What to do

Nature and Wildlife: Tierra del Fuego

An interesting a remote area of the world that very few ever get a chance to see.

Tierra del Fuego - Lighthouse
Tierra del Fuego - Lighthouse

Right at the southernmost tip of South America, the last stop before the chilly climbs of Antarctica, there is an almost other worldly feel to the Tierra del Fuego and the area surrounding Ushuaia. It is an idyllic region of Argentina, with fjords and ancient woodlands to wander through and explore. Superb for walkers but also those keen on marine life that is often spotted swimming through the narrow Beagle channel.

Only minutes out of the town do you notice the “old man’s beard” growing on the ancient Lengas, a type of lichen that only grows if there is no pollution in the air. With stories of the Yamanas, an ancient, nomadic tribe, that used to canoe these waters, in your ears and this isolated wilderness in front of you, it is easy to image how it must have been to paddle quietly in a dug out canoe.

This whole area is a real treat and somewhere that really is not found too often around the world. For those that really want to get out there and experience all the many small islands and inlets, often teeming with wildlife of all types, then there are 3 and 4 days cruises that can get you to places where only a few people have ever set foot. For the rest of us, the region to the east and west of Ushuaia offers utter tranquility!

Often Ushuaia is used as a stopping place for those that are heading further south, to the chillier climes of Antarctica….but it does have some interesting wildlife of its own such as the penguin colonies at Martillo Island and the stunning beauty of the Parque Nacional Tierra del Fuego.

When to go to the Tierra del Fuego:

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    Tierra del Fuego

    At a glance…The Tierra del Fuego

  • Size: 48,000 sq km
  • Location: Southern Argentina
  • Recommended time: 2 to 4 nights
  • Time to visit: September to April
  • Go here for: Nature and skiing
  • Further reading...

  • › The Tierra del Fuego
  • › Skiing