Tierra del Fuego holidays
Tierra del Fuego holidays at a glance
This is the end of the world, or near enough. Tierra del Fuego is a wild island at the southern tip of the Americas, separated from mainland Patagonia by the Strait of Magellan and shared between Argentina and Chile. It’s carved through by icy streams, waterfalls and glaciers, mantled in evergreen forest and framed by needle-sharp peaks, a raw and beautiful landscape that has drawn travellers ever since it first appeared on European maps.
Ushuaia is your base. It clings to the shore of the Beagle Channel beneath snow-streaked mountains, a busy little port that still has a frontier feel, and the main gateway for cruises to Antarctica. From here you can walk in Tierra del Fuego National Park, sail the channel to lighthouses and wildlife colonies, or ride the narrow-gauge train once used by the prisoners of Ushuaia’s old penal colony.
People have lived here for over 10,000 years, and the name dates from 1520, when Ferdinand Magellan’s expedition, the first Europeans to reach these waters, saw the fires of the Yaghan and Selk’nam peoples burning along the shore. Magellan called it the Land of Smoke; the Spanish crown later renamed it Tierra del Fuego, the Land of Fire. Today its cooking reflects that mixed heritage, a fusion of Patagonian, Argentinean and European, with fresh seafood, king crab above all, the local speciality.
Why choose Journey Latin America for your holiday to Tierra del Fuego
We’ve been planning trips to Central and South America for over 45 years, longer than any other UK specialist. Every holiday is built around you by a Travel Expert who has been to the places they recommend, with support from your first enquiry to the day you fly home.
Give it two or three nights. It pairs beautifully with El Calafate’s glaciers, and for many people it’s also the launch point for the trip of a lifetime to Antarctica.
When to visit Tierra del Fuego
Tierra del Fuego is best visited from spring to autumn, roughly October to April, when the days are long and the trails open. Seasons run opposite to the UK, and the weather this far south is changeable whatever the month, with snow possible even in summer.
This is summertime in Tierra del Fuego, with the warmest temperatures and the best chances of clear, sunny skies (though rain and snowfall are a possibility at any time of year). The days stretch out generously, remaining light until 1am. The mild climate means this is a good time for hiking past the icy streams, waterfalls and evergreen forests of the island, though you’ll also encounter the most visitors at this time as summer is the peak season.
This is a great time to visit chattering colonies of magellanic, gentoo and King penguins. Fiery autumnal foliage paints the landscapes red and gold, a striking counterpoint to the icy waterfalls and rivers. Temperatures grow colder and rainfall, flurries of snow and bright sunny spells are all possible.
These are coldest months, with temperatures dropping below freezing at night and regular snow storms. June marks the beginning of the ski season, which lasts until September. Snowfall and rain mean hiking is not practical, especially as many trails are inaccessible at this time.
There is enough snow left to ski in September. As the spring progresses and temperatures warm up gently, flowers bloom across the grasslands and new life is visible everywhere. Visit bustling colonies of gentoo, King and magellanic penguins which are beginning to nest, or go hiking in Tierra del Fuego National Park while visitor numbers are lower.
Top Things to do in Tierra del Fuego
This is a region for wild landscapes, walking and wildlife. Here’s what we recommend.
Cruise from Chile’s far reaches across the Strait of Magellan and the Beagle Channel to arrive in the world’s most southerly city.
Explore Tierra del Fuego’s Andean hinterland and the historic coast, with a visit to a traditional sheep ranch.
Go walking for a day among the wild mountains and lakes inland from Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego.
Take in the dramatic landscape of Ushuaia’s hinterland on a trip into the nearby national park.
Step into the striking scenery of South America’s furthest tip.
Spend a day in a remote fishing village in Tierra del Fuego, fishing for and cooking your own king crab lunch in a family home.
Explore a historic farm in a remote corner of Tierra del Fuego.
Set sail from Ushuaia to visit colonies of sea lions and penguins in their undisturbed natural habitat.
Accommodation in Tierra del Fuego
Accommodation is centred on Ushuaia, from smart hillside resorts with Beagle Channel views to comfortable town hotels close to the restaurants and the port, and we hand-pick each one for location and character. A little further out, a handful of lodges and estancias sit deeper in the landscape for a quieter, wilder feel. Staying in or above Ushuaia keeps you close to the national park, the channel and the Antarctic departure quays.
