A little town called Ushuaia is considered the most Southerly city in the world. As soon as you arrive here you have to notice that the Argentinians didn’t give up on the Malvinas (Folkland Islands). Plazas, monuments and graffiti dedicated to “Las Malvinas Argentinas” are everywhere in town. We had to re-read the history book to understand better what happened back in the 80ties and if you are interested in the history I advise you to do the same. The sentiment is so strong here that I challenge you to find a British flag anywhere in town (to indicate use of English a US flag is used instead of the Union Jack). Politics aside let’s see what there is to visit and if it is worth to come to this town which some could consider a tourist trap.
Ushuaia in fact has turned itself into a small tourist hub. The tourist hub at the end of the world. Part of this thanks to the fact that it is the starting point of cruises to Antartica, part of this thanks to a clever marketing scheme. A simple slogan turns even the most boring attraction into a must see. The lighthouse at the end of the world, the museum at the end of the world, the chocolaterie at the end of the world. My favourite is the Post office at the end of the world, manned by a jolly, larger than life postman with a moustache from another era. He is also the Prime Minister of the Isla Redonda, a joking title, as the “round island” isn’t much larger than a couple of rocks just off the Tierra del Fuego national park- the main attraction in the area.
Before describing the park an interesting fact, the name of the island and surrounding region is Tierra del Fuego, “Land of fire” because when the explorers first arrived in the area there were indigenous tribes that would light big fires to stay warm. What happened to these indigenous tribes? They were wiped away by the Western urge to civilize the savages: the fighters were killed off, the rest fell victim of disease: they were not accustomed to wearing clothing that the missionaries forced them to wear and the poor sanitary condition in which they kept it eventually had the best of them. This is possibly one of the reasons why there hardly is any indigenous American population left in Argentina and most people look distinctly European. This and many other interesting historic facts are to be found in the Ushuaia Maritime Museum (Museo Marítimo y del Presidio de Ushuaia). In my opinion a must visit if you come to Ushuaia.
The weather down here is positively gnarly: winds, cold, rain, ice, snow, rough seas. Weather at the end of the world. Now let’s talk about the Tierra del Fuego National Park. It is is a pleasant ensemble of sea, lakes, forest, hills and mountains. When we were visiting it the leaves were slowly starting to change their colours and the occasional ray of sun brought out the best of the surrounding nature. I advise you to just walk around the park, the paths are easily accessible and well described. No need to hire a guide and definitely no need to hop on a touristy train to go around.
It is worth to hop on a boat instead and visit the Beagle Channel. The trip offers stunning views of the mountains and glaciers. You might also spot wildlife such as sea lions, penguins, and seabirds.
For the insta pictures choose the iconic red-and-white lighthouse located on a small island in the Beagle Channel.
If you are an active hiker, the Tierra del Fuego National Park will not be enough for you but the Martial Glacier will definitely satisfy your need of active leisure. Located just outside Ushuaia, Martial Glacier offers hiking opportunities with panoramic views of the city and the surrounding landscapes and it’s easily accessible from the city centre (you can hop on a taxi or walk for a couple of kilometres to the bottom of the glacier. Before starting the walk to the glacier, you can visit the tea house located at the base of Cerro Martial. This cozy place is perfect to enjoy a hot cup while contemplating the snowy landscape that surrounds you. Immerse yourself in Fuegian culture and try some of the local delicacies on offer, such as the typical scones with calafate jam. Now that you have enough sugar to start the walk you can go up for this fairly demanding around 7km hike. You will not have problems in locating the path and most probably you will not be alone; especially in the summer but it’s a touristy destination also in winter. Still very worth visiting. The Martial Glacier is a true natural jewel that you cannot miss during your stay in Ushuaia. Its imposing beauty will captivate you and allow you to connect with the grandeur of nature. In winter, the landscape dresses in white and gives you a unique experience in the middle of snow and ice. If you still have energy after the hike, you should go skiing at the end of the world in the nearby ski resort Cerro Castor…obviously only if you list the place in winter; don’t expect the snowing the summer.
A less popular but extremely beautiful experience is a trip to Escondido Lake and Fagnano Lake: These large, pristine lakes are surrounded by picturesque landscapes and are accessible by road. At the moment of writing this post there is no bus service from Ushuaia to this area but you can either rent a car and drive yourself (what we did) or go with an organised tour. It take around one hour to drive from Ushuaia to the Escondido lake going through the Garibaldi Pass which is a stunning place for pictures.
Finally, a good way to leave the southern most city of the world is to hop on a ferry and go to Navarino Island in Chile; perfect to enjoy silent and untouched hikes. Or you can can also board a plane and fly wherever you want as we did. Remember, you will be flying from the airport at the end of the world.
Nomadlytics 
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