Ushuaia is located at the tip of Argentina and is a famous port city for embarking on trips to Antarctica from Argentina or exploring Argentina’s Tierra del Fuego region full of glaciers, penguins, and wonder. Christian and I up here due to our trip to Antarctica.

We arrived a few days early before the trip and were stranded there a few days after the trip to Antarctica. In total, we had the pleasure of being in Ushuaia for five days, of which I was sick for three.

But before I got sick, I explored this little city to its fullest.

The city is located so down under that its internet is notoriously unreliable. But that makes it the perfect get away from it all where you have the excuse to truly unplug and spend time in nature. Because it is so far south the sun shines for most of the day and night during the summer and is mostly absent during the winter.

When visiting during Argentina’s summer is still advisable to bring a hat, gloves, a good coat because it stays between 30 to 50 F with a wind chill. It is not a summer destination but rather a winter wonderland.

If you find yourself in Ushuaia for a few days before embarking on your Antarctica adventure – don’t just lock yourself away in the room waiting for the white continent – take advantage of all the quirks Ushuaia has to offer.

The End of the World Steam Train Through Tierra del Fuego National Park.

This is an expensive little adventure that will put you back about $51 dollars or $5,098.48 Argentina pesos. But’s it’s well worth the experience if you have the extra funds to splurge. First, you need to find a way to the train station. Avoid booking overpriced tours that include the tickets and instead hire a taxi from your hotel. Uber and Lyft or non-existent so you’ll need either a taxi number or a hotel to book you once. After waiting for 5 to 10 minutes for your taxi, you will be whisked off to the train station. There’s only one, so even saying “Quiero la estación de tren” will get you to the right spot. Once there you can buy your tickers, and you have the option of a variety of experiences. They are all a bit pricey, so why not splurge a bit? You can go for the VIP ticket which will get you a three-course meal and drinks. If you book an early train, then you can go early to the end of the line, get dropped off, explore the park some, and then get back on a later train. It’s a pro-tip we didn’t know about until after we booked. The train takes you along the route that prisoners use to use when the park was used for lumber, and it stops off at crucial viewing points and allows time for you to stretch your legs. Overall the round trip is about two hours. The only downside is that the steam train is not equipped with bathrooms so make sure to go before you ride.

Tierra del Fuego

When in Ushuaia there’s no reasonable excuse not to visit its the national park named after the region, Tierra del Fuego.  It’s beautiful complete with glaciers, nature trails, driving trails, hiking of various degrees. You can go to the par through an organized tour, which is recommended if you intend on hiking or climbing since the weather in Ushuaia can be unpredictable. However, if you are planning on just driving through the park or hosting a picnic, you can rent a car which is easy or merely negotiate with a taxi driver to drive you through. Most of them are willing to take you through the park for a set price or a fixed price per hour. While you may miss some of the natural or historical explanations, it’s a cheap way to go through the park. The park itself is stunningly beautiful, and if arriving early on a weekday, you can even visit the old post officer within the park to get cards and mail to ship off the family members. There are also tours that combine park exploration with the train trip, but they are naturally more expensive. If you have all day and are not into hiking a picnic along the lake seems like the perfect place to go. The national park is also part of the Pan American highway, and it’s also where it ends. You can take a picture of its end and have some bragging rights.

Explore the City

Ushuaia is very small with a “downtown” area that spans a maximum of 10 blocks. There’s lots of shopping and restaurants. Most of everything you could want is within walking distance. It’s quaint and beautiful, as the downtown is surrounded by mountains and also opens to the sea. If going downtown to explore there are a few places you should not miss:

• The Maritime Museum and Presidio is one of five museums in Ushuaia, and it’s by far the most engaging. It houses three museums in one, the maritime museum, the museum of the prison, and a modern art museum. Of course, it also comes with a gift shop which is connecting to information about the various penguins of Ushuaia. The entrance fee pays for entrance into all the museums. Inside the museum, you can learn the history of Ushuaia and how it became a favorite place and why it’s prison is so renowned.
• The Mall in Ushuaia. Here you can pick up any last-minute items you forgot before your cruise. You can find all the reliable brands from back at home mixed with South American shops. There’s are many small places to grab a bit, and kids have the option to take a “ride” in a car stroller that even has a horn.
• Street Art. There’s a small but notable amount of street art in Ushuaia. When you are walking around the downtown area keep your eyes peels for artwork.

Eat

There are two delicious restaurants and a gluten-free bakery I can recommend in Ushuaia. The first is a grill house specializing in Argentine meats, the second is a seafood restaurant, and the third is a small and local gluten-free bakery we discovered that about a 20-minute walk from downtown.

• La Estancia Parrilla. This grill house is conveniently located right near the port and is the perfect place to grab a bite before boarding on your ship to Antarctica. It serves delicious Argentine steak and all types of meat. It is decently priced and also has an impressive wine list. This place fills up quickly so make sure to give yourself extra time to eat.
• Kaupé. This was our favorite restaurant in Ushuaia. It has gluten-free options and has the best octopus I’ve ever tasted. Since easting it I’ve been trying to recreate that taste to no avail. The restaurant is close to downtown, has a beautiful view, and is excellent for a romantic dinner for two. Reservations are recommended as it is small and can fill up quickly without notice.
• Arte Gastronomico. Finding this little gem was a surprise. As we looked for some sweets, we were thrilled to note that just a 20-minute walk from downtown was a bakery 100% dedicated to gluten-free desserts. The woman who runs it speaks little to no English but all of the sweets of the day are set out for you to just point, buy, and enjoy. The desserts were delicious, and you could tell she puts her heart and soul into her artesian gluten-free snacks.

Where to Stay

Los Acebos Ushuaia Hotel. Our favorite place was on top of the hill. Yes it’s a bit far away from everything, and you’d need a taxi to get around, but the staff was fantastic, they have gluten-free options, and the view from the rooms are well worth it. They also have organized early morning activities every day which can keep you busy. The WIFI leaves a lot to be desired, but you don’t need it if you want to unplug.

Know Before You Go:

• WEATHER: The weather is unpredictable and cold. You will need your jacket, hat, and gloves even in summer. If you leave any of those at home, there are plenty of places to buy them, but you will spend a bit more than usual since everything in stores is imported.
• SUN: The Sunsets late and rises early. Bring a sleep mask if you are not used to being somewhere where the light is continuously shining through. Out hotel had blackout curtains so it was helpful but it still was a shock to the system to have such long days.
• COST: Ushuaia is not a cheap destination so if you want to save money, you will need to plan as Ushuaia is a popular destination not only for those heading off to Antarctica but for Chileans and Argentineans looking for an escape from the city or a place to Ski.
• AIRLINE STRIKES: Only Argentine airlines fly in and out of Ushuaia, and they are notorious for striking and stranding people. The closest town is an 8-hour drive away to Chile if you get stranded in Ushuaia because of a strike. We got stranded for three days, but it did not hurt as much as we were just planning on returning to Buenos Aires before going on to Panama. Others were caught off guard, and the strike was extremely stressful for them.