A smart hotel complex in a nature reserve on a mountainside above Ushuaia offers spectacular views over the Beagle Channel.
This modern, 4-storey hotel’s primary attribute is its central location on the waterfront in the centre of town. It is juts a couple of minutes’ walk from the cruise ship dock, so passengers who overnight here can just stroll down to their vessel at embarkation time.
Altos de Ushuaia is a smart modern hotel set high above the city with expansive views over the Beagle Channel.
Good value B&B clad in distinctive pink corrugated iron, in a quiet neighbourhood outside of the city.
A very comfortable hotel with a natural waterside setting with mountain views close to Ushuaia.
These first-class cruise vessels offer excellent service and spacious elegance on scenic crossings between Chile and Argentina.
A former Journey Latin America tour leader, Sally spent 7 years working, travelling and living throughout Latin America before returning to the UK to help people arrange their own adventures to this wonderful destination.
Holidays to Tierra del Fuego
Group Tierra del Fuego Tours
Our group tours follow expertly designed, well-planned routes with an experienced local guide throughout. Prefer to keep it to your own party? Book the same trips privately for four or more.
Lapwing: Patagonian Odyssey
Places visited: Santiago and the vineyards · Torres del Paine National Park · El Calafate and Los Glaciares National Park · Tierra del Fuego · Buenos Aires
14 days from £6,673
Nandu: Peaks and plains of Patagonia
Places visited: Santiago and the vineyards · Chilean Lake District (north) · Chilean Lake District (south) · Torres del Paine National Park · El Calafate and Los Glaciares National Park · El Chalten and the Fitz Roy Massif · Tierra del Fuego · Buenos Aires
20 days from £5,526
Tailor-Made Tierra del Fuego Tours
Prefer to travel on your own terms? We’ll build a trip around your dates, your pace and the things you most want to see – whether that’s a first run at Machu Picchu, a family adventure mixing history and wildlife, or a food-focused journey through Lima and the Sacred Valley. Our Travel Experts can help shape it with you.
Active Argentina: Walking in Patagonia
Places visited: Buenos Aires · Argentinian lake district · El Calafate and Los Glaciares National Park · El Chalten and the Fitz Roy Massif · Tierra del Fuego
15 days from £4,800
Basecamp Antarctica Expedition Cruise
Places visited: Tierra del Fuego · Buenos Aires
16 days from £11,750
Signature Patagonia: Glaciers of Chile and Argentina
Places visited: Buenos Aires · Tierra del Fuego · El Calafate and Los Glaciares National Park · Torres del Paine National Park · Argentinian lake district · Chilean Lake District (south)
17 days from £8,250
FAQs about visiting Tierra del Fuego
Tierra del Fuego is one of the most popular destinations, and there’s plenty to think about before you go. Here, our specialists share their best advice.
- When is the best time to visit Tierra del Fuego?
This far south, you will benefit from long daylight hours and mild temperatures between Dec (when it is light until 1am) and the end of Feb, though you can have snow flurries at any time of the year. In the winter, snowy landscapes are beautiful here but hiking is not practical.
For more detailed information visit our When To Go section.
- What language is spoken in Tierra del Fuego?
The main language spoken in Tierra del Fuego is Spanish.
- What currency do I need in Tierra del Fuego?
The Argentine Peso is the main currency used in Tierra del Fuego.
- What is the time difference between Tierra del Fuego and the UK?
The time difference between Buenos Aires and the UK is GMT -3 hours.
- What places combine well with Tierra del Fuego?
El Calafate and the Perito Moreno Glacier, 564 km (50mins by air); most Antarctic cruises depart from Ushuaia; Buenos Aires (3.5hrs by air); a cruise to Punta Arenas in Chilean Patagonia on MV Australis.
- How do I get to Tierra del Fuego?
Direct flights from Buenos Aires take 3.5 hours.
- When can you ski in Tierra del Fuego?
The ski season in Tierra del Fuego is June – September.
Ready to start planning?
Tell us where you want to go, and we’ll take it from there. No obligation, no sales pitch – just a conversation with someone who knows the region inside out.