Argentina Tours: What to Do and See in Ushuaia

Before the introduction of European settlers, the area around Ushuaia was inhabited by the Yamana people. English sailors founded a little community in the 1830s and missionaries appeared later in the century. In the 1880s, the casino in Buenos Aires founded a colony here, with the double intent behind trying to change a few of Argentina's most violent criminals and to harden states to Tierra del Fuego. The prisoners became de facto settlers, making much of the town from timber they prepared from local woods as part of their labor regime.Today, Ushuaia serves as a launching point for travelers seeking outdoor adventures at the "end of the world," be it walking in the Tierra del Fuego National Park, skiing the slopes of Cerro Castor, or boarding voyages to Antarctica.A city tour will provide travelers with a glance into the intriguing history of this Argentine outpost with stops in the historic heart, the dock, and the former jail, which now houses a few museums.The main fascination near Ushuaia is the Tierra del Fuego National Park, which travelers could access as part of per day tour if short promptly, but also as part of multi-day hikes through the hilly scenery. The park can be reached by automobile or via the Tren del Fin del Mundo.The Beagle Channel, named after Darwin's vessel, is also a major pull, and people can board ship cruises to go around a few of the islands. A full day tour of the channel moves by the city's famous Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse, a old estancias, the shipwrecked Monte Sarmiento, and some noteworthy countries, including Gable Island where condors home and Martillo Island which houses a colony of penguins. Halting at an is also common.On land, travelers could visit a trip to Fagnano and Escondido Lake, 37 miles (60 kilometers) from Ushuaia. The tour passes through a number of the region's most rugged valleys and stops are involved for snow-shoeing, Nordic skiing, or dog sledding. Travelers should have the possibility to do some off-roading near the ponds before returning back to town.Cerro Castor is the ski resort 12 miles (19 kilometers) from the city center. It's six ski lifts and 26 paths for downhill and cross-country skiing. Alpine skiing, snowboarding, and sledding may also be among the option. The snow season here runs from June to October.Ushuaia is just a common arrival and departure point for cruises across the Beagle Channel to and from Punta Arenas in Chile. These are typically 5 days and 4 night in duration.