Ushuaia Argentina

1055 Cruises availables At departure or passage at this port

Atlas Ocean Voyages (39 Cruises)

World Navigator

10000 tons
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World Traveller

10000 tons
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Aurora Expeditions (51 Cruises)

Douglas Mawson

Douglas Mawson

154 Passengers
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Sylvia Earle

Sylvia Earle

130 Passengers
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Holland America Line (45 Cruises)

HX Expeditions (107 Cruises)

MS Fridtjof Nansen.

MS Fridtjof Nansen

20889 tons
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MS Roald Amundsen.

MS Roald Amundsen

20889 tons
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Lindblad Expeditions (202 Cruises)

Greg Mortimer.

Greg mortimer

154 Passengers
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National Geographic Endurance

National Geographic Endurance

238 Passengers
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National Geographic Explorer

National Geographic Explorer

218 Passengers
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National Geographic Orion

National Geographic Orion

177 Passengers
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National Geographic Resolution

National Geographic Resolution

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Oceania Cruises (12 Cruises)

Ponant (56 Cruises)

Tauck Cruises Le Boreal

Le Boreal

404 Passengers
10700 tons
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Princess Cruises (20 Cruises)

Cruise PCL Princess Majestic ship

Majestic Princess

3560 Passengers
143700 tons
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Scenic Cruises (158 Cruises)

Scenic Eclipse

Scenic Eclipse

228 Passengers
17 tons
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Scenic Eclipse II.

Scenic Eclipse II

228 Passengers
17085 tons
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Seabourn Cruise Line (113 Cruises)

Seabourn Pursuit

Seabourn Pursuit

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Seabourn Venture

Seabourn Venture

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Silversea Cruises (14 Cruises)

Viking Ocean Cruises (178 Cruises)

Viking Octantis.

Viking Octantis

634 Passengers
30150 tons
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Viking Polaris.

Viking Polaris

634 Passengers
30150 tons
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Ushuaia, Argentina | Cruise Port Guide

Snow clings to the peaks of the Martial range even in the height of the austral summer, just above Ushuaia's colourful tin roofs. In between, a surprisingly lively city stretches along the Beagle Channel, with its chocolate shops, parrillas and outdoor gear stores. Ships call here at the tip of the American continent, where the maps themselves seem to end, and many passengers also set off from here for Antarctica.

A pier at the foot of the city

The call begins without transition: the pier juts into the bay facing the centre, and about ten minutes' walk is enough to reach the first streets. On the waterfront, the famous "Ushuaia, fin del mundo" sign draws photographers from the morning on. Right next to it, the tourist pier lines up the catamarans that head out to cruise the Beagle, while cormorants squabble over the pilings. Mountains close off the horizon on every side: you quickly understand why residents say they live "at the end of the world".

The bustle of San Martín

Two streets from the port, Avenida San Martín concentrates local life. Tierra del Fuego enjoys free-zone status, which explains the abundance of duty-free shops, but the real interest lies elsewhere: cafés serving thick hot chocolate, windows full of wool and leather, bookshops devoted to Patagonia. At restaurant tables, the star is centolla, a cold-water king crab enjoyed simply, with a squeeze of lemon. The quintessential port-of-call meal.

The penal colony turned museum

Ushuaia owes its existence to a prison. In the early 20th century, Argentina sent its convicts here, who built their own penitentiary themselves and, with it, a good part of the city. The building, in use until the middle of the century, now houses the Museo Marítimo y del Presidio: wings of cells radiate around a central rotunda, some left in their original state, others devoted to ship models, polar expeditions and Cape Horn shipwrecks. You come out with a whole new perspective on this community born of exile.

The Beagle Channel and its lighthouse

A few hours are enough for a catamaran outing on these legendary waters, and the experience is worth the trip. The boats sail past islets covered with sea lions and cormorants, as far as Les Éclaireurs Lighthouse, a red-and-white striped silhouette set on its rock, now the emblem of the region. The wind bites, the light changes constantly, and the Chilean mountains rise on the other side of the channel. Bring a windbreaker, even in sunshine.

The sub-Antarctic forest of the national park

About twelve kilometres to the west, Tierra del Fuego National Park protects a world of peat bogs, lenga trees with twisted trunks and bays where the forest comes right down to the water. Excursion buses and taxis get there in about twenty minutes; the little End of the World Train, which follows the route once used by the woodcutting prisoners, offers another way in. A short walk to Lapataia Bay, where the Pan-American Highway ends, sums up Tierra del Fuego on its own.

Port of call at a glance

SiteDistance from the pierAccess
Downtown and Avenida San MartínLess than 1 kmOn foot
Museo Marítimo y del PresidioAbout 1 kmOn foot
Beagle Channel and Les Éclaireurs LighthouseDeparture from the tourist pierCatamaran
Tierra del Fuego National ParkAbout 12 kmExcursion, bus or taxi

On the way back, from the upper deck, the city looks tiny between the dark mass of the mountains and the grey water of the channel. Perhaps that is the memory Ushuaia leaves behind: the feeling of having walked for a few hours at the very edge of the inhabited world, and a persistent urge to one day go even farther, toward the great South.

Frequently Asked Questions

At the pier reaching into the bay opposite downtown. Ten minutes on foot brings you to the first streets : the call begins with no transition.
Yes. Downtown and Avenida San Martín are less than a kilometre away, the Museo Marítimo y del Presidio about a kilometre. Only Tierra del Fuego National Park and the catamaran trips need transport.
Three options compete for the day : the catamaran trip on the Beagle Channel, the prison museum, or Tierra del Fuego National Park. The first two combine well; the third fills a half day on its own.
The former Ushuaia penitentiary, built by the convicts themselves in the early 20th century and in service until mid century. Cell wings radiate from a central rotunda, some left as they were, others given over to ship models and polar expeditions.
A red and white striped tower on its rock in the Beagle Channel, now the emblem of the region. Catamarans from the tourist pier reach it in a few hours, passing islets covered in sea lions and cormorants.
A world of peat bogs, twisted lenga trees and bays where the forest runs down to the water, about twelve kilometres west. A short walk to Lapataia Bay, where the Pan American highway ends, sums up Tierra del Fuego on its own.
A small railway following the route once used by convict woodcutters, and another way into the national park. Excursion buses and taxis also reach it in about twenty minutes.
Centolla, a king crab from these cold waters, served simply with a squeeze of lemon. It is the port call meal par excellence, found in the restaurants along Avenida San Martín.
Because Tierra del Fuego has free trade zone status. The real interest of Avenida San Martín lies elsewhere though : cafes serving thick hot chocolate, windows full of wool and leather, bookshops devoted to Patagonia.
In layers, with a windproof shell even in sunshine. Snow clings to the Martial peaks well into the austral summer and the wind bites on the Beagle Channel, where the light changes constantly.