Start Here
Ushuaia sits at the bottom of the world. Literally. It is the southernmost city on the planet, wedged between the Beagle Channel and the last peaks of the Andes before everything turns to ice and open ocean.
That alone makes it worth visiting. But the reason I send families here is not the title. It is the penguins, the glacial lakes, the national park, the boat rides through the channel past sea lions and a lighthouse that looks like it belongs in a storybook, and the strange thrill of standing at the end of a continent.
Ushuaia is also the departure point for Antarctica, which means the town has solid infrastructure for travelers: good hotels, reliable tour operators, and restaurants that punch above what you would expect in a city of 80,000 people at 54 degrees south latitude. In summer, the sun barely sets. In winter, you can ski with views of the channel below. It is a destination that works in both seasons, just for completely different reasons.
✈ Ushuaia · Trip at a Glance
• • •
🌎 Region: Tierra del Fuego, southernmost Argentina
📝 Language: Spanish
💰 Currency: Argentine Peso (ARS). US dollars accepted at some hotels and tour operators
☀ Best Months: December through March (summer, penguins, long days) & June through September (skiing)
⭐ Family Rating: ★★★★★
Getting Around
Most families fly into Ushuaia from Buenos Aires. The flight is about three and a half hours. Aerolíneas Argentinas runs it daily, and Flybondi and JetSMART have added routes as well. There are no overland shortcuts. The bus takes over 40 hours and crosses into Chile twice, which is an adventure but not a practical family option.
Once you are in Ushuaia, downtown is walkable. The main street, San Martín, has the restaurants, chocolate shops, and outdoor gear stores. Most tour operators pick you up at your hotel, so you do not need a car for the main activities. Taxis are affordable for getting around town.
For Tierra del Fuego National Park, the tour usually includes hotel pickup and the End of the World Train. For skiing at Cerro Castor, a shuttle or transfer runs about $29 USD per adult round trip.
Flights from Buenos Aires
About 3.5 hours. Aerolíneas Argentinas, Flybondi and JetSMART all fly the route. Direct flights only.
Tour Transfers — Nearly every tour includes hotel pickup and drop off. The national park, Beagle Channel tours, and penguin excursions all pick up from your hotel lobby.
Where to Stay
Stay downtown near San Martín street for walking access to restaurants and shops, or slightly uphill for better views of the channel and the mountains. Ushuaia is small enough that nothing is far.
Cilene del Faro Suites & Spa
The splurge option. Overlooking the Beagle Channel with big windows in every room. Spa, restaurant, and a location that puts the waterfront at your feet. Great for families who want comfort after a day outside.
Villa Brescia Hotel
A solid midrange pick on a quiet street. Clean, warm rooms with views of the channel. Walking distance to everything downtown. The staff is helpful with tour bookings and restaurant recommendations.
Los Acebos Ushuaia Hotel
A comfortable option with mountain views and a good breakfast buffet. Slightly uphill from the center, which means better panoramas but a short walk into town. Good value for families.
Arakur Resort & Spa
Up on the hillside above the city with panoramic views of the Beagle Channel. Indoor pool, spa, and a shuttle to downtown. A resort feel at the end of the world, and kids love the heated pool after a cold day out.
What to See
Beagle Channel Boat Tour
This is the signature Ushuaia excursion and it delivers. Catamarans head out from the port into the Beagle Channel, passing Isla de los Lobos (sea lion colony), Isla de los Pájaros (cormorants), and Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse, which sits on a cluster of rocky islets and looks straight out of a movie. Tours run 2.5 to 4 hours depending on the route. Budget around $106 USD per adult. Most kids are mesmerized by the sea lions.
Penguin Colony at Isla Martillo
From October through March, Isla Martillo hosts a breeding colony of Magellanic penguins. Some tours include a walk on the island itself where you get within a few meters of the penguins. This is one of those experiences that stays with kids for years. The boat ride out takes about an hour each way, and you spend about an hour on the island. Longer Beagle Channel tours often include a Martillo stop.
Tierra del Fuego National Park
The national park sits about 12 km west of town and covers lakes, forests, rivers, and coastline along the Beagle Channel. Most families do a full day tour that includes the End of the World Train, a narrow gauge railway that runs through the park on tracks originally built for a prison labor camp. The train ride is about 40 minutes. After that, you hike short trails through lenga forests to Lapataia Bay, where Ruta 3 ends at a sign that reads “Fin del Mundo.” Budget around $180 USD per adult for the full day including the train.
Laguna Esmeralda
A moderate hike about 20 km from the city center. The trail is about 9 km round trip through peat bogs and beech forests to a glacial lagoon with striking turquoise water. The color comes from glacial sediment and it photographs incredibly well. Allow 3 to 4 hours. The trail can be muddy, so waterproof boots are important. Kids eight and up handle it well.
