Tierra Del FuegoSights

Sights in Tierra Del Fuego

  1. Museo de la Ciudad

    In a restored galpón (sheepshearing shed), the Museo de la Ciudad has impressive exhibits, from logging to military displays, postal communications to cartography, indigenous artifacts to yet another milodón, an extinct giant sloth.

    reviewed

  2. Parque Nacional Tierra del Fuego

    West of Ushuaia by 12km, Parque Nacional Tierra del Fuego, Argentina’s first coastal national park, extends 630 sq km from the Beagle Channel in the south to beyond Lago Fagnano (also known as Lago Kami) in the north. However, only a couple of thousand hectares along the southern edge of the park are open to the public, with a miniscule system of short, easy trails that are designed more for day-tripping families than backpacking trekkers. The rest of the park is protected as a reserva estricta (strictly off-limits zone). Despite this, a few scenic hikes along the bays and rivers, or through dense native forests of evergreen coihue, canelo and deciduous lenga, are worth…

    reviewed

  3. A

    Museo Marítimo & Museo del Presidio

    When convicts were moved from Isla de los Estados (Staten Island) to Ushuaia in 1906, they began building the national prison, which was finished in 1920. The spokelike halls of single cells were designed to house 380, but in the prison’s most active period held up to 800. It closed as a jail in 1947 and now houses the Museo Marítimo & Museo del Presidio. It’s a fine port of call on a blustery day. Halls showing penal life are intriguing, but the informative plaques are only in Spanish. Two of the more illustrious inmates were author Ricardo Rojasand and Russian anarchist Simón Radowitzky.

    reviewed

  4. Glaciar Martial

    A good hike from downtown leads up to Glaciar Martial, where you can enjoy views of Ushuaia and the Beagle Channel; in fact, the views are possibly more impressive than the actual glacier. Catch a taxi up the hill or, if you're up for an all-day hike, follow San Martín west and keep ascending as it zigzags (there are many hiker shortcuts) to the ski run. At this point, either take the Aerosilla chairlift or walk another two hours into town.

    reviewed

  5. Estancia María Behety

    Much of Tierra del Fuego was once the sprawling backyard of wool baron José Menéndez. His second and most-treasured venture was La Segunda Argentina, totaling 1500 sq km. Later renamed Estancia María Behety after his wife, it’s still a working ranch, 17km west of Río Grande via RC-c. Besides boasting the world’s largest shearing shed, it is considered a highly exclusive lodge, catering mainly to tour groups and elite anglers.

    reviewed

  6. Parque Nacional del Tierra del Fuego

    Extending 63,000 hectares (155,676 acres) from the Beagle Channel in the south to beyond Lago Fagnano/Kami in the north, only a couple of thousand hectares of this park are open to the public: a miniscule system of short, easy trails along the rivers or through dense native forests. Plenty of birdlife graces the park, especially along the coastal zone. Keep an eye out for albatross, terns, oystercatchers and orange-billed steamer ducks.

    reviewed

  7. B

    Museo del Fin del Mundo

    Built in 1903 for the territorial governor Manuel Fernández Valdés, this building was a branch of the Banco de la Nación up until 1978 when it was transformed into the Museo del Fin del Mundo. Exhibits on Fuegian natural history, stuffed bird life, aboriginal life and the early penal colonies, and replicas of an early general store and bank, are of moderate interest.

    reviewed

  8. C

    Mundo Yamaná

    More an experience than museum, the modest Mundo Yamaná explores Fueguinos’ attempts to bring the Yaghan (Yamaná) culture to life. Some of the expertly detailed dioramas (details in English and Spanish) are based on accessible bays and inlets of the Parque Nacional Tierra del Fuego; coming here before hiking in the park will give you new bearings.

    reviewed

  9. Beagle Channel

    A boat trip is the best way to view the Beagle Channel, with attractions such as the sea-lion colony at Isla de los Lobos, and Isla de Pájaros. Other options include a more expensive catamaran trip or the historic 70-passenger Barracuda, which chugs to the Faro Les Eclaireurs lighthouse.

    reviewed

  10. D

    Parque Yatana

    Part art project, part urban refuge, Parque Yatana is a city block of lenga forest preserved from the encroaching development by one determined family.

    reviewed

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  12. E

    Casa Beban

    Casa Beban was built in 1911 using parts ordered from Sweden. The house sometimes hosts local art exhibits.

    reviewed

  13. F

    Legislatura Provincial

    The 1894 Legislatura Provincial was the governor’s official residence.

    reviewed

  14. G

    Iglesia de la Merced

    The century-old Iglesia de la Merced, was built with convict labor.

    reviewed