Ushuaia

What it is

Ushuaia is the capital of Argentina's Tierra del Fuego province, squeezed between mountains and the Beagle Channel. The city calls itself Fin del Mundo, the end of the world, and most Antarctic cruises sail from here. The former prison now houses the Maritime Museum.

What to see

In Tierra del Fuego National Park, National Route 3 ends at Lapataia Bay by a well-known sign. The End of the World Train, a narrow-gauge line once used to take convicts to cut timber, also runs into the park. Boats on the Beagle Channel visit a red-and-white lighthouse and sea lion colonies, and from October to March the penguins of Isla Martillo. The hike to Laguna Esmeralda takes half a day through forest and peat bog.

Season and a tip

December to March is best for hiking; in winter the Cerro Castor ski area opens. The weather changes several times a day, and even in January it rarely gets above 15 °C. Bring a windproof jacket and waterproof shoes.