Once upon a time, Ushuaia was a missionary base, a penal colony, and a naval base. Until recently, it was not on the radar of many tourists. Ushuaia is the gateway to Antarctica, but the city and surrounding region itself deserve some attention as well. While it may not offer the epic views of Torres del Paine or Fitz Roy, it is still a part of beautiful Patagonia and is very much worth exploring. Arriving at least two days before your Antarctic expedition will not only give you that buffer if you encounter travel delays, but it will also give you time to do some touring!
The main attraction of the area is Tierra del Fuego National Park. We opted for a "trek & paddle" excursion during which we hiked for three hours along various bays and through coastal forest. Afterward, we joined our fearless leader in an inflatable canoe and attempted to paddle through some fierce Patagonian winds. It was a workout and an adventure - just what we needed.
If an active tour is not your cup of tea, there are more standard sightseeing tours, one including the "train to the end of the world."
Other guided tours could include a visit to Martillo Island & Estancia Harberton and a half day off-roading excursion around the lakes in the region.
More of an independent traveler? No problem! There are some great self-guided hikes in the area like Martial Glacier and Laguna Esmeralda.
Don't forget - you're in Argentina so make some time to try some local fare! The wine and meat in the region are second to none.
The city of Ushuaia itself is worth some exploration, too. Wander down Avenida Maipu, check out the ships in the harbor, and snap your photo with the Ushuaia sign!
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
2 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.