End of the World Train and National Park
The world’s southernmost railway and the National Park, entry included.
- 6 hours
End of the World Train: route, history and how to get there
The End of the World Train is the Southern Fuegian Railway (Ferrocarril Austral Fueguino), which recreates the last stretch of the old prisoners’ train. It leaves from a station 8 km from Ushuaia, makes a 20-minute stop at Cascada La Macarena station and ends inside Tierra del Fuego National Park. On our tour, the train ride takes about 1 hour.
What the End of the World Train is
It is the Southern Fuegian Railway (Ferrocarril Austral Fueguino, FCAF), a train dedicated to tourism in Tierra del Fuego National Park and the southernmost railway in the world. Passenger services run with three steam locomotives, on a 500 mm gauge, 100 mm narrower than the original. It recreates the last kilometers of Ushuaia’s historic prisoners’ train and has an audio guide in 10 languages.
History: the prisoners’ train
The cornerstone of Ushuaia’s new National Prison was laid in 1902, and in that context a railway was built to link the town with the nearby forests, used mainly to carry firewood and materials. It was built as a xylocarril, with wooden rails, to carry mostly rocks, sand and firewood. That “prisoners’ train” was part of daily life in Ushuaia for decades, until the prison closed for good in 1947; after that, the service became unviable and was shut down in 1952.
A new chapter began in 1994: the line was rebuilt and went back into service on October 11 of that year, this time as a tourist and heritage train. The key driving force behind that private initiative was Enrique “Quique” Díaz.
The route
- Estación del Fin del Mundo (End of the World Station): the main station, on National Route 3 at km 3065, about 8 km from downtown Ushuaia.
- Estación Cascada La Macarena: an intermediate 20-minute stop to get off the train, take photos next to the locomotive and visit the waterfall where the prisoners’ train locomotive used to take on water. The setting adds views of Monte Susana, Cerro Guanaco and Río Pipo.
- Tierra del Fuego National Park: after Estación La Macarena, the train enters the park, and the route ends inside it.
The locomotives
The train uses three steam locomotives. No. 2, “Ing. L. D. Porta”, is a Beyer-Garratt designed and built entirely in Argentina, renamed in honor of the railway engineer Livio Dante Porta. No. 3, “Camila”, was built in 1994-95 by Winson Engineering in Daventry (England). And No. 6, “Ing. H. R. Zubieta”, very similar to No. 2, was built by Girdlestone Rail in Port Shepstone (South Africa) and entered service in October 2006.
How long does the ride take?
On our tour, the train ride takes about 1 hour, including the 20-minute stop at Cascada La Macarena station. The combined tour, which adds the route through the park after the train, takes about 6 hours in total.
Prices, schedules and tickets
Prices, schedules and ticket classes are on the official End of the World Train website: check them there, since they are kept up to date. Two things worth knowing beforehand: the train ticket does not include admission to Tierra del Fuego National Park, which is mandatory, and the train runs 365 days a year.
How to get there: on your own or on a tour
You can reach the station by private or rental car, taxi or remís (a private car service), regular public transport or on tours to the National Park. If you go on your own, you need park admission as well as the train ticket.
On our End of the World Train and National Park tour (about 6 hours), we pick you up from your accommodation in Ushuaia at around 8:00 / 8:30, and the first stop is the station. You ride with a classic ticket for about 1 hour through the park’s forests and valleys, with the stop at Cascada La Macarena station, and the tour then follows the classic route: Ensenada Zaratiegui Bay, with its post office, Lake Acigami (Roca) and Lapataia Bay, with its viewpoint. It includes private transport, a guide in Spanish, English or Portuguese (a Chinese-speaking guide is available on request) and park admission. It does not include the premium ticket or lunch.
What you see in the park after the train
- Ensenada Zaratiegui Bay: with views of the Beagle Channel and its post office.
- Lake Acigami (Roca): it used to be called Lake Roca, and the border with Chile crosses it from north to south.
- Lapataia Bay: the end point of National Route 3, which starts in the city of Buenos Aires. The tour includes its viewpoint.
Train or classic park tour?
| Detail | With the train | Classic |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | About 6 h | About 4 h |
| End of the World Train | Classic ticket (not premium) | No |
| Ensenada Zaratiegui Bay | Yes, with its post office | Yes, with a hike depending on the day |
| Lake Acigami (Roca) | Yes | Yes |
| Lapataia Bay | Yes, with its viewpoint | Yes, with a walk among Yámana shell middens |
| Park admission | Included | Included |
| Lunch | No | No |
| Pick-up and meeting time | From your accommodation, about 8:00 / 8:30 | From your accommodation, about 8:00 / 8:30 |
Is the train worth it?
It depends on what you are after: the combined tour adds about two hours and the ride on the historic train. Both visit Ensenada Zaratiegui Bay, Lake Acigami (Roca) and Lapataia Bay, include park admission and do not include lunch. If what you want is to hike, neither: the hike and canoe tour covers 7 km on the Coastal Trail and ends paddling to Lapataia Bay, in about 8 hours and with lunch, but without the train and without park admission included.
The park, with or without the train
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Tierra del Fuego National Park: Classic Tour
Forest, lake and sea in half a day, with park admission included.
- 4 hours
More about the park
What else there is in the park, including the Coastal Trail, the flora and the fauna, is in Tierra del Fuego National Park, and the three park tours, including the hike and canoe tour, are compared in which National Park tour to choose. To add the train to a trip of several days, see Ushuaia in 3 or 4 days.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the End of the World Train ride?
On our tour, the train ride takes about 1 hour, with a 20-minute stop at Cascada La Macarena station. The combined tour, with the train and the route through the park, takes about 6 hours in total.
Where do you board the End of the World Train?
At Estación del Fin del Mundo (End of the World Station), on National Route 3 at km 3065, about 8 km from downtown Ushuaia. On our tour it is the first stop after pick-up.
Why is it called the prisoners’ train?
Because it recreates the railway that, in the days of the prison, linked Ushuaia with the nearby forests and was used mainly to carry firewood and materials. The prison closed in 1947.
Does the End of the World Train go into the National Park?
Yes. After Estación La Macarena it enters Tierra del Fuego National Park, and the route ends inside it.
Is park admission included in the train ticket?
No. The train ticket does not include admission to the National Park, which is mandatory. Our combined tour includes both.
Where can I see train prices and schedules?
On the official End of the World Train website (trendelfindelmundo.com.ar), where they are kept up to date.
What does the End of the World Train tour include?
Pick-up from your accommodation, private transport, the classic train ticket, park admission, the visit to Ensenada Zaratiegui Bay, Lake Acigami (Roca) and Lapataia Bay, and a guide in Spanish, English or Portuguese (a Chinese-speaking guide is available on request). It does not include the premium ticket or lunch.
Does the train run all year?
Yes, it runs 365 days a year. Ask about our tour’s departure dates.
