End of the World - Guide to Ushuaia, Argentina - Uncharted Backpacker (2023)

Ushuaia, Argentina

The most remote city in the world, a place teeming with explorers, a place with a Borderland vibe. It's the gateway to Antarctica, the real last frontier, but Ushuaia has a lot more to offer than being the starting point for Antarctica. The mountains of "Tierra del Fuego" at the end of Patagonia form a catastrophic natural defense wall that descends to the black, cold sea. It is a magical performance of Mother Nature, a bit like a fairy tale. Local Argentine workers, in search of a better future, mix with Guacho cowboys, whose lineage goes back to the local indigenous people. Ushuaia's unique culture makes a stay in the world's last outpost that much more interesting.

How to get to Ushuaia - the end of the world

For many, this is the end of the road, literally the Pan-American Highway that stretches from the northern tip of Alaska and ends here. For others like me, it's the beginning, as Ushuaia is the starting point for most excursions that lead through the perilous Drake Passage to the last natural paradise on Earth, Antarctica.

For those who are at the end of their journey, it is very likely that they came overland on their own wheels. Driving a 4×4 car or motorcycle is extremely popular here! Cross South America and Patagonia to be able to say: "I went to the end of the world,Ushuaia”.

For my own good, I flew from Buenos Aries. Coming here, you pass through empty mountain valleys and discover bits of untouched wilderness before Ushuaia finally appears like a mirage at a small exit from the black mountain walls of Tierra del Fuego.

Ushuaia wg

The city of Ushuaia is an eclectic mix of historic fishing buildings and Art Deco buildings. In other words, when you first show up, you'll be saying to yourself, "Where the hell am I?" . Still, it's a strange place, but once you love it, you'll dive deeper into its unremarkable appearance.

Most travelers here stick to the two main streets, Avenue San Martin and Avenue Maipu. Here you will find most of the city's shops, restaurants and museums. Further in the cities with congested side streets you will find better (quieter) hotels.

Where to stay in Ushuaia

While in Ushuaia, I stayed at two hotels worth mentioning. One is an affordable backpacker and the other is a five-star hotel perched on top of a mountain overlooking the city. Regardless of your budget, the accommodation is excellent.

antarctic shelter- To be honest, I stayed here because of the name. "I'm going to Antarctica, right?" it was all I thought about before I came here. The rooms themselves are not bad, they are a bit overpriced as most budget accommodation in Ushuaia is expensive. On the plus side, the lobby has a great, spacious bar serving local beers. They also offer transportation to the park. The downside is that if your budget takes you to the dormitories, they are cramped, smelly and you won't get a good night's sleep.

Arakur Resort Ushuaia“Like a castle looking down on inferior hotels, Arakur sits atop Ushuaia's highest hill. Although it is a short taxi ride from the city, it offers hiking trails in the mountains, incredibly beautiful views of Ushuaia Bay and a restaurant serving many local delicacies. If you're on a budget, I highly recommend staying at this amazing location.

Where to eat in Ushuaia

The generals troop Pakhuseta - My favorite place to eat in Ushuaia, this small historic restaurant turned market serves the best burgers, beer, coffee and desserts. The atmosphere also exudes authenticity.

Thematic gallery– History of Fueguin – Not just a tacky museum! The restaurant upstairs offers numerous local specialties! Fish stew was especially memorable.

Kuape– If you are interested in local ingredients mixed with Argentinian cuisine, this is the place for you! I had the Patagonian toothpick with chimichurri on the side.

crabs- I didn't choose a specific restaurant, because when you come to Ushuaia, you will see that there are hundreds of places that serve Antarctic snow crab. I've tried a few and honestly they've all been amazing!

What to see in Ushuaia

Thematic gallery - History of the Fuegians What's better than seeing the story itself? How about the slightly offensive wax figures depicting the various local native tribes and um...colonial heroes who "discovered" these areas. It's a strange but enlightening insight into the history of Ushuaia.

Nearby points of interest are the Maritime Museum and the Ushuaia Prison- The prison at the end of the world and the biggest landmark of Ushuaia, closed in 1947, a prison that housed strange criminals. Aside from being a bit creepy, the prison also offers several side galleries for local history and exploration.

Luka Ushuaia- I spent my mornings here, the port has a long walking path that takes you to several historic ships, but more importantly, a beautiful view of Ushuaia Bay. In the evening it is absolutely beautiful.

Vandring i national park Tierra del Fuego

I'll be honest, I love hiking, but the time I spent in Ushuaia was not always the best memory. Being the southernmost city in the world has its downside, the weather here is extremely unpredictable. Most of my wanderings have ended in sailing the gods in a downpour, but I have said that the scenery I have seen is simply exceptional.

Near Hotel Arakur you can walk through groves of broken treesNational Park Tierra del Fuegooffers walks along the sea, mountains and nature that seems very untouched. Despite the weather, go for a walk, just have an escape plan, that's all I'm saying.

Katamaran do Faro Les Eslaireurs – Pira Tour

My favorite experience in Ushuaia was the catamaran cruise from Ushuaia Harbor to Martillo Island. As you enter the Beagle Channel, the majesty of the Tierra del Fuego mountains soar above you, revealing their immense size.

On the way to the island, you will stop at Isla de Pajaros, a small rock covered with what looks like millions of cormorants. Nearby is the photogenic lighthouse Faro les Eslaireurs, also known as the lighthouse of the end of the world. The cliffs jutting out of the sea here are lined with families of sea lions sunbathing and fighting. You can almost hear David Attenborough talking about male phallic positions.

Penguins on Hammer Island –Pyrrhic tower

After about two hours, you will arrive at the remote island of Isla Martillo, home to a huge colony of Magellanic penguins. However, there are also a few king and gentoo penguins from Antarctica that have been lost during migration. Now, as if the Magellans don't notice, they live among them, oh how the world could learn from this.

I decided to go togetherPyrrhic towerin Ushuaj on an expedition. As one of the oldest companies, they are one of the few that have the right to stand on the island. Almost all other companies will not let you step among the penguins.

A trip to Antarctica

If you're lucky like me and have the chance to sail from Ushuaia to the last untouched wilderness on Earth, you'll get the full Ushuaia experience. There really is something magical about this trip that travel explorers (and travel writers in my case) dream about.

Leaving Ushuaia, the mountains of Tierra del Fuego slowly disappear into the distance before the choppy waters of the Drake Passage begin, but that's another story and that's where my Ushuaia story ends.

with whom I traveledPoseidon's expeditions! They travel on a small ship that allows much better access to land in Antarctica. If you want an up close and personal trip that you will never forget, this is the company you want to travel to the end of the world with!