The End of the World sure is a beautiful place! Photo by: Evan Berman
After my time in El Calafate, I flew to Ushuaia before heading north to Buenos Aires. I chose flights that would allow for a 2 hour layover, enough time to explore the city before boarding my next flight. Ushuaia is the Southernmost city in the world and most know it as the place from which most cruises to Antarctica depart.
The recap of my brief visit to Ushuaia, Argentina is part of the larger South American Adventure. For more information on this trip, follow these links:
Flight: CHS-JFK in Delta Comfort+
Flight: JFK-SCL in LATAM Economy+
Osaka Santiago, Chile Restaurant Review
Flight: SCL-AEP in Aerolíneas Argentinas Economy
Flight: AEP-FTE in Aerolíneas Argentinas Economy
Trekking on Perito Moreno Glacier, Argentine Patagonia
36 Hours in El Calafate, Argentina
Flight: FTE-USH in Aerolíneas Argentinas Economy
Flight: USH-AEP in Aerolíneas Argentinas Economy
2 Hours in Ushuaia, Argentina (This Article)
2 Days in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Flight: AEP-SCL in Aerolíneas Argentinas Economy
Flight: SCL-MIA in LATAM Business Class
Hyatt Place Ft. Lauderdale/Plantation
Flight: FLL-CHS in Silver Airways Economy Class
Trip Summary
This review will be unlike the other ones I typically do. I only spent 2 hours in Ushuaia, but that was plenty. The town is very touristy and unless you are going to Antarctica or Tierra del Fuego, I would not recommend visiting. If you do and come in with high expectations, you may just find yourself disappointed!
Highlights included:
- Exploring the history of the area, both as a penal colony and for Darwin’s famous expedition
- Taking (many) pictures of the beautiful landscape
- Being surprised at the US-level prices
Flight Info:
I flew Aerolíneas Argentinas from El Calafate to Ushuaia on Flight AR 1891.
The flight was quick and not memorable, though the views were breathtaking. Read more details about the flight here.
Price: The entire trip cost $531.60 and I used the $300 travel credit from the Chase Sapphire Reserve as well as 15,440 UR Points to pay for the flight. As such, I paid $0 in “real money.”
Points Earned: 88 Delta SkyMiles
Lodging Info:
Since I was just here for 2 hours, I didn’t need a place to stay! I can say; however, I enjoyed the name of Hotel Albatros(s).
Airport Details:
As mentioned above, I flew into USH, the airport serving Ushuaia. This tiny airport has only domestic flights to 7 destinations in Argentina.
I will review USH in a separate article. Per Flight Connections, the main airline that flies there is SkyTeam Member Aerolíneas Argentinas. Low Cost Carrier Air Labrador also flies from Ushuaia.
Surprisingly enough in an airport that has only 4 (!) gates, there are no lounges.
Transportation Details:
Rideshare:
As I’ve said before, Lyft does not operate in South America. In both Ushuaia and El Calafate, Uber was not present either. So, the only option for ground transportation is taking a taxi. I took a taxi to and from the airport and was charged only 2000 pesos each way ($7.02 via the 1:285 conversion in El Calafate). These were the only rides that I took.
Food & Drink:
I did not stop for any food or drink on this quick visit to Ushuaia. That being said, I noticed that the prices were extremely high for South America– equivalent to what you would find in the US.
Activities:
Galería Temática Historia Fueguina:
This museum is a great way to learn about Ushuaia and its history. You must take a tour to see the museum.
There is an audio tour, but I opted to look around and read the limited information. The tour details the city’s former life as a penal colony as well as the experiences of the H.M.S. Bounty’s second expedition in Ushuaia.
The museum accepted dollars at a rate of $1:315 pesos which was excellent, but I only had $20s and a $5, so opted to spend more pesos that I had acquired at the slightly inferior $1:285 pesos rate.
The tour is on the 1st and 2nd floors (the 0th floor is where the entrance and gift shop are). Upon completion of the tour, you may proceed to the 3rd floor to eat or drink. I headed upstairs but was disappointed in the lack of seats and the high prices. Ushuaia generally has US prices since it is such a tourist attraction.
Make sure you pay in cash, if paying by card you will spend a lot of money here!
I asked the helpful guide at the ticket counter near the entrance for recommendations of what to see in such a short time. He suggested a nearby park for great pictures.
Photo of the Trip:
Near the main strip in town, there is a small artist gallery that sells all kinds of souvenirs. While I was disappointed with the products, I loved this scene behind the last of the galleries.
Total:
Price:
Food & Drink: N/A
Transportation: 4,000 Argentine Pesos ($14.04)
Flights: $531.60 (I used the $300 travel credit from the Chase Sapphire Reserve as well as 15,440 UR Points so it was $0 out of pocket)
Hotel: N/A
Activities: 3,150 Argentine Pesos and ($11.05)
Total Price: 7,150 Argentine Pesos ($25.09)
Points Earned:
Food and Drink: N/A
Transportation: None, paid in cash
Flights: None, award flight
Hotel: N/A
Activities: None, paid in cash
Total Points: None, paid in cash
Overall, Ushuaia was very dramatic and beautiful, but I was happy to be on my way to Buenos Aires.
9 thoughts on “2 Hours at the End of the World: My Time in Ushuaia, Argentina”
Comments are closed.