Day Hikes in Tierra del Fuego

Day 1: Arrive in Ushuaia; National Park 4x4 Trip

You'll arrive in Ushuaia in the morning and will be met by your guide who will welcome you to Tierra del Fuego and take you to your hotel. Please note: hotel check-in times will vary. This afternoon, depart in your 4x4 vehicle on an excursion to the nearby national park, only 20 minutes from Ushuaia. The advantage of visiting in a small vehicle is that you can take your time with your guide, ensuring you have the best possible introduction to this incredible landscape.

By the time you arrive, most visitors to the national park are leaving, as they tend to visit in the morning, so you'll have a more intimate experience of the park. Your guide will explain about the unique ecosystem which encompasses both mountainous and coastal environments and you'll make several stops to explore the park on short guided walks. Expect to hike for approximately two hours over gently undulating terrain. There will be excellent opportunities for photos and learning about the local fauna. The bird life in this area is also fantastic. This is where Charles Darwin was first inspired for his theory of natural selection and it will prove a great introduction to the island of Tierra del Fuego. 

Return to your hotel in the early evening, taking the opportunity to enjoy one of Ushuaia’s many great restaurants and their seafood specialities - you'll be spoilt for choice.

Accommodation: Cilene del Fuego (or equivalent) or Cauquenes Resort

Day 2: Beagle Channel Boat Trip; Mt Susana or Martial Glacier hike

In the morning, you'll take a boat trip on the Beagle Channel with a small group of fellow passengers. You'll depart from Ushuaia to Alicia Island, where you'll observe a colony of sea lions. Next, you'll head towards the Island of the Birds, where colonies of royal and imperial cormorants live - you'll be able to see their chicks from spring to autumn. You'll then head east to another small island where, depending on the time of year, you'll see more sea lions. Very close by is the Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse, a symbol of the city of Ushuaia, built in 1919. From there you can see an island that's home to rock cormorants.

On the return journey, you'll disembark at Bridges Island to follow an interpretative path amongst flora and birds, telling the history of the Yámanas aborigines. The largest anthropogenic Yámana shells in the region are found on this island. This is the largest island in the area and from the highest panoramic point you can observe the magnificence of the Beagle Channel with the city of Ushuaia in the distance. During the trip, you'll have tea, chocolate, coffee with liquor and cookies.

In the afternoon, you can take a half-day hike with your guide to Monte Susana. The trailhead is only a short distance from Ushuaia and from where it's a continual ascent of around 3km, via two viewpoints to reach the final viewpoint at the top. From here there are fantastic 360-degree views of Ushuaia, the surrounding mountains and forests, and the Beagle Channel. You'll retrace your route to return to the trailhead.

Alternatively, you could hike to the Martial Glacier. Located just behind the city, this hike provides some of the most stunning views down over the town, airport and the Beagle Channel. Whilst there is no longer a glacier located in the valley up which you'll hike, the path will lead you through native forests and up to a col, from where you can take in immense views of Tierra del Fuego. The hike is adaptable in length, given the weather and how far you wish to explore. 

Whichever hike you choose the summer sunsets are not to be missed! You'll return to your hotel for the evening. 

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Cilene del Fuego (or equivalent)  or Cauquenes Resort

Day 3: Vinciguerra Glacier Hike

Today you'll undertake a hike packed with a range of terrains - open landscape, forest, moraine, rock slabs and a glacier.

The trailhead is about 30mins from Ushuaia from where the first section is fairly flat. You'll then climb to the tree line to some breathtaking alpine scenery on a path that can be muddy and slippery in places, so you'll need proper hiking boots and perhaps some walking poles.

Once out of the tree line, you'll climb the moraine for another 30-40 minutes to reach the Tempanos Lagoon and the beautiful Vinciguerra Glacier, located at almost 800m/2,300ft above sea level. The immense views down the valley and isolation of being at this glacier, with not many other hikers around, make this one of the best day hikes, albeit strenuous, to be taken from Ushuaia. You can spend some time walking on the glacier and there is a chance to see some ice caves and you'll likely eat your packed lunch whilst enjoying the glacier mountain views, before returning via the same route.

Length of hike: 7 hours, 12km/8 miles
Elevation gain: +700m/2,000ft
Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch
Accommodation: Cilene del Fuego (or equivalent)  or Cauquenes Resort

Day 4: Esmeralda Lagoon Hike; Depart from Ushuaia

This morning you'll leave the city by National Route 3 to reach the trailhead for a morning hike through a beautiful mountain valley. It'll take about two hours to reach Esmeralda Lagoon, crossing subantarctic forests, peat valleys and beaver dams. Once you reach the lagoon, you'll have time to soak up the stunning surroundings, take photos of the turquoise waters and enjoy a picnic lunch and hot drink.

You'll then return to Ushuaia and in the afternoon take a transfer to the airport, or to your cruise ship.

As this trek takes only around four hours, plus any time you take exploring around the lagoon, it's ideal for your final day.

Length of hike: 4 hours, 8km/5 miles
Elevation gain: +300m/900ft
Meals: Breakfast