Port of call

Ushuaia, Argentina

Cruises to South America

Description — Ushuaia, Argentina

Ushuaia is a port city in the south of Argentina, the administrative center of the Tierra del Fuego province and the eponymous department. Ushuaia is known around the world for being the world’s southernmost city-or “the end of the world,” as it is often called. The distance from Ushuaia to Antarctica is no more than 900 kilometers. The city is surrounded by beautiful scenic mountains.

The name Ushuaia literally translates as “Tierra del Fuego.” For many centuries, the Land of Fire has frightened passing sailors with its cold Antarctic winds and sharp rocks. At one time, Ushuaia was merely a primitive whaling station, but later it turned into a penal colony, where Russian anarchists had to while away their days. At the time, the Argentine government placed a prison for serious offenders on Isla de Tierra del Fuego. The convicts were forced to cut down the surrounding forests and were busy building the city. It was they who built the railway that connected the settlement with the island’s forest areas. Today, this railway is the route of a tourist train called “Train to the End of the World.”

Today, Ushuaia is one of the world’s most prestigious ski resorts and tourist centers. Tourists can enjoy exciting excursions to unique natural places, horseback rides, trips on sport bicycles, navigation lessons on sailing boats or catamarans. For everyone, there is also a journey by boat along the Beagle Channel. From Ushuaia, you can also take an unforgettable trip to the Martial Glacier and a catamaran excursion to the islands along the Beagle Strait. Here, tourists from all over the world are met with yachts and ships that will take you to Antarctica.

Location on the map

Sights

1. Lakes Escondido and Fagnano

In the lake area, you will see a spectacular mountain landscape, a provincial rural setting of southern Argentina, as well as picturesque beech forests, peat bogs, and prehistoric glaciers. The water in the lakes is the purest and absolutely crystal clear, since most of the water runoff into the lakes comes from the glaciers. The lakes are relatively far from Ushuaia, about 60 kilometers away.

2. Penguin Island (Martillo Island)

On the island there is a large colony of Magellanic penguins and a small number of Gentoo penguins, and there is also a colony of rock shags that nest on the island’s cliffs. The island’s surroundings provide an excellent habitat for penguins, as there are few predators and plenty of food, land, and vegetation.

By agreement with the Government of Argentina, no more than 80 people may be on Penguin Island per day in four groups; you must walk among the penguins step by step. Catamarans from the city with tourists go to the island daily.

3. Estancia Haberton (Estancia Haberton)

50,000 acres of coastal swampy land and forested mountain slopes were a gift at the end of the 19th century from the Argentine government to Reverend Thomas Bridge for his work with the local population and for creating the Yamanian-English dictionary. He is considered the patriarch of Tierra del Fuego. On this land, he built an estancia (ranch), which is currently the oldest estancia in southern South America, and it is now managed by his descendants, who make it possible to take guided tours of it.

4. Glacier (Glaciar Martial)
A few kilometers northwest of the city of Ushuaia, one of the region’s most important tourist attractions is located: a glacier-naturally, a true wonder of nature. The glacier lies at an altitude of 1050 meters above sea level and is the most important source of drinking water in the city of Ushuaia. In summer, this place is ideal for various activities such as hikes or walking tours, with different levels of difficulty.
From the glacier, you will also be able to enjoy fantastic panoramic views of Ushuaia and the Beagle Channel. A cable car leads to the glacier, but you can also walk along the trail.

5. Tierra del Fuego National Park (Tierra del Fuego National Park)

Tierra del Fuego National Park is one of the best natural attractions in Ushuaia. Here you can get to know the untouched nature of South America in all its beauty; you will see crystal-clear rivers, forests, mountains, and glaciers-just some of the wonders of this park. The park’s landscape is the result of glacial erosion, which created bays and beaches against the backdrop of rocky mountains and valleys. In Tierra del Fuego National Park, there are opportunities for hiking, rock climbing, fishing, and kayaking.

What to see

Le Eclaireur Lighthouse
Le Eclaireur Lighthouse is a well-known lighthouse with a conical shape. It stands on one of the five north-eastern islands of Le Eclaireur, five nautical miles east of Ushuaia, in the Beagle Channel. On 23 December 1920, the lighthouse began operating and it has been in service ever since.

Ushuaia Estancias
The Harberton Estancia is the oldest farming estate in Tierra del Fuego and an important historic landmark in the region. In 1999, it was declared a National Historic Monument of Argentina. The estancia was founded by the English missionary Thomas Bridges in 1886. Today, the estate is owned by his descendants. Despite its status as a historic monument, the farm still keeps around 1,000 head of cattle. The estancia grounds also include a family cemetery, flower gardens, a woodworking workshop, a boat dock, and a botanical garden. Visitors can also tour the Museum of Marine Birds and Mammals or watch penguins nesting near the estancia. There is regular bus service between the estancia and Ushuaia, available seasonally from October to April.

