Almost everything worth doing near Ushuaia is a day out, because the town is a base and the sights are scattered along the channel, up the valleys and across the island. Choosing between day trips is the main decision of a visit. This guide compares the best of them by what you see, how long they take and who they suit, so that you can pick two or three rather than trying to do everything. Operators set their own schedules, and almost all of these outings pick you up from your hotel.
The lakes: Escondido and Fagnano
The classic road day crosses the mountains by the Garibaldi Pass and reaches Lake Escondido and the long, wild Lake Fagnano, which stretches across the border region of the island. The 4x4 version adds forest tracks and a barbecue-style lunch, and it gives you the mountain and lake scenery that the national park only hints at. It suits almost everyone, including families and travellers who prefer to be driven. If you want something with a story, the beaver tour covers similar country and ends with a lakeside dinner.
The king crab route to Puerto Almanza
Heading east along the channel, this day combines coastal scenery with a seafood lunch at the fishing village of Puerto Almanza. It is the food-focused choice, ideal for couples and for anyone who wants to eat the local crab where it is landed. It can be combined with a penguin visit on some operators, and it is a good option when you want a relaxed day rather than a hike.
Martillo Island and the penguins
The penguin walk is the wildlife day trip. Licensed operators land small groups on Martillo Island in the channel for a close look at the colony, and in season this is the most distinctive experience in the area. It runs only in the penguin months, from about October to March, and places are capped, so reserve early. Some versions travel by road to the Harberton area and cross by small boat, and others sail from town, so read the details when you book.
Glacier treks
For walkers, the mountains behind Ushuaia offer a ladder of glacier outings. The Martial Glacier is the shortest and easiest, and sits just above town. The Vinciguerra Glacier and Tempanos Lagoon is the balanced choice, with floating ice and a lunch by the water. The Ojo del Albino is the hardest and longest, with about ten hours on the trail. Laguna Esmeralda is not a glacier hike but a turquoise lake under the ice, and it is the most popular long walk. Choose by fitness and time, and always carry waterproof layers.
The Atlantic coast: Cabo San Pablo and an estancia
The longest and emptiest day takes you across the range to the steppe and the cold Atlantic shoreline, with a stop at a sheep estancia. It is a journey through landscape rather than a list of attractions, and it suits travellers who have seen the main sights and want a different side of the island. Allow a full day, dress for wind and bring snacks.
On the water
The Beagle Channel cruise is not quite a day trip, but it is the easiest outing and fits into half a day. Packrafting on the Olivia River is the active alternative on a day when the weather is calm inland. Both let you split a day between an outing and time in town.
Choosing and combining
If you have three days, take the Beagle Channel cruise, a day in the national park and one longer excursion. With five days, add a glacier trek, the penguin walk and a lakes or crab day. Pair a long, scenic day with a lighter one, since several of these take eight hours or more. Reserve penguin and hiking trips first and leave road trips flexible, because weather shifts plans. Remember that wind can cancel boats, snow and rain can change hikes, and it is best to keep a spare day.
Practical tips
Carry your passport on the day of any tour that goes near protected areas or the border, since guides occasionally ask for it. Pack lunch and water for hikes unless the tour supplies them, and bring cash for small purchases at rural stops. If you hire a car, remember that gravel roads and wind are normal, distances are long and petrol stations are few outside town, so a guided trip is often simpler and safer.
