EXCURSIONES EN TIERRA

Observe the bountiful wildlife in Tierra del Fuego while cruising the Beagle Channel in a catamaran that will take you to islands full of seabirds, sea lions and Magellanic penguins.

After departing from the pier, you will soon board a catamaran and sail into Beagle Channel, the strait that separates Argentina from Chile. The waterway is named for the HMS Beagle, in which Charles Darwin explored the area in 1833-1834.

Islands dot the channel and the rocky coast is wild and wonderful with forests to the water’s edge and the southern Andes in the far distance. Few places on earth are so pristine and unaffected by what little civilization there is.

Seabirds are abundant in most every direction. You may spot black-capped albatrosses, flocks of seagulls and grayish skuas, an aggressive bird that often attacks other birds in mid-air to steal the fish they have caught.

Approaching Sea Lions’ Island, you will see dozens of the namesake mammals clustered on the rocks. The males are typically twice the size of the females and weigh nearly 800 pounds. While pausing for photos at nearby Bird Island, you will notice that the main inhabitants are Imperial Cormorants and Magellanic Cormorants.

Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse is another photo-worthy site, as is the colony of Magellanic penguins on Martillo Island. These highly social birds will often come up to the catamaran as they hunt for cuttlefish and squid. It’s the perfect opportunity for a close up shot, after which you will return to the pier.

Combine the history and culture of Ushuaia, with a scenic drive to the mountains and countryside. Admire the rugged beauty of the landscape, experience local cuisine and learn about the city’s first habitants.

Drive through one of Ushuaia’s neighborhoods to get acquainted with the city and travel along the Pan American Highway toward the north of the island. Admire the dramatic scenery of river valleys, majestic mountains, forests and peat bogs as you make your way across the Fuegian Andes up to Garibaldi Pass. If the day is clear, you’ll stop at a lookout point to take in the magnificent views of Escondido and Fagnano Lakes.

Enjoy a typical meal of Patagonian lamb, slowly roasted in the wood fire, in a cozy local restaurant. Visit the Maritime Museum, housed in what was the first prison in Tierra del Fuego. Learn about the prison and life of the inmates. Dangerous convicts and well-known political prisoners made this prison famous until 1947 when it was closed. View the maritime and native people’s exhibits.

Soaring mountains, islands and a historic lighthouse are the perfect backdrop for a scenic wildlife cruise on this southernmost tip of South America. Your narrated trip takes you into the Beagle Channel, past Bird Island, where many species of birds gather, including a colony of cormorants. Cruise around Sea Wolves Island, a rocky outcrop that is home to seals and sea lions. The catamaran cruises close to the shore, offering you some great photo opportunities.

The land portion of this tour takes you through Tierra del Fuego National Park. From the rugged peaks, pristine lakes and ancient forests of the Andes to the glacier-draped shores of the famed Beagle Channel, the world's southernmost national park offers picture postcard scenes. Photo stops are made along the way, including one at the milestone marker for the End of the World (fin del mundo).

Discover nature at its best on this unforgettable ride though Tierra del Fuego National Park. Feast your eyes on towering snow-capped mountains, impressive forests, meadows full with wildflower and pristine lakes framed by the Beagle Channel. You’ll travel west of Ushuaia’s suburbs and across the valley from the River Pipo to Tierra del Fuego National Park. This 150,000-acre park extends from the Beagle Channel in the south along the Chilean border to beyond Lago Fagnano in the north.

This pristine reserve protects the southern area of the sub-Antarctic forest, offers stunning scenery carved by the massive glaciers that once covered the region offering dramatic views. Towering mountains draped in Ice Age glaciers, rivers bordered by virgin forest, and sapphire lakes perfect photo opportunities. The park reveals one breathtaking sight after another and you’ll stop for photos at some of the major attractions.

Begin with a scenic drive to Central Station for an unforgettable trip on the Tierra del Fuego Southern Railway, Train to the End of the World. This railway uses the original narrow-gauge line that was part of the small train for prisoners that ran until 1947.

Upon arrival at the Park Station, board your coach for a drive through Tierra del Fuego National Park to Lapataia Bay, marking the end of the road which is 2,010 miles from Buenos Aires. Here, a catamaran awaits you for your return to the ship via the Beagle Channel. En route, you will see the historic lighthouse, Les Eclaireurs, as well as Seal Island, Isla de los Lobos and Island of the Birds, whose names clearly express the rich wildlife you can view from the deck on your journey back to the ship.

