What to do in Tierra del Fuego
The untamed wilderness of Tierra del Fuego is a haven for adventurers, whether you want to hike the southernmost trek in the world or sail past glaciers en route to Cape Horn.
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Reasons to go day hiking in Tierra del Fuego
- Base yourself in Ushuaia, the gateway to Tierra del Fuego – with a host of trailheads close at hand for brilliant day hikes into complete mountain solitude
- Hike high to the shining turquoise waters of Laguna Esmeralda, Ushuaia’s most accessible glacial lake, and other gentle hikes in the Susana and Martial mountains
- Make a full day loop through the mountains to the frozen cliff face of the Ojo del Albino Glacier
- Enjoy long, tough day hikes such as the Viniciguerra or Carabajal hikes amid stunning mountain scenery
- Head to Navarino Island and hike high above the forests for unbeatable views over the Beagle Channel
Swoop says
If you're looking for a taste of the best of Tierra del Fuego's wilderness, our Day Hikes in Tierra del Fuego trip is designed showcases all our favourite trails over four days from a base in Ushuaia.
The hike to Cerro Bandera in the Dientes de Navarino
Hiking to Vinciguerra
On Ojo del Albino Glacier
Walking to the Beban Pass
Walking between the seven lagoons
Beagle Channel, Tierra del Fuego
Day hikes from Ushuaia
Laguna Esmeralda Hike
Laguna Esmeralda is a beautiful milky blue glacial lake ringed by snow-covered mountains, and is Ushuaia's most popular and accessible day hikes.
The hike is 5.5 miles (9 km) round trip from the trail head just outside, and is suitable for anyone with a moderate level of fitness. A well-marked trail takes you through a succession of different landscapes, through lenga forest and across peat bogs until you reach the loose moraine that marks the final approach to the turquoise lake itself.
Along the way, look out for the numerous dams created by beavers: escapees from a short-lived fur farming industry in the mid-20th Century.
Laguna Esmeralda hike
Vinciguerra Hike
The Vinciguerra Hike, which starts from the Andorra Valley is one of the more challenging day hikes on offer from Ushuaia, and requires a good level of fitness.
The 7 mile (11.5 km) hike takes through the peatlands of the valley before climbing stiffly through the woods. After passing through open country, there is a further steep climb along a rocky trail to reach the Laguna de los Tempanos, a stunning mountain lake fed by the Vinciguerra Glacier.
The route is a deservedly popular one in high summer, but snow and ice can make some of the trails difficult to follow in spring and autumn, so a guide is recommended.
Vinciguerra hike
Ojo del Albino Glacier Hike
The Ojo del Albino is an extension of the Laguna Esmeralda hike, creating a longer 10 mile (15.5 km) hike for those with a good degree of fitness.
After hiking to Laguna Esmeralda, a rough trail continues climbing through the valley before winding up the slopes of Cerro Bonete. The target is the very face of the the Ojo del Albino Glacier: the only glacier cliff front you can hike to from a city in all of Patagonia.
If you want to hike with crampons on the Ojo del Albino Glacier itself, this day hike makes up part of the longer Sierra Valdivieso Circuit camping trek.
Ojo del Albino hike
Swoop says
You know you’ve reached somewhere special when the edges of the glacial lake are still frosted with ice. As the sun came out over the mountains, the water grew deeper and ever more turquoise.
Felipe Cruzat Patagonia Specialist
Laguna Turquesa & Carabajal Hike
The relative shortness of the Laguna Turquesa & Carbajal Hike at just 5 miles (8 km) belies the spectacular scenery it offers.
The initial part of the hike, a short transfer from the centre of Ushuaia, climbs steeply to bring you out above the treeline. A rough trail leads you to the small and postcard-perfect turquoise lagoon, before continuing to the summit of Carbajal. From here, the views are simply sublime: you’ll feel like the entire Fuegian Andes are unfolding in front of you.
If you want to keep going, this hike is bundled into the longer Torres del Río Chico Basecamp Trek.
Laguna Turquesa & Carabajal hike
Martial Glacier Hike
The 4 mile (6.5 km) Martial Glacier Hike from Ushuaia takes you from the city’s ski resort up a steep climb through beautiful wooded country to offer fantastic views across the Beagle Channel to Navarino Island, while placing you in the shadow of the Martial Glacier.