What to Eat
Ushuaia eats better than a city this small and this remote has any right to. The king crab alone is worth the trip south, and the lamb from Tierra del Fuego is some of the finest in Argentina. Add the chocolate shops and you have a food scene that surprises people.
Centolla (King Crab)
This is what you came for. Centolla from the Beagle Channel is sweet, delicate, and served everywhere in town. Grilled, in a casserole, or cold with lemon. Budget around 15,000 to 25,000 ARS for a centolla dish at a sit down restaurant. It is expensive because it is that good.
Cordero Fueguino (Lamb)
Tierra del Fuego lamb, slow roasted over an open flame on a cross (al asador). The meat is tender and slightly gamey in a way that works. Some restaurants and estancias serve it as the main event for lunch. Around 10,000 to 18,000 ARS per person.
Chocolate Shops
Ushuaia has an unexpected chocolate culture, likely influenced by the Bariloche tradition up north. Laguna Negra and Rapa Nui both have shops on San Martín street. Hot chocolate on a cold afternoon in the southernmost city on earth is a moment your kids will remember.
Empanadas Fueguinas
The local version features lamb, centolla, or a mix of both. Smaller portions and rich flavors. Grab them from bakeries along San Martín street as a quick lunch between activities. About 1,000 to 1,500 ARS each.
Nicole’s Perspective
Ushuaia is the kind of place where kids understand they are somewhere different the moment they step off the plane. The mountains are close, the air is cold and clean, and everything about it feels like the edge of something.
I put it on Argentina itineraries whenever a family has four or five days to spare after Buenos Aires. The Beagle Channel boat tour and the penguin colony are two of the strongest family activities in South America. Not because they are flashy, but because they are real. You are on the water, you are watching sea lions and penguins, and the lighthouse on those rocks is the kind of thing a nine year old draws when they get home.
The national park day with the End of the World Train is worth doing even though the train is touristy. Walking to the Fin del Mundo sign at Lapataia Bay gives the whole trip a sense of geography that kids hold on to. They remember standing at the bottom of the continent.
Three to five days is right. Penguin day, Beagle Channel day, national park day, and if the weather cooperates, the Laguna Esmeralda hike. Do not try to rush it. The weather changes fast and you want buffer days.
Day Trips
Tierra del Fuego National Park
A full day with the End of the World Train, forest trails, and Lapataia Bay at the end of Ruta 3. The sign at the end of the road is the photo op, but the forests and the channel views between stops are the real payoff.
4×4 Lakes Tour
Off road vehicles through the Fuegian Andes to Lago Escondido and Lago Fagnano. Rough roads, river crossings, and panoramic lake views. Around $165 USD per adult. Great for families with older kids who want some adventure with their scenery.
Estancia Harberton
The oldest estancia in Tierra del Fuego, founded in 1886 by an English missionary. A guided tour covers the history, the gardens, and the marine mammal museum. Some tours combine Harberton with a penguin colony visit at Isla Martillo.
Cerro Castor (Winter)
Argentina’s southernmost ski resort, about 26 km from the city. The season runs June through September. Reliable snow, fewer crowds than Bariloche, and the novelty of skiing with views of the Beagle Channel below. Transfers from town run about $29 USD per adult.
Practical Tips
Layers and Windproof Gear
The weather in Ushuaia changes fast. Sun, wind, rain, and sometimes snow in the same afternoon. Dress in layers and bring a windproof shell for everyone. Waterproof boots are essential for hikes like Laguna Esmeralda. Even in summer, expect temperatures around 10 to 14°C (50 to 57°F).
Cash and Currency
Same as the rest of Argentina. Bring US dollars and exchange locally. Cards work at hotels and restaurants in the center. Tour operators often accept USD directly. ATMs exist but charge high fees and have low withdrawal limits.
Daylight Hours
In December and January, Ushuaia gets over 17 hours of daylight. The sun sets around 10 PM and rises before 5 AM. In winter, you get about 7 hours. Plan activities around the light, especially for hiking.
Book Tours Early
Penguin colony tours and Beagle Channel trips fill up in the summer months. Book at least two weeks ahead for December through February. The weather may force cancellations, so having buffer days in your schedule is important.
How Many Days
Three days covers the Beagle Channel, the penguin colony, and the national park. Five days adds the 4×4 Lakes tour, Laguna Esmeralda, and a weather buffer. If you are pairing Ushuaia with Buenos Aires and El Calafate, four days here is the sweet spot.
Common Questions
When is penguin season in Ushuaia?
Is Ushuaia cold in summer?
Can I do Ushuaia and El Calafate on the same trip?
What age works for Ushuaia?
Is Ushuaia the gateway to Antarctica?
Planning a Trip to Argentina?
Argentina is a country I love helping families plan. From the tango halls of Buenos Aires to the vineyards of Mendoza to the penguins at the bottom of the world, I can help you put it all together.
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