Ushuaia Travel Guide: Essential Tips for First-Time Visitors

[Stamping]
Collect the certificate at the visitor center, where you can find four unique stamps. On that particular day, I had a stroke of luck when I met someone who appeared to be either a staff member or a well-prepared tourist. They carried a bundle of booklets and two additional stamps, which they kindly used to help me get two extra stamps (Pic 4).

The southernmost post office was still closed in early November, so I decided to skip the trip to Tierra del Fuego.

[Blue Bus]
The official website lists the ticket price at 20 USD, but if you pay in pesos on-site, you get a 10% discount, bringing the cost down to 18,000 (Pic 3). Seats are assigned based on your ticket number; if you want to secure a front-row seat on the second floor, it’s best to buy your tickets well in advance. I purchased mine just half an hour before departure and managed to get the second row, which still offered a fantastic view.

The bus provides a Chinese commentary, but you’ll need to bring your own wired headphones to listen. Along the way, the guide shared fascinating stories about historic old houses and new communities built by the government for the local indigenous people, making the journey both scenic and educational.

There are two stops during the tour. Pics 1-2 show a charming little hill with a panoramic view of the distant mountains, perfect for capturing some stunning photos.

At the end of the trip, you receive a free hot chocolate voucher for Smechén. Pic 5

[Lighthouse Boat Tour]
I chose this company based on a friend’s recommendation that Tolkeyen’s boat was the best. The official price is 75,000, but if you pay in cash on-site, you get a 20% discount, reducing the cost to 60,000. On the day of my tour, perhaps due to low bookings, we ended up taking a boat from Rumbo, which turned out to be equally impressive.

They also provided a free hot chocolate voucher for Laguna Negra. After trying three different places, I found this one to be the most delightful; the chocolate is rich and not overly sweet. Pic 6

[Taxi]
After collecting your luggage at the airport, you’ll see a “taxi” booth on the right, staffed by uniformed personnel. The driver quoted a fare of around 6,000 to my destination, depending on the meter. This was comparable to the Uber price I had checked earlier.

The meter was used throughout the journey, and the final fare was exactly 6,000 when I arrived at the hotel, which was very fair.

For the return trip, I booked a taxi the day before at the stand next to the visitor information center. The staff estimated the fare at around 5,500, and the actual meter reading was 5,730, but the driver charged 5,700. The slight difference in price was likely due to smooth traffic and no red lights early in the morning.

[Uber]
Just a reminder, Uber isn’t always the cheapest option. Before leaving, I checked the price from the airport to the hotel, which was less than 5,900, but after picking up my luggage, the price had surged to over 8,000! It’s possible that the arrival of flights caused a temporary spike in demand.

[Currency Exchange]
In Pic 12, head to the left window, number 1, where you’ll find a long-haired guy who always sports headphones and appears expressionless but is surprisingly friendly! Interestingly, the exchange rate offered by the person on the right was 1,060, while the card rate was 1,071. The friendly guy on the left, however, provided a much better rate of 1,100.

It’s a bit puzzling why the same store offers different rates at different windows, but if the rate is worse than the card rate, it’s best to skip the exchange.

If the store happens to be closed, you can also exchange currency at the nearby hotel.

[Refrigerator Magnets]
Apart from the highly recommended handmade market, Feria de Artesanos, the best value refrigerator magnets are sold from a van parked next to the iconic white Ushuaia letter sign. These magnets are priced at 2,000 and 3,000 pesos, making them a real steal compared to other physical stores, where the same type and style can cost up to 3,000 pesos more. This spot is a must-visit for souvenir hunters! Pics 9-10

I picked up my favorite magnet here, and it’s a close second to the hand-painted one I got from Barlas. I absolutely love it! Pic 11