Martial Glacier hike
Tierra del Fuego National Park Hikes
The boundaries of Tierra del Fuego National Park begin just a few short miles from the western edge of Ushuaia. It runs along the coast of the Beagle Channel on one side and stretches up into the mountains on the other. The landscape is dotted with picturesque lakes and thick forests of native coihue and lenga trees.
The park has plenty of gentle walking trails and scenic viewpoints, and is particularly rich in birdlife. However, the park can get incredibly busy with day trippers from Ushuaia (particularly Antarctic cruise passengers), so while it holds plenty of general interest, it should only be considered as somewhere for a light walk to a view rather than a day hiking destination in itself
Tierra del Fuego National Park
Swoop says
Hiking through thick forest to an epic view over the Beagle Channel and tiny, distant Puerto Williams really did feel like we’d walked to the very edge of the map. The wind felt it was ready to blow us all the way to Antarctica!
Danny Middleton Patagonia Specialist
Day hikes on Navarino Island
Cerro Bandera Hike
One of our favourite day hikes on Navarino Island is a long half-day hike from just outside Puerto Williams to the summit of Cerro Bandera.
The trail climbs some 2000 feet (600m) through thick forest until it breaks into the open, after which the walk offers constant views along Navarino’s own mountains, as well as across the Beagle Channel to the peaks of Argentinian Tierra del Fuego. At the summit, a huge Chilean flag reminds you of which country you’re in.
A longer version of this day hike continues to Laguna Robalo, a small lake in the mountains., but for those who’d like to keep going , the Cerro Bandera and Robalo hike make up the first day of the five day Dientes de Navarino trek across the island.
Cerro Bandera hike
Swoop says
Ushuaia has a wider selection of day hikes than Navarino Island, but Navarino combines them well with a variety of other activities, from horseriding and kayaking on the edge ofthe Beagle Channel to ethnobotanic tours that get you close to nature.
What our customers think of Day hiking in Tierra del Fuego
Day hiking in Tierra del Fuego trips scored 4.2/5 from 7 reviews
In Tierra del Fuego we walked through beautiful forest in sunshine. Fallen trees often blocked the path and there were rivers to cross - rock hopping or balancing across on a log. There was a definite path but we couldn't always stick to it.
Travelled: April 2016
Kim -
Day hiking in Tierra del Fuego: FAQs
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Can I hike self-guided in Tierra del Fuego?
The majority of day hikes in Tierra del Fuego can be done self-guided. However, we highly recommend using a guide as the trails are often unclear, poorly marked and hard to follow. If anything were to go wrong, you wouldn't want to find yourself miles from civilisation with no way of asking for help.
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How hard are the day hikes in Tierra del Fuego?
Most of the day hikes around Ushuaia and on Navarino Island are suitable for those with a good or moderate level of fitness.
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How do I get to Ushuaia or Puerto Williams?
There are daily direct flights to Ushuaia from both Buenos Aires (3½ hours) and El Calafate (75 minutes), the gateway to Argentina's Los Glaciares National Park.
Puerto Williams is connected by small plane to Punta Arenas (45 minutes).
There is a daily boat service across the Beagle Channel between Ushuaia and Puerto Williams, which takes around four hours.
For more information, see our page about how to get to Tierra del Fuego.
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What do I need to carry when day hiking in Tierra del Fuego?
Layering is key: pack a base layer, thermal mid layer and a windproof/waterproof outer layer (probably the most important item in Tierra del Fuego. Wear good waterproof walking boots with ankle support and carry a 30 litre day pack with an extra layer, water bottle, food and your camera - don't forget the sun cream!
You only need a one-litre bottle of water, you can fill up from streams along the way.
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What else can I do in Ushuaia apart from day hikes?
Ushuaia has plenty of attractions if you want to give your hiking boots a break. You can take boat trips along the Beagle Channel, do a gastronomic tour, explore the city's history and culture, visit Tierra del Fuego National Park and do a host of adventure activities.
See our pages on Ushuaia and Activities in Tierra del Fuego for more information.
Discover more of Tierra del Fuego
When to go to Tierra del Fuego
Discover the changing faces of Tierra del Fuego throughout the seasons of the year, where the extreme southerly latitudes mean short summers and snowy winters.
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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.
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Ushuaia
Ushuaia is the southernmost city in the world, squeezed between the mountains and sea, and a perfect base for hiking and glacier cruising.
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