Five days are enough to see the essentials of Ushuaia : Tierra del Fuego National Park, the Beagle Channel, the Andean lakes, Emerald Lagoon, and a penguin colony. To plan your trip, it's best to decide on the time of year first, as this will determine which excursions are available. In summer, there's trekking, kayaking, and sailing, while in winter, there's snow sports, dog sledding, and snowmobiling.
This guide explains how to plan a 5-day trip to Ushuaia : when to travel, how to get there, how much it costs, what to do each day, and where to eat. Each day includes three suggestions. Some can be combined into a single day, while others are alternatives depending on the season or how much time you have.
If you already know when you're traveling, you can see all the excursions in Ushuaia and choose according to your dates. If you prefer to book the entire trip in advance, there are Ushuaia packages that combine services into a single booking. Check what's included in each package, as schedules and conditions vary by season.
Best time to travel to Ushuaia
The best time to visit Ushuaia depends on what you want to do. Summer, from December to March, is the most popular season: the days are long and you can walk, sail, and paddle. Winter, from June to September, is the time for snow and activities like dog sledding and snowmobiling.
The climate is cold and windy year-round. The average annual temperature is around 5°C, with highs reaching about 13°C in January and February. Dressing in layers and including a waterproof jacket is advisable in any season, as the weather can change several times a day.
What to do in Ushuaia in December and in summer
December marks the start of the high season, along with January and February. The days are very long, with up to 17 hours of daylight, allowing for long excursions and walks into the late afternoon. It's the best time for trekking, kayaking, and sailing on the Beagle Channel.
Booking in advance is key during these months, for flights, accommodations, and excursions. If you're looking for packages to Ushuaia in February , it's best to book months in advance.
Things to do in Ushuaia in winter
In winter, there is frequent snowfall and average minimum temperatures around -1°C in June and July, although they can drop lower. This is the season for skiing at Cerro Castor and for snow activities in the Tierra Mayor Valley: snowmobiling, snowshoeing, and dog sledding.
It's also the peak season for winter holiday packages to Ushuaia , which are in high demand. Excursions through the park and around the lakes continue to operate, although the landscapes are covered in snow and the trails are more challenging.
Autumn and spring: intermediate seasons
In May, October, November, and March, there are fewer visitors and prices are usually lower. March is good for walking and cultural visits. May showcases the autumn colors in the forest.
How to get to Ushuaia and how much does the trip cost
You can reach Ushuaia by plane. The direct flight from Buenos Aires takes between 3 hours and 15 minutes and 3 hours and 45 minutes. It is operated by Aerolíneas Argentinas, JetSMART, and Flybondi. Malvinas Argentinas Airport is about 4 km from the city center, so the transfer by taxi or private car service is short.
The total cost depends on the season, accommodation, and excursions you choose. Flights are usually the biggest expense, followed by excursions.
How much does a trip to Ushuaia cost?
A search for flights from Buenos Aires shows fares starting at around $230,000 per person, which vary depending on the date. The prices for the excursions in this guide, per person and based on 2026-2027 fares, are as follows:
| Excursion | Price from |
|---|---|
| End of the World Train, tourist class | $120,000 |
| Martial Glacier Trekking | $173,333 |
| Husky experience | $188,417 |
| National Park with trekking and canoeing | $208,250 |
| Kayaking experience | $141,667 |
| Emerald Lagoon with lunch | $246,667 |
| Helicopter flyover | $278,163 |
| Horseback riding through Lago Escondido | $266,667 |
| Trekking and UTV 4x4 excursion | $359,797 |
| Crossing the Fuegian Andes | $596,550 |
Entrance to Tierra del Fuego National Park costs $40,000 for general visitors, effective June 1, 2026, and admission to the Maritime Museum and Prison is approximately $19,000. Park entrance fees are not included in tours that visit the park. Snow excursions, the Antarctic experience, and penguin tours are priced upon request.
Tour packages to Ushuaia or independent travel
A package to Ushuaia includes airfare, accommodation, and excursions, and takes care of transfers. Planning your own trip offers more freedom to choose your excursions and hotel. For a five-day trip, the second option allows you to organize your itinerary by season, as suggested below.
