Sights in Ushuaia
- Sort by:
- Popular
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
B
Museo del Fin del Mundo
Built in 1903, this former bank contains exhibits on Fuegian natural history, stuffed birdlife, life of natives and early penal colonies, and replicas of moderate interest.
reviewed
-
C
Museo Yámana
Small but carefully tended, with an excellent overview of the Yámana (Yahgan) way of life, including how they survived harsh weather without clothing, why only women knew how to swim and how campfires were kept in moving canoes. Expertly detailed dioramas (in English and Spanish) are based on bays and inlets of the national park; coming here before a park visit offers new bearings.
reviewed
-
D
Parque Yatana Park
Part art project, part urban refuge, a city block of lenga forest preserved from encroaching development by one determined family.
reviewed
-
E
Casa Beban
Casa Beban was built in 1911 using parts ordered from Sweden. The house sometimes hosts local art exhibits.
reviewed
-
F
Legislatura Provincial
The 1894 Legislatura Provincial was the governor’s official residence.
reviewed
-
G
Iglesia de la Merced
The century-old Iglesia de la Merced, was built with convict labor.
reviewed
-
H
Museo Marítimo & Museo del Presidio
Convicts were transferred from Isla de los Estados (Staten Island) to Ushuaia in 1906 to build this national prison, finished in 1920. The spokelike halls of single cells, designed to house 380, actually held up to 800 before closing in 1947. Held here were illustrious author Ricardo Rojasand and Russian anarchist Simón Radowitzky. The depiction of penal life here is intriguing, but information is in Spanish.
Another worthwhile exhibit features incredibly detailed scale models of famous ships, spanning 500 years and providing a unique glimpse into the region’s history. Remains of the world’s narrowest-gauge freight train, which transported prisoners between town and work…
reviewed
Advertisement