Everyone should visit Ushuaia
Ushuaia is in the extreme South of Earth. The city is in the southern place of the American continent. The Argentine city is known as the end of the world city, just 1,000 kilometers from Antarctica.
Many people visit the city only as a gateway to the south pole of Earth by cruise or flight. But I must say that ignoring the beauties of Ushuaia is a mistake.
Why Ushuaia?
The city is an impressive destination for any traveler. Go to Ushuaia was not my first option. I was planning a trip to Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, with my husband, and we decided to extend the travel to a city where we could experience an extreme winter.
Our first choice was Bariloche, but the small chance of snow due to the month we were traveling to made us look for another destination. My husband always dreamed of visiting Ushuaia, and he decided to search for prices and flights. And it was like a lamp lighting up our minds!
Ushuaia is a remarkable city for its localization, with outstanding landscapes and various attractions such as skiing. And, of course, a lot of snow (we went in winter and did not regret it)!
How to get there
Getting there is not difficult. From Buenos Aires, you have different flights going to Ushuaia.
The major Argentine airplane company, Aerolineas Argentinas, offers various flights to Ushuaia, but low-cost companies, such as Flybond and JetSmart, have options too. Many people travel to Ushuaia by car, some crossing the entire continent.
We took a 3-hour flight from the capital and landed in Ushuaia on a sunny afternoon.
When to visit Ushuaia
We visited Ushuaia in winter, but the city offers activities, tours, and attractions in every season of the year. We decided on winter because we planned to enjoy the snow and to learn to ski and snowboard.
How much did we spend?
The round-trip flight to Ushuaia from Buenos Aires costs R$800 (I will put prices in Brazilian Reais) per person.
The Airbnb accommodation for five days and two people costs about R$1.600. We stayed on Avenida 12 de Octubre, close to the airport, a 15-minute walk from the city center, and close to the supermarket and the Western Union agency, where we exchanged money.
The food is a little more expensive than in Buenos Aires, but you can eat very well, and buy good stuff at the supermarket without spending too much. Remind that the Argentine currency is devalued, especially for those with dollars or euros (This is for the dollar blue! Don’t even think about using the regular exchange rate).
Top three places to visit and do in Ushuaia in winter
Cerro Castor
Cerro Castor is the southernmost ski resort in the world. Due to geolocation and the position of the mountains, the ski center is known for its high-quality snow.
Cerro Castor is appropriate for people looking for a place to ski, whether for sport or fun, and for tourists who want to try skiing for the first time or enjoy a day in the snow.
The resort has more than 30 ski slopes and the biggest ski seasons in the world — from June to October — and it’s the ski center with the largest number of international teams training throughout the season.
But even if you are not an athlete or a professional skier and snowboarder, Cerro Castor is a great place to spend a day, play in the snow, and even learn to ski. You will take less than an hour to reach the Cerro by car.
My husband and I hired a transfer from the same place where we rented our ski clothes. I have to say that the tour to Cerro Castor is not exactly cheap, especially for people like me who don’t have the appropriate equipment. But it was worth every cent we spent!
The ski center has different restaurants and cafes, places to take photos, admire the view, and play with the snow. We spent the whole day trying to ski and had so much fun!
Glaciar Martial
Glaciar Martial is a loved place for those who love trekking. In all seasons, the site is a beautiful activity in Ushuaia, with a breathtaking view of the whole city from the top. The Glaciar itself is very charming.
In winter, you can go skiing or snowboarding (you can even take ski lessons there!). But you don’t have to be an athlete or enjoy extreme sports to visit the place.
We went to the Glaciar twice to enjoy the view and the beauty, to walk in the snow, and to enjoy the delicious café there, La Cabaña Casa de Té. It’s a lovely small house with some delicious coffee and sweets.
Beagle Channel
Sailing through the Beagle Channel may seem like one of those boring tourist programs that only serve to squeeze money out of visitors.
But a simple search for more information about the place will show you that the tour can be a discovery of breathtaking landscapes and an opportunity to get closer to nature.
We took the tour, which lasted around three hours, in the morning, and it couldn’t have been a better choice. As well as having the rest of the day to enjoy the rest of the city, the morning tour allowed us to see the city at dawn, which was a unique experience.
Not that the tour leaves Ushuaia port too early. There, the sun rises after 9 a.m. We were lucky to do the navigation on a beautiful sunny day, which made all the difference, as the landscapes were even more beautiful in the morning light.
The tour passes iconic points in the area, especially Les Eclaireurs lighthouse, which has been operating for over 100 years, helping navigators explore since the beginning of the last century.
During the navigation, you will also come into contact with sea lions. If you go in summer, you might even see penguins! We were also lucky and saw a whale during the tour.
Visit Ushuaia
The truth is that nothing I write in this article will transmit the amazing experience of visiting Ushuaia.
It was much more than I expected (and I had very high expectations!).
I shared more about my days traveling on my Instagram and my TikTok. If you liked my tips and want to know more, please click the following links: https://www.instagram.com/felipelimacascon/ and https://www.tiktok.com/@felipecascon!
