Ushuaia in summer: weather, daylight and things to do

What the weather is like in summer

Cool, windy and changeable. According to the climate normals of Argentina’s National Weather Service (SMN) for Ushuaia Aero, with data from 1997 to 2020, the average temperature is 8.6 °C in December, 9.5 °C in January and 9.4 °C in February. The average high ranges from 12.5 °C to 13.6 °C, and days of 20 °C or more are very rare.

• Wind: January has the highest average wind speed of the year, 27.4 km/h, and December is close behind, with 26.0 km/h (SMN, 2011-2020 series).
• Clouds: December and January have more than 21 overcast days a month, and almost no completely clear days.
• Rain: it rains often, but not much. There are 7 to 9 days a month with at least 1 mm, and the wettest summer month, January, totals 45.1 mm.

The full year, month by month, is in when to visit Ushuaia.

Does it snow in summer?

Rarely, but it can happen: snow is recorded in the city on 1.4 days in December on average; in January, 0.2, and in February, 0.3. In other words, it occasionally snows from November to March. When it really snows is covered in Ushuaia in winter.

What time does it get dark in Ushuaia in summer?

Late: around the turn of the year, the sun sets after 10 p.m. and the twilight glow lasts until after 11 p.m. The longest day, December 21, has 17 h 20 min between sunrise and sunset. The latest sunset does not fall on that day, but in early January.

Source: Argentina’s Naval Hydrographic Service, sunrise and sunset in Ushuaia, 2026, in official Argentine time. From one year to the next, the times change by barely a minute.

In practice, a full-day tour does not leave you without light: even if you come back from an outing of about 8 hours, such as the Ojo del Albino Glacier trek, in December the sun sets after 9:45 p.m. For sleeping, an eye mask helps: the sun rises around 5 a.m.

What to wear in Ushuaia in summer

The weather is almost unpredictable, even within a single day. For summer, it is best to bring:

• a warm jacket;
• a waterproof jacket;
• a sweater or a fleece;
• sneakers or hiking shoes.

With average highs below 14 °C and the strongest wind of the year, a waterproof jacket will serve you better than summer clothes.

What is mandatory on our treks

• Laguna Esmeralda: waterproof footwear that covers the ankle, waterproof trekking pants and a waterproof jacket. If the guide considers that you are not properly equipped, for safety reasons you cannot do the outing and there is no refund.
• Ojo del Albino Glacier: waterproof high-top footwear and waterproof clothing, which are not included. The technical gear is included: poles, a helmet and crampons.

What to do in Ushuaia in summer

See penguins on Martillo Island

Between October and April the Magellanic penguin and, in smaller numbers, the Gentoo penguin arrive on Martillo Island. Our walk on the island takes about 6.5 hours: you go by bus to Estancia Harberton, sail to the island and walk alongside the colony. It does not include hotel pick-up, the port fee or admission to Harberton. Species and options are in penguins in Ushuaia.

Sail the Beagle Channel to Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse

By catamaran from the port of Ushuaia, it passes Bird Island, with cormorants, albatrosses, skuas and gulls, and Sea Lion Island, with South American sea lions and fur seals. It makes a landing on the Bridges Islands, at a Yámana archaeological site, and reaches Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse, often called the lighthouse at the end of the world. The port fee is included; the transfer to the port is not. How it compares with the other trips is in which boat trip to choose.

Hike to Laguna Esmeralda

It is 9 km round trip through virgin forest and peat bogs, in about 4 to 5 hours and with medium difficulty, for people aged 12 to 60. The tour includes pick-up from downtown hotels at around 8:00 and a box lunch. The trail has 220 m of elevation gain and leads to a glacial meltwater lagoon. More about the place in Laguna Esmeralda.

Climb to the Ojo del Albino Glacier

It is the demanding summer outing: about 8 hours, with a 5 km climb over rocky terrain after skirting Laguna Esmeralda. At the top you walk on the ice if safety conditions allow. It includes transfer from your accommodation, a mountain guide, a box lunch, technical gear and personal insurance. How to choose between the treks is in hiking in Ushuaia.

More ideas around the destination

Summer is also the season for sport fishing, horseback riding, diving, mountain biking, zip-lining and kayaking, and for visiting Tierra del Fuego National Park, the End of the World Train, lakes Escondido and Fagnano, and the Martial Glacier. From that list, we run the 2-hour horseback ride, the National Park tours, one of them with the End of the World Train, and, in summer, an e-bike ride up to the Garibaldi Pass viewpoint, overlooking both lakes. Our city tour goes up to the base of the Martial Glacier Reserve, without the trek; how to hike up to the glacier is in Martial Glacier.

How to make the most of the long days

• A trek in the morning and the afternoon free: the Laguna Esmeralda hike leaves around 8:00 and takes about 4 to 5 hours. After that you still have half an afternoon of daylight.
• A boat trip and another activity on the same day: boat trip times depend on the boat company, but from mid-November to mid-February the sun sets after 9 p.m., so there is room to add something else.
• Book season-dependent tours early: the penguin walk, for example. Our programs do not set departure months, so check availability for your date.

A plan that spreads the National Park, the Beagle Channel, a hike and Puerto Almanza over several days is in what to do in Ushuaia in 3 or 4 days. If you are torn between summer and another season, see when to visit Ushuaia; if you are interested in snow, Ushuaia in winter.