Before booking, compare how many excursions each package includes and whether airport transfers are included.
Traveling alone to Ushuaia
Ushuaia is a convenient destination for solo travelers : the city is small, excursions depart from centrally located hotels, and most are group tours. Some activities, such as trekking and canoeing in the National Park, require a minimum of two people to depart, so it's advisable to confirm availability when booking.
5-day itinerary in Ushuaia, day by day
The itinerary organizes the excursions according to their route and difficulty: an initial day of orientation, a day in the national park, a day on the route to the lakes, a day in the valley and snow, and a final day with penguins. Each day includes three options . Choose the ones you like depending on the weather and your pace.
A practical tip: don't stay in more than one place. Almost all excursions depart from hotels in downtown Ushuaia, so it's best to stay in the city for all five days.
Day 1: Ushuaia city tour, Martial Glacier and helicopter flight
The first day is for getting your bearings. The city is best explored on foot: the Maritime and Prison Museum is open daily from 10:00 to 20:00 and offers guided tours, and San Martín Avenue is home to many shops and restaurants. Afterwards, you can add these three excursions, which you can choose based on your arrival time.
The Martial Glacier trek covers 8 km along the ski slopes of the winter resort, leading to a viewpoint at the base of the glacier and a panoramic viewpoint overlooking the Andes, the city, and the sea. It does not reach the summit of the glacier. The morning trek departs at 10:00 AM, includes lunch, and returns at 2:30 PM. The afternoon trek departs at 4:30 PM, includes dinner, and finishes at 7:30 PM. It is of medium difficulty, and a medical form must be completed upon booking.
The helicopter tour of Ushuaia lasts 7 minutes and departs from the heliport at Luis Pedro Fique 119, at the old airport. It offers views of the Beagle Channel, Mount Susana, the Fuegian Andes, Martial Glacier, the Five Brothers peaks, and Mount Olivia, ending over the city, the port, the old prison, and the Government House. Schedules are arranged according to weather conditions, and passengers weighing more than 125 kg are not permitted.
The kayaking experience in Ushuaia departs from the AFASyN Club, crosses Ushuaia Bay to Caleta Aspirante, and returns in double kayaks. No prior experience is required, and the trip lasts between 1.5 and 2 hours. Transportation to the club is not included, and the best time to go is from December to March.
Day 2: Tierra del Fuego National Park, End of the World Train and Emerald Lagoon
Tierra del Fuego National Park is located west of the city, along National Route 3, and ends at Lapataia Bay, where the road terminates. There are three ways to spend the day, and you choose according to the level of exertion you want to exert.
The trekking and canoeing excursion to the National Park is the most comprehensive. It departs from hotels at 9:00 AM and returns around 5:00 PM. The tour enters through Ensenada Zaratiegui and covers approximately 7 km along the Coastal Trail, next to the Beagle Channel, passing remnants of Yámana settlements. Lunch is served at Lake Roca, followed by an hour and a half of paddling in inflatable canoes down the Lapataia River to Lapataia Bay. This tour operates from October to April, and park entrance fees are not included.
The End of the World Train departs from the End of the World Station, about 7 km from Ushuaia. It travels through the Pipo River valley, stopping at Puente Quemado (Burnt Bridge), La Macarena waterfall (where the locomotive "La Coqueta" used to fill up with water), and the Cemetery of Trees, before arriving at the National Park Station. It departs at 9:30 AM and 3:00 PM and the journey lasts approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes. There is a tourist class and a premium class, with meal service, and the park entrance fee is paid separately.
The hike to Laguna Esmeralda with lunch in a mountain dome is a good alternative if you prefer a longer hike outside the park. It departs at 9:00 AM, the 5 km trek begins at 10:00 AM in the Tierra Mayor Valley, and arrives at the lagoon around 1:00 PM, where you'll enjoy a mountain stew lunch in a dome. Return to your hotel is around 4:30 PM. The hike is easy, and in winter the lagoon may be frozen.