Enjoy nature at its best on a combination bus and train ride in the world’s southernmost national park. You’ll travel on the Southern Fuegian Railway in train cars that were modeled after earlier prison trains. During your narrated journey on the Train at the End of the World, you’ll discover a part of Tierra del Fuego’s legendary history. Cross the Pipo River, stop at the panoramic viewpoint of the Macarena Cascade, pass reconstructed Yamana and Shelkman Indian camps, and ride through the Del Toro Glen within the Tierra del Fuego National Park.

Your coach ride takes you through the national park, for you to admire some of scenic highlights, and makes a short stop at Ensenada Bay. This pristine reserve protects the southern area of the sub-Antarctic forest, offers stunning scenery carved by the massive glaciers that once covered the region offering dramatic views. Towering mountains draped in Ice Age glaciers, rivers bordered by virgin forest, and sapphire lakes circled by peat bogs and beaver-dam ponds. The park offers one breathtaking sight after another and you’ll stop for photos at some of the major attractions.

Immerse yourself in Ushuaia’s history. In the early 19th century the Argentine government set up the Prison of Ushuaia where escape was practically impossible and for the first half of the 20th century, the city was centered around the prison. The prisoners became forced colonists and spent much of their time cutting wood in the forest and building the town. They also built a railway known as the prisoners train and the southernmost railway in the world. Dangerous convicts and well-known political prisoners made this prison famous until it closed in 1947.

Today you’ll learn about the life of the prisoners during those days when they were the inhabitants of the End of the World. You’ll begin with a visit to the old prison which today is home to a museum and take a train ride. During the narrated journey you’ll discover a part of Tierra del Fuego’s legendary history. At the railway’s turnaround point, you’ll board a motorcoach and continue a tour through the national park to Ensenada Bay, one of the area’s scenic highlights before heading back to the pier.

Walk along easy paths and float aboard an inflatable canoe for an introduction to the rivers, lagoons and wildlife of Ushuaia’s National Park and Beagle Channel. Upon entering the park, you’ll head to Lake Roca, where you’ll receive a short, informative talk before your paddling begins. The route takes you along the lake to the crystal-clear waters of the Ovando River, one of the most picturesque areas of the park. Keep an eye out for petrels, albatrosses, steamer ducks and other types of birds.

Reaching Lapataia Bay, you’ll start your approximately one-hour trek to appreciate the scenery, considered some of the most beautiful in South America. Winter bark, fire bush and a variety of beech trees make for interesting photography. A boxed lunch is included.

Join this action packed 4x4 off-road adventure and discover the wild and untamed beauty of this southernmost region - a pristine habitat for unique fauna and flora. Enjoy a half-day four-wheeling experience and some relaxation at Ushuaia's heights during this scenic off-road expedition in the Fuegian wilderness. Depart the pier aboard a 4WD Vehicle or in a VAN vehicle and begin your approximate one-hour drive north along National Route 3 to the glacial valleys area. As you make your way to Carbajal Valley, feast your eyes with the view of Mount Olivia guarding a valley surrounded by snowy peaks, dense forest and marshes, where the off-road will take you for some 45 minutes up to an hour of thrilling tracks. After this you will enjoy an approximately 30-minute walk along the sub Antarctic forest and peat bogs that ends at a lookout over the Alvear mountain range with panoramic views of the White Dome and Bonete mountains. A winter resort and sled dog kennel will open its doors for you to enjoy a light refreshment and an opportunity for your last photos before returning to the ship by minibus, stopping at the viewpoint of Playa Larga.

Lace up your boots and hike Tierra del Fuego National Park to discover this striking wilderness at the End of the World. Just 10 miles west of Ushuaia, this 243 square mile park, extends from the Beagle Channel in the south along the Chilean border to beyond Lago Fagnano in the north. The park has one of the most beautiful cold forests in the world, unique for surviving such cold winters and summers and for their twisted shapes created by strong winds.

Winter’s Bark is the southernmost conifer in the world, there are three types of Southern beech trees and Evergreen columnar trees, cover the most humid regions and the coast of the Beagle Channel. By the coast, discover old Indian middens left by the ancient inhabitants of the area, the nomadic Yamana. Your trek will end at the Alakush Visitor Center, a good opportunity to rest and taste Ushuaia’s hot chocolate before heading back to the pier.