly diverse, ranging from mountains, forest and steppe to a long coastline that connects the land to the Southern Ocean. This offers up an excitingly varied wildlife watching experience.
The most attractive species are those associated with the sea and the great south: there are Magellanic penguins and South America’s only colony of king penguins. Sea lions throng the Beagle Channel while albatrosses fly above, and at the right time of year there are humpback whales.
In land, the woods and mountains offer terrific birdwatching, from the mighty condor to the charming Magellanic woodpecker, with a plenty of species to tick off on a life list.
King penguins at Porvenir
Culture
Tierra del Fuego isn’t just a destination for adventure travellers, it has a rich history and culture to explore.
Ushuaia was founded as a penal colony, and has an excellent prison-turned-museum as well as the jaunty Fin del Mundo train in nearby Tierra del Fuego National Park. Outside the city, old shipwrecks litter the coast, and the historic Estancia Harberton tells of the early lives of colonists and their interactions with the indigenous Yaghan people – a story that continues on Navarino Island, where the majority of Yaghan live today.
When you’re done, finish your experience by tasting some of the best seafood in South America, freshly caught from the Beagle Channel.
Beagle Channel gastronomy
Swoop says
We had dolphins dancing around our boat when we crossed the Beagle Channel to Navarino Island. I couldn't have asked for a better escort for a trip to somewhere that feels like the last place on the map.
Danny Middleton Patagonia Specialist
Discover more about Tierra del Fuego
Multi-day trekking in Tierra del Fuego
Tierra del Fuego is home to some of Patagonia’s most remote and rewarding multi-day hikes, trekking in the Cordillera Darwin and Dientes de Navarino mountain ranges.
Discover MoreUshuaia
Ushuaia is the southernmost city in the world, squeezed between the mountains and sea, and a perfect base for hiking and glacier cruising.
Discover MorePuerto Williams & Navarino Island
Navarino Island in the Beagle Channel is Chile’s own end of the world, full of wild mountains and bays waiting to be explored from the town of Puerto Williams.
Discover MoreCape Horn
Cape Horn is South America’s final lonely outpost in the ocean. Shrouded in the myth and romance of the sea, it’s accessible only by adventure cruise ship.
Discover MoreTierra del Fuego National Park
Tierra del Fuego National Park is easily accessible from Ushuaia, with walking trails along the Beagle Channel, excellent birdwatcihng and the Fin del Mundo train.
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Swoop says
Unsure whether to head for the Argentinian or the Chilean part of Tierra del Fuego? Why not both? The two halves of this amazing destination not combine well, but their gateway cities allow Tierra del Fuego to easily fit into a wider Patagonia itinerary - especially Torres del Paine or Los Glaciares.
What our customers think of Tierra del Fuego
Tierra del Fuego trips scored 4.5/5 from 495 reviews
We flew down to Isla Navarino which was fabulous. Lakutaia Lodge was a great base with an amazing location overlooking the Beagle channel. We took a boat trip around to Wulaia Bay which was fascinating.
Travelled: February 2016
Neil -
Review:
Where to stay in Tierra del Fuego
The majority of visitors to Tierra del Fuego base themselves in Ushuaia, where there is a wide variety of places to stay, from simple guesthouses to high end hotels high above the town to boutique places nestled on the Beagle Channel. Punta Arenas is a good alternative hub with hotels to suit all different types of traveller.
There is just one accommodation option on Navarino Island – but happily it’s one of Patagonia’s best ecolodges, just outside Puerto Williams.
A third option is to travel in a floating hotel by taking a cabin on a small ship adventure cruise, which sail in both directions between Ushuaia and Punta Arenas via Cape Horn.
How to get to Tierra del Fuego
Ushuaia (airport code USH) is the main gateway to Tierra del Fuego, with connections to Argentina’s capital Buenos Aires and El Calafate (FTE) for Los Glaciares. Ushuaia is also a port of call (along with Punta Arenas) for adventure cruises around Tierra del Fuego, as well as cruises to Antarctica.
Chilean Tierra del Fuego can be accessed via Punta Arenas (PUQ), which has flights to Puerto Williams (WPU) on Navarino Island. Punta Arenas and Ushuaia are well-connected by road, while ferries link Puerto Williams and Ushuaia.
When to go to Tierra del Fuego
Spring The start of the visitor season starts late in Tierra del Fuego, with plenty of snow and ice around in many places, but trails open and Magellanic penguins return from a winter at sea
Summer December and January are the ideal time to explore Tierra del Fuego, with long days and the mildest weather.
Autumn From mid-February to April, the crowds thin and you'll have the sights almost to yourself. The autumn colours come out and the forests blaze with red and gold
Winter A thick layer of snow covers the landscape. The cruise ships stop sailing as ski resorts open and winter sports become the main attraction.
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