Day 3: Route towards the lakes, Crossing the Fuegian Andes, horseback riding and husky
National Route 3 eastward crosses the Andes through the Garibaldi Pass , just over an hour from Ushuaia, and leads to Lakes Escondido and Fagnano. This is the area for the longest excursions, with three options to choose from.
The Fuegian Andes Crossing is the most comprehensive trek. It departs at 8:30 AM and begins at Garibaldi Pass. There's a viewpoint overlooking Lakes Escondido and Fagnano, and the route continues past the Gemelas, Raquel, and Los Perros lagoons, where a boxed lunch is served. It involves a 300-meter elevation gain and reaches an altitude of over 600 meters. It finishes around 4:00 PM and returns to Ushuaia around 5:30 PM.
The horseback riding excursion to Lago Escondido crosses the Garibaldi Pass and begins at the refuge of the Laguna Escondida rural establishment. The ride lasts one hour through native forest to the lake shore, after which you can choose between an afternoon snack or a barbecue. Morning and afternoon departures are available, lasting 4 to 5 hours. No prior experience is necessary.
The husky experience in Ushuaia takes place in the Tierra Mayor Valley, about 30 minutes from the city, at Husky Park. In summer, a 2 km hike with the dogs passes through lenga forests and peat bogs, ending with the "Husky Hug." In winter, a 6 km sled ride takes you to the Hachero refuge. It lasts about 5 hours and includes park admission.
Day 4: Tierra Mayor Valley, UTV, snow and Antarctic experience
The Tierra Mayor Valley and the Llanos del Castor are about 25 to 30 km from Ushuaia, on the same route as Day 3. There, the excursions change completely depending on the season, so the fourth day has one summer option and two winter options.
In summer, from November to April, the 4x4 UTV trekking and off-roading tour combines a gentle hike through lenga forest and peat bogs with an hour of guided driving in an all-terrain vehicle. It passes by viewpoints and areas inhabited by beavers. The tour departs at 8:30 a.m., includes lunch at the Montañés restaurant, and returns around 2:00 p.m.
In winter, from July to September, the snow day with hiking, snowmobiling, and sledding includes a snowshoe hike on a frozen bog, a snowmobile tour, a dog sledding excursion, and a regional lunch. It lasts about 6 hours. Each snowmobile carries two people, who take turns driving, and the drivers must be over 18 years old.
The Antarctic Experience in Ushuaia is a simulation in the Tierra Mayor Valley, offered from June to September. It is not a trip to Antarctica. It includes an exhibit about explorers like Shackleton and Amundsen in a dome, a 6 km snowmobile ride, a 4 km tracked vehicle tour, and a visit to a replica scientific base. It lasts approximately 5 hours and includes admission to the Husky Park. It's the best option if you're traveling with children in winter.
Day 5: Hammer Island, penguins and Emerald Lagoon at night
The last day combines wildlife viewing with a night hike. Both excursions to Martillo Island lead to the same penguin colony, but via different routes, so you'll need to choose one. It's best to schedule them for either day 1 or day 5, depending on your return flight time, as they take up the entire afternoon.
The penguin walk on Martillo Island departs from the Ushuaia tourist pier. A minibus travels for about two hours along National Route 3 to Harberton Ranch, and from there a semi-rigid boat crosses to the island in 15 minutes. The guided walk along trails lasts 60 minutes. It operates from October to March, and the ranch is closed on Tuesdays. Entrance to Harberton is not included, and the price is quoted upon request.
The penguin watching tour on Isla Martillo is done entirely by boat from the tourist pier. It sails northeast along the Beagle Channel, offering views of Bird Island, Sea Lion Island, and the Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse, and includes a 40-minute stop at the gentoo penguin colony. Boarding is at 2:00 PM and the tour returns around 9:00 PM.
To conclude the nighttime trip, the Emerald Lagoon Night Hike departs at 4:00 PM and covers 10 km with a 160-meter elevation gain. It arrives at the refuge around 7:30 PM, where dinner is served by a wood-burning stove, and returns to the hotels around 10:30 PM. Flashlights are used, and crampons are required in winter. If you're taking one of the penguin excursions, choose the night hike for another day, as the schedules overlap.