Presidio Museum
The Presidio Museum is one of the attractions in the city of Ushuaia. Previously, until 1947, there was an old prison on this site where inmates from all over Argentina were held. The main attraction of the museum is an exhibition devoted to various prisons around the world. Tourists can also walk through the corridors of the old prison, take a look into the cells and interrogation rooms, in which mannequins are placed portraying famous prisoners who once were held behind the prison walls. The atmosphere of the cells and rooms has been recreated according to that time period.

Roca Lake
Roca Lake is located in the south of Tierra del Fuego. At the same time, one part belongs to the eponymous Argentine national park, and the other to Chile. The body of water stretches for eleven kilometers in length and about one and a half kilometers in width. Its Argentine part was named after the country’s president Julio Argentino Roca, while the Chilean part is called Echau rrên in memory of Chile’s head of state - Federico Errázuriz Echaurren.

Museum of the End of the World
The “Fin del Mundo” local history museum “Museum of the End of the World” is the main attraction in the city of Ushuaia, the southernmost city on Earth located in Argentina. Up to 1947, the city’s de facto town-forming enterprise was the national prison, which is now closed; in the former prison buildings, the Prison Museum itself is located, as well as the Fin del Mundo local history museum - “Museum of the End of the World.”

Nen Glacier
Those who love to marvel at the grandeur of nature simply must visit the Chile Chico bay in Patagonia, study its local fjords, and, of course, see its main highlights - the Nen and Piloto glaciers. They are so similar and yet so different. If Piloto is a bright and kind girl, captivating with her charm, then Nena is more like a stern and gloomy old woman. The grandeur of this glacier is awe-inspiring and makes you reflect on how small and insignificant a person is compared to the power of nature.

Recommended excursions

Beagle Channel Excursion
The Beagle is a beautiful channel located partly on Tierra del Fuego and partly - in Chile and Argentina. It separates Tierra del Fuego-the large island of Tierra del Fuego-from various small islands such as Picton, Lennox, and Nueva. The eastern part of the channel lies between Argentina and Chile, while the western part is entirely located in Chile. The length of the Beagle is approximately 240 kilometers, and the width is 5 kilometers. In the western part, it splits into two branches, to the north and south of Gordon Island.

Cruises calling at this port

Costa Serena
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18.10.2026 · 65 nights Departs in 5 days Port of departure: Tokyo, Japan ALL (NO DRINKS)

Tokyo, Japan, Taipei (Keelung), Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, China, Subic Bay, Boracay, Philippines, Puerto Princesa, Philippines, Benoa (Denpasar), BA, Benoa (Denpasar), BA, Darwin (Australia), Cairns, Brisbane, Australia, Sydney, Australia, Nouméa (New Caledonia), Lifou, Suva (Fiji), Nuku Alofa, Tonga, CIDL East, West (Add. 24H), Rarotonga, Cook Islands, Papeete, Tahiti French Poly, Pitcairn Islands, Hanga Roa, San Antonio, Chile, Puerto Montt, Chile, Puerto Chacabuco, Chile, Punta Arenas, Chile, Ushuaia, Ushuaia, Puerto Madryn, Argentina, Buenos Aires, Argentina

from €15,758
I Interior €15,758
O Ocean View €19,098
B Balcony €22,898
S Suite €27,058

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Costa Serena
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Cruise from Hong Kong, China
23.10.2026 · 60 nights Departs in 10 days Port of departure: Hong Kong, China ALL (NO DRINKS)

Hong Kong, China, Subic Bay, Boracay, Philippines, Puerto Princesa, Philippines, Benoa (Denpasar), BA, Benoa (Denpasar), BA, Darwin (Australia), Cairns, Brisbane, Australia, Sydney, Australia, Nouméa (New Caledonia), Lifou, Suva (Fiji), Nuku Alofa, Tonga, CIDL East, West (Add. 24H), Rarotonga, Cook Islands, Papeete, Tahiti French Poly, Pitcairn Islands, Hanga Roa, San Antonio, Chile, Puerto Montt, Chile, Puerto Chacabuco, Chile, Punta Arenas, Chile, Ushuaia, Ushuaia, Puerto Madryn, Argentina, Buenos Aires, Argentina

from €15,298
I Interior €15,298
O Ocean View €18,298
B Balcony €21,798
S Suite €25,478

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Costa Serena
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Cruise from Sydney, Australia
12.11.2026 · 40 nights Departs in 30 days Port of departure: Sydney, Australia ALL (NO DRINKS)

Sydney, Australia, Nouméa (New Caledonia), Lifou, Suva (Fiji), Nuku Alofa, Tonga, CIDL East, West (Add. 24H), Rarotonga, Cook Islands, Papeete, Tahiti French Poly, Pitcairn Islands, Hanga Roa, San Antonio, Chile, Puerto Montt, Chile, Puerto Chacabuco, Chile, Punta Arenas, Chile, Ushuaia, Ushuaia, Puerto Madryn, Argentina, Buenos Aires, Argentina

from €10,038
I Interior €10,038
O Ocean View €11,678
B Balcony €13,918
S Suite €15,878

