Ultimate 2-Day 1-Night Travel Guide to Ushuaia, Argentina: Day 1 Itinerary
Ushuaia’s optional activities are a delightful mix of adventure and natural beauty, including Beagle Channel boat tours where you can marvel at lighthouses and penguin colonies, exploring the Tierra del Fuego National Park with its iconic post office and historic forest train, embarking on scenic hikes such as the trail to Emerald Lagoon or coastal routes starting from the park’s post office, and savoring the local delicacy—king crab—at popular eateries like Bamboo Chinese restaurant or El Viejo Marino (Old Captain).
Below, I share my itinerary, peppered with insights into the choices made, all while keeping in mind the current exchange rate of 1200.
Day One:
1. My journey began with an early morning flight from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia, touching down at 11:30 AM. I opted for an Uber to Albatros Hotel, where we were provided with a connecting room. Unfortunately, the noise from the adjacent room was unbearable, and the lack of soundproofing only added to our discomfort.
The front desk staff, though not particularly welcoming, couldn’t redeem the experience. The hotel’s sole redeeming feature is its prime location, right next to the port, making it convenient for boat tours. I would recommend looking into other nearby 4-star hotels for a more pleasant stay.
2. Since check-in wasn’t available yet, we stored our luggage and headed to El Viejo Marino for a sumptuous king crab meal.
In late February, a small king crab cost 140,000 pesos (160,000 for a large one), which was a better deal than at Chinese restaurants. We chose to dine at noon to avoid the evening rush, ensuring a seamless flow to our day.
3. By 2 PM, we had finished our meal and strolled along the picturesque coast to the port.
At the Tolkeyen office, we exchanged our pre-booked boat tickets (68,000 pesos) and boarded the Rumbo Sur boat at 3 PM, setting sail at 3:30 PM. We selected the 3-hour tour, primarily to see the lighthouse. The 6-hour tour, which includes penguin sightings, doesn’t allow landing on the island and is less cost-effective.
For those interested in a closer look, specific penguin island tours are available, priced around two to three hundred dollars.
4. Returning to the port before 6:30 PM, we discovered The Sandwich God, a hidden gem. Their sausage burger, priced at 6,800 pesos for a super large one, was a fantastic value.
We stumbled upon this place during our midday stroll when there was a long queue, but by evening, it was much quieter. Note that it’s closed on Sundays, so plan accordingly.
5. After our satisfying meal, we set out to rent a car. The local rental service isn’t very foreigner-friendly, so I won’t delve into the details.
We chose to rent a car because our next day’s plans included visiting Emerald Lagoon and Tierra del Fuego, which are in opposite directions. While Uber could have been a viable option for commuting, navigating within Tierra del Fuego without a signal makes it challenging to call a taxi. Additionally, Uber is not allowed in the park, and for larger groups, hiring a taxi might be a better alternative.
Given our plans to visit two locations, renting a car for the entire day turned out to be more cost-effective than hiring a taxi. Public shuttle buses wouldn’t have allowed us to see both places within the limited time we had. So, we decided to drive ourselves, and the full-day insurance came to 90,000 pesos. Despite the fatigue from hiking, driving gave us the flexibility and freedom we desired, making it a worthwhile choice.
We wrapped up the car rental around 7:30 PM. By late February, the sun sets around 9 PM. We ventured to the Long Beach that had been raved about on Xiaohongshu, but our experience was rather underwhelming. The gravel road made the ride in our sedan quite bumpy, and the beach itself was nothing special (P9). I wouldn’t recommend it; instead, it might be more enjoyable to find a cozy bar in the city center, enjoy a cold beer, and get some well-deserved rest at the hotel.