Summary of the 5-day itinerary and what changes depending on the season
The itinerary follows the same logic regardless of the season: a first day near the city, a day in the national park, a long day trip to the lakes, a day in the Tierra Mayor valley, and a final day focused on wildlife. What changes is the activity for each day.
| Day | Area | Excursions | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | City and Bay | Martial Glacier, helicopter tour, kayaking | Year-round; kayaking, December to March |
| 2 | National Park and Greater Land | National Park with trekking and canoeing, End of the World Train, Emerald Lagoon | Park, from October to April; train, all year round |
| 3 | Route 3 to the lakes | Crossing the Fuegian Andes, horseback riding, husky | All year |
| 4 | Valley of Tierra Mayor | UTV, snow day, Antarctic experience | UTVs, from November to April; the other two, in winter |
| 5 | Beagle Channel and night | Penguin walk, penguin watching, Emerald Lagoon at night | Penguins, from October to March |
5-day summer itinerary
In summer, from December to March, take advantage of the daylight hours to add kayaking on day 1, the canoe park on day 2, and the UTV tour on day 4. The penguin walk is in season, and Emerald Lagoon can be seen without snow.
5-day winter itinerary
In winter, from June to September, replace kayaking with a museum visit, leave the park for the train, and dedicate day 4 to the snow or the Antarctic experience. Snow activities take place during the same morning hours, so they cannot be combined with other outings on the same day.
Where to stay in Ushuaia: 5 hotels according to your plan
For a 5-day trip, it's best to stay in or near downtown Ushuaia. Almost all the excursions in this guide depart from centrally located hotels, and from there you can easily walk to the restaurants on Avenida San Martín and the tourist pier, where the boats depart. The exception is the resort on the coast, which is outside the city center and offers more on-site amenities.
These are five hotels in Ushuaia , listed by type of stay. Choose according to what you're looking for: a simple base for day trips, a spa hotel to relax after your hikes, or a resort overlooking the Beagle Channel. Prices and availability vary depending on the date, so it's best to check them when booking.
Alto Andino Lodge: centrally located hotel with panoramic terrace
The Alto Andino Lodge is centrally located, two blocks from San Martín Avenue and about 800 meters from the tourist pier. It has 32 rooms: standard rooms, double and triple apartments with kitchens, and a suite with a jacuzzi. Several rooms offer views of the Beagle Channel and the Andes Mountains.
The breakfast buffet is served in the Mirador bar, and the hotel has a terrace with 360-degree views and ski luggage storage. It's a good base if you're planning walking excursions from the city center, such as the penguin walk or the whale watching from the pier.
Las Orquídeas Hotel Boutique: spa and heated pool
Las Orquídeas Hotel Boutique is a four-star hotel just steps from the city center, with views of the city, the Beagle Channel, and the Andes Mountains. Each room features unique décor inspired by the surrounding landscape, a safe, and room service.
What sets it apart is the spa with treatments, the heated indoor pool, and the gym. It also has a restaurant, bar, and breakfast buffet. It's ideal for those returning tired from long hikes, such as crossing the Fuegian Andes or visiting Laguna Esmeralda, and who want to relax at the hotel.
Gente del Sur Don Bosco: a simple and central option
Gente del Sur Don Bosco is a three-star hotel in a central location, close to restaurants and public transport. Rooms feature Wi-Fi, television, heating, and views of the mountains or the canal. The reception is open 24 hours a day, and daily housekeeping is provided.
It doesn't have a restaurant or spa, so it's the ideal option for those spending the day out on excursions and just looking for a comfortable place to sleep. Breakfast isn't included, so it's best to check before booking.
Los Cauquenes Resort & Spa: resort on the Beagle Channel
Los Cauquenes Resort & Spa is a five-star hotel on the coast, with 54 rooms and views of the Beagle Channel and the Andes Mountains. It is located outside the city center, near Mount Susana and the End of the World Train.