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Celebrity Equinox
Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity Equinox
South America and Antarctica
05.12.2026 · 14 nights Port of departure: Buenos Aires, Argentina ALL (NO DRINKS)

Buenos Aires, Argentina, Montevideo, At Sea, At Sea, Port Stanley, Falkland Is, At Sea, Cape Horn, Chile, Ushuaia, Strait of Magellan, Punta Arenas, Chile, At Sea, Puerto Madryn, Argentina, At Sea, Punta del Este, Uruguay, Buenos Aires, Argentina

from €4,141
I Interior €4,141
B Balcony €4,798
S Suite €14,882

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Costa Serena
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Costa Serena
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08.12.2026 · 14 nights Port of departure: San Antonio, Chile ALL (NO DRINKS)

San Antonio, Chile, Puerto Montt, Chile, Puerto Chacabuco, Chile, Punta Arenas, Chile, Ushuaia, Ushuaia, Puerto Madryn, Argentina, Buenos Aires, Argentina

from €3,778
I Interior €3,778
O Ocean View €4,458
B Balcony €5,018
S Suite €6,118

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Celebrity Equinox
Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity Equinox
South America and Antarctica
19.12.2026 · 14 nights Port of departure: Buenos Aires, Argentina ALL (NO DRINKS)

Buenos Aires, Argentina, Montevideo, At Sea, At Sea, Port Stanley, Falkland Is, At Sea, Cape Horn, Chile, Ushuaia, Strait of Magellan, Punta Arenas, Chile, At Sea, Puerto Madryn, Argentina, At Sea, Punta del Este, Uruguay, Buenos Aires, Argentina

from €4,586
I Interior €5,101
B Balcony €6,203
S Suite €16,759

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Celebrity Equinox
Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity Equinox
South America and Antarctica
02.01.2027 · 14 nights Port of departure: Buenos Aires, Argentina ALL (NO DRINKS)

Buenos Aires, Argentina, At Sea, At Sea, At Sea, Ushuaia, Cape Horn, Chile, Schollart Channel -Antarctica, Paradise Bay, Antarctica, Gerlache Strait, Elephant Island, Antarctica, At Sea, Port Stanley, Falkland Is, At Sea, Puerto Madryn, Argentina, At Sea, Montevideo, Buenos Aires, Argentina

from €8,006
B Balcony €8,006
S Suite €26,911

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MSC Magnifica
MSC Cruises
MSC Magnifica
World cruises
04.01.2027 · 121 nights Port of departure: Civitavecchia, Italy ALL (NO DRINKS)

Civitavecchia, Italy, Genoa, Italy, Marseille, Provence, France, Barcelona, Spain, At Sea, Gibraltar, United Kingdom, Casablanca, Morocco, At Sea, At Sea, At Sea, Mindelo, Cape Verde, At Sea, At Sea, At Sea, At Sea, Salvador de Bahia, Brazil, At Sea, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, At Sea, At Sea, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Buenos Aires, Argentina, At Sea, At Sea, Puerto Madryn, Argentina, At Sea, Port Stanley, Falkland Islands, At Sea, At Sea, Ushuaia, Ushuaia, At Sea, At Sea, Puerto Montt, Chile, At Sea, Valparaiso, Chile, Valparaiso, Chile, At Sea, At Sea, At Sea, At Sea, Hanga Roa, At Sea, At Sea, Bounty Bay Passage, Pitcairn, At Sea, At Sea, Papeete, Tahiti French Poly, Papeete, Tahiti French Poly, Moorea, French Polynesia, At Sea, Aitutaki, Cook Islands, Rarotonga, Cook Islands, At Sea, At Sea, At Sea, At Sea, At Sea, Bay of Islands, New Zealand, Auckland, New Zealand, Tauranga, New Zealand, At Sea, Christchurch, New Zealand, Dunedin, New Zealand, Cruising Milford Sound, At Sea, Hobart, Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, At Sea, Sydney, Australia, Sydney, Australia, At Sea, At Sea, Noumea, At Sea, Luganville, Vanuatu, At Sea, At Sea, At Sea, Apia, Samoa, Pago Pago, American Samoa, At Sea, At Sea, At Sea, At Sea, At Sea, Honolulu, Hawai, Honolulu, Hawai, At Sea, At Sea, At Sea, At Sea, At Sea, Los Angeles, California, At Sea, At Sea, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, At Sea, At Sea, At Sea, Puntarenas, Costa Rica, At Sea, Enter Panama Canal Balboa, Panama Canal (Cruising), Panama Canal (Cruising), At Sea, At Sea, La Romana, Dominican Republic, Tortola/Road Town, VG, Philipsburg, St. Maarten, At Sea, At Sea, At Sea, At Sea, At Sea, At Sea, Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, Spain, At Sea, At Sea, Ibiza, Spain, At Sea, Naples, Italy, Civitavecchia, Italy

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