Ushuaia in one day or a few hours

What to do with the time you have

If you have a few hours

Helicopter flight (about 15 minutes in the air)

It is the shortest option. After the safety briefing with the pilots, the helicopter takes off over the bay, with the city and the port below, and continues over the Olivia River Valley, Mount Olivia, Cinco Hermanos and the peat bogs of the Carbajal Valley, on to Laguna Esmeralda and the Ojo del Albino Glacier. It includes round-trip transfers to the heliport; meals are not included.

City tour (about 2 hours)

You tour the city by vehicle and, with a local guide, you visit La Misión neighborhood, home to archaeological remains of the native peoples and the first missionaries, the old airport, the sign with the city’s letters, the port and the surroundings of the Maritime and Prison Museum.

The route then goes up to Las Hayas viewpoint and the base of the Martial Glacier Reserve, with photo stops at the most iconic landmarks and signs. It ends with the drop-off at your accommodation. Museum admission and the glacier trek are not included.

Horseback riding (2 hours in the saddle)

On a family property founded in 1956: the ride goes through the forests, mountains and landscapes of Tierra del Fuego. The guide picks a horse for each rider based on their experience and, at the end, there is a country meal: afternoon tea, an asado or a snack, depending on the time of day. The round-trip transfer is included.

What can you do in half a day?

The classic tour of Tierra del Fuego National Park (about 4 hours), with Ensenada Zaratiegui Bay, Lake Acigami (Roca) and Lapataia Bay, pick-up from your accommodation and admission included. It meets around 8:00 / 8:30, so your afternoon stays free: ask us whether the city tour, the helicopter flight or the horseback ride has a departure that same day. Two other outings that fill the morning: the tour with the End of the World Train (about 6 hours, also from 8:00 / 8:30), with the classic train ticket and admission to Tierra del Fuego National Park included, and the Laguna Esmeralda hike (about 4 to 5 hours, with pick-up at around 8:00), 9 km and moderate, for people aged 12 to 60.

With a full day

The King Crab Route tour takes you to Puerto Almanza, on the Beagle Channel, in about 8 hours, with a country breakfast at Laguna Victoria, lunch and a walk to the Duende Waterfall. Other long outings: the penguin walk on Martillo Island (about 6.5 hours, with a bus to Estancia Harberton), the National Park hike and canoe tour (about 8 hours, with lunch) and the Ojo del Albino and Vinciguerra glacier treks (about 8 hours), compared in hiking in Ushuaia.

How to combine two outings on the same day

What is known in advance: the classic National Park tour and the train tour meet around 8:00 / 8:30, and the Laguna Esmeralda hike around 8:00. The times for the city tour and the helicopter flight are confirmed when you book, and the horseback ride’s time is not in its program, so the combination depends on the day: check availability for both. The tours of about 8 hours and the penguin walk leave no room for another.

What the short outings do not include

• Helicopter: meals and personal expenses.
• City tour: admission to the Former Prison Museum and the End of the World Museum, food and drinks at the Tea House or the Beer Point, and the trek in the Martial Glacier Reserve.
• Horseback riding: any service not listed in the program.

All three come with a guide in Spanish, English or Portuguese. A Chinese-speaking guide is available on request.

The day you arrive or leave

If you only have a few hours left, the shortest options are the helicopter flight (about 15 minutes in the air, with transfers to the heliport) or the city tour (about 2 hours, ending at your accommodation). Check the departure time before booking, since it is confirmed when you book. If you would rather do something with no set time, you can stroll along the waterfront, a walking path that passes the Bahía Encerrada urban nature reserve and the city’s welcome sign.

If you have more days

With 3 or 4 days you can add a Beagle Channel trip, a hike and Puerto Almanza without repeating places: there is a day-by-day plan in Ushuaia in 3 or 4 days. More ideas, including what you can do in the city on your own, in things to do in Ushuaia.