Navigating Ushuaia: A Comprehensive Travel Guide for English Speakers in South America

Despite the language barrier, I traveled independently for 80 days in South America, visiting Ushuaia, the end of the world, twice. From not understanding the language to mastering the essentials of food, clothing, shelter, and transportation, I have compiled a detailed guide on eating, drinking, playing, and staying in Ushuaia (due to limited space, it will be split into two parts), all of which are practical tips.

Ushuaia faces the mountains and the sea, with colorful cruise ships docked in the harbor. The houses on the streets look like chocolates, and the small, colorful wooden houses create a picturesque scene, as if you’ve stepped into a fairy tale.

1️⃣ Currency Exchange: The official exchange rate in Argentina is 1:350, while the black market rate is 1:850 (this changes daily). When traveling in Argentina, paying in pesos for meals, shopping, and entertainment saves money. Bring plenty of US dollars; larger denominations (100 USD) get better rates, while smaller denominations get less.

There are black market currency exchanges near the supermarket on San Martin Street in Ushuaia. You can ask around, and you can also find Chinese owners at Chinese restaurants or travel agencies in Argentina who will exchange currency for a fee.

2️⃣ SIM Card: On the main street, San Martin, look for a store with the “Claro” (a subsidiary of América Móvil) sign to buy a local SIM card. For 25GB of data, it costs 80 RMB, allowing you to enjoy internet freedom in Argentina.

3️⃣ Transportation: There are many taxis at the airport. It’s advisable to exchange some pesos at the airport (at a rate of 1:690) for the taxi ride. Using UBER within the city is convenient, but remember to pay in cash pesos, as online payments use the official exchange rate.

4️⃣ Accommodation: The main street, San Martin, is about 800 meters long. Staying within the two streets above San Martin is ideal. Each street is about 100 meters apart, and the city is built on a hill, becoming steeper as you go up. Staying too far away can make shopping and walking up and down the slopes tiring. (See the last image, where the red line marks the main street, and the dotted black line indicates suitable accommodation areas, with options for all budgets.)

5️⃣ Food: Any restaurant on the main street, San Martin, serves delicious food.
King Crab: I recommend El Viejo Marino or the Chinese restaurant BAMBOO. Both serve fresh king crabs from large aquariums. A small crab costs 300 RMB, and a large one costs 400 RMB.
Seafood Paella: TABERNA DEL VIEJO LOBO is recommended. The restaurant is on the second floor, and choosing a window seat in the evening offers a stunning view of the sea when night falls. The average cost per person is 100 RMB.

衣物：像洋葱一样层层叠加你的衣物。乌斯怀亚的气温全年在1到10摄氏度之间波动，昼夜温差显著。早晨可能是阳光明媚，下午转为多云，到了晚上则可能下雨或下雪。我在九月和十一月访问过乌斯怀亚，每次都是穿着一件羽绒服，并根据天气变化灵活调整着装。

由于篇幅有限，接下来的部分将介绍活动内容。敬请期待！[击拳][气球]