Ushuaia in winter: snow, weather and things to do

When does it snow in Ushuaia?

Mostly from June to September, but it can snow in almost any month. According to the climate normals of Argentina’s National Weather Service (SMN) for the Ushuaia Aero station, with data from 1997 to 2020:

• July is the month with the most days of snowfall: 10.6 on average. It is followed by August, with 10.2, and June, with 9.3.
• In September it still snows on 7.7 days.
• In April, May, October and November, on 4 to 6 days a month.
• From December to March, on fewer than 1.5 days a month. If you are traveling in those months, see Ushuaia in summer.

The SMN counts the days on which snow was recorded at the airport station, 57 meters above sea level. The figure does not say how much snow falls or whether it settles. To find out whether there is snow on the slopes today, Cerro Castor publishes its slope and lift status on its website. The full-year table, with temperature, precipitation and daylight hours, is in when to visit Ushuaia.

How cold is it in winter?

Less cold than many people expect. According to the SMN, the average temperature is 2.5 °C in June, 2.3 °C in July and 2.9 °C in August, and the average high stays below 6 °C: 4.5 °C, 4.6 °C and 5.7 °C.

Winter also has two advantages that the temperature does not show:

• Less wind: according to the SMN, the average wind speed is around 20 km/h from June to August, compared with 27.4 km/h in January (2011-2020 series).
• More clear skies: there are 13 to 15 overcast days a month, compared with more than 21 in December and January: there are few hours of daylight, but the days can be clear and bright.

What time does the sun rise and set in winter?

The sun rises close to 10 a.m. and sets shortly after 5 p.m. in the depths of winter. After sunset there is a period of lingering light, civil twilight, which ends around 6 p.m.

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.

What it changes for your tours

• On June 21 there are 7 h 13 min of daylight. Full-day tours of about 8 hours, such as the Ojo del Albino Glacier trek, the Vinciguerra Glacier trek or the King Crab Route, last longer than the day. If you are traveling in June or July, half-day tours are easier to fit in.
• Early departures start in low light. The classic National Park tour has a meeting time around 8:00 / 8:30, according to its program. In June, the sun rises at almost 10 a.m.
• The afternoon is short. If you want photos in daylight, plan the most important part of your day between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Snow and winter sports

This section is information about the destination: we do not sell these activities or work with their operators.

• The season: the snow season runs from June to October.
• Cerro Castor: it is on National Route 3 and is open throughout the winter for alpine skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing and ice skating. The opening and closing dates of the season may change without notice, so confirm them on its website before you travel.
• The Valleys Circuit (Circuito de los Valles): also on National Route 3, it has winter centers where you can go cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, dog sledding, ice skating and snowmobiling.
• Snowshoe walks: they take place in the winter season, when there is snow in the lenga forests and on the slopes, and they let you walk on deep snow without sinking.

What to do in winter on our tours

The four tours below are short, so they fit into a winter day. None of them sets departure months in its program: check availability for your date.

• Tierra del Fuego National Park, classic tour (about 4 hours): pick-up from your accommodation, park admission included and three stops: Ensenada Zaratiegui Bay, Lake Acigami (Roca) and Lapataia Bay, where National Route 3 ends.
• End of the World Train and National Park (about 6 hours): a ride on the train with a classic ticket, Ensenada Zaratiegui Bay, Lake Acigami (Roca) and the Lapataia Bay viewpoint, with pick-up and admission included. The train runs 365 days a year. In winter, taking the full round trip is recommended, because the National Park closes the nearby stops when the weather is bad. Ask what the train section is like for your date.
• City tour (about 2 hours): La Misión neighborhood, the old airport, the city sign, the port, Las Hayas viewpoint and the base of the Martial Glacier Reserve, with a return to your accommodation. It does not include the trek or admission to the reserve.
• Helicopter flight (about 15 minutes): the bay, the Olivia River Valley, the Carbajal Valley, Laguna Esmeralda and the Ojo del Albino Glacier, seen from the air, with transfers to the heliport included.

What about hiking in winter?

Our programs do not say in which months the treks run or how they change with snow. What they do say helps you decide:

• Vinciguerra Glacier: it includes technical gear depending on the season (trekking poles, snowshoes or crampons) and requires waterproof boots that cover the ankle, trekking pants, a waterproof jacket and pants, and warm layers.
• Ojo del Albino Glacier: it includes poles, a helmet and crampons. Walking on the ice depends on safety conditions.
• Laguna Esmeralda: it requires waterproof footwear that covers the ankle, waterproof trekking pants and a waterproof jacket. If the guide considers that you are not properly equipped, you cannot do the outing and there is no refund.

All three take half a day or more, so in winter daylight also matters. Check availability and conditions for your date. How they compare is in hiking in Ushuaia.

What to pack

Warm, waterproof clothing and comfortable shoes with non-slip soles for walking on forest ground. That is what our classic National Park tour recommends for any time of year. For the treks, the mandatory items are the ones listed in each program.

Is it worth going to Ushuaia in winter?

• Yes, if you are coming for the snow: it is the season for skiing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and dog sledding, and July is the month with the most snowfall.
• Yes, if you prefer calm days: there is less wind and more clear skies than in summer.
• Yes, for the National Park and the train: they are 4- to 6-hour outings that fit within the daylight.
• No, if you want to see penguins: they are on Martillo Island from October to April. See penguins in Ushuaia.
• No, if your plan is long treks: with just over 7 hours of daylight, summer is the better choice.

To compare with the other seasons, see when to visit Ushuaia. More about the park and the train in Tierra del Fuego National Park and End of the World Train.