It features a free spa with indoor and outdoor jacuzzis, a sauna, and heated indoor and outdoor pools. It also offers a gym, buffet breakfast, a restaurant, and airport transfers. It's the best option for a relaxing stay, although it's advisable to confirm the transfer schedule to the city center.
Los Acebos Ushuaia Hotel: restaurant and views of the Canal
Los Acebos Ushuaia Hotel is located in the heart of Ushuaia, near the city center and overlooking the Beagle Channel and the mountains. Rooms feature Wi-Fi, television, a safe, a minibar, and heating.
It features a restaurant serving local ingredients, a bar, a breakfast buffet, parking, a business center, and meeting rooms. It's ideal for those who want to dine at the hotel after a long excursion, or for business trips combined with sightseeing.
Places to eat in Ushuaia
Ushuaia has many places to eat fish, seafood, and lamb. King crab and Fuegian lamb are typical dishes. It's advisable to make reservations at the more popular restaurants, especially during peak season.
For dinner, restaurants are concentrated in the city center, along San Martín Avenue and the surrounding streets, and in the upper part of town. Prices change frequently, so it's best to check them when making a reservation.
Where to eat king crab and seafood
La Casa de los Mariscos is located at Av. San Martín 232, in the city center, and is highly recommended for trying king crab prepared in ways like Provençal or in octopus and king crab casserole. Kaupé, in the upper part of the city, is another popular restaurant and requires advance reservations. For fresh fish, you can travel to Puerto Almanza, about 70 to 75 km east of Ushuaia, where the Onas restaurant is located.
Where to try Fuegian lamb
Spit-roasted Fuegian lamb is the most traditional dish in the area. La Estancia, a centrally located grill, serves it roasted and in mixed grills for two. Volver, with its canal view, is another option for dinner.
Places to eat in Ushuaia after an excursion
Long excursions, such as the crossing of the Fuegian Andes and the Emerald Lagoon at night, return to the city in the afternoon. It's advisable to reserve a table for those days and choose a restaurant close to the hotel.
Tourist attractions in Ushuaia to complete your trip
In addition to excursions, the city offers several cultural attractions perfect for leisure time or a rainy day. These are the most highly recommended places to visit in Ushuaia.
Maritime and Prison Museum: the former prison, with guided tours at set times. Open daily, and admission is valid for several areas of the complex.
Museum of the End of the World: information is available in Spanish and English.
Casa Beban: open Monday to Friday and has free admission.
The Yámana museum has been closed since 2016. Please confirm its status before visiting.
Tips for a 5-day trip to Ushuaia
Choose three or four challenging hikes and leave the rest flexible. Weather conditions can change a hike.
Book in advance during the summer and winter holidays. Snow and penguin excursions are priced upon request, so it's best to reserve your spot early.
Dress in layers. A waterproof jacket, hat, gloves, and waterproof footwear are necessary in all seasons.
Confirm your flight schedule before booking your last day. Afternoon excursions can take up to 7 hours.
Bring your ID. It's required for several services, such as the helicopter tour.
What to do in Ushuaia in 5 days?
Combine Tierra del Fuego National Park, the Beagle Channel, a trek like the Martial Glacier or Emerald Lagoon, a lake excursion and a visit to the penguin colony on Martillo Island.
What is the best time to travel to Ushuaia?
Summer, from December to March, is the most popular time to visit due to the long days. Winter, from June to September, offers snow activities. May, October, November, and March see fewer visitors.
How long is the flight from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia?
Between 3 hours and 15 minutes and 3 hours and 45 minutes, on a direct flight.
How much does Tierra del Fuego National Park cost?
General admission costs $40,000 starting June 1, 2026. Tours do not include it.
Is it possible to travel to Ushuaia alone?
Yes. Excursions depart from centrally located hotels, and most are group tours. Some require a minimum of two passengers, so it's best to confirm this when booking.
What to do in Ushuaia in winter?
Snow activities in the Tierra Mayor valley, such as snowmobiling, snowshoeing and dog sledding, in addition to skiing at Cerro Castor.