Ushuaia

At 55 degrees latitude south, Ushuaia (pronounced oo-swy-ah) is closer to the South Pole than to Argentina's northern border with Bolivia. It is the capital and tourism base for Tierra del Fuego, the island at the southernmost tip of Argentina.Although its stark physical beauty is str... At 55 degrees latitude south, Ushuaia (pronounced oo-swy-ah) is closer to the South Pole than to Argentina's northern border with Bolivia. It is the capital and tourism base for Tierra del Fuego, the island at the southernmost tip of Argentina.Although its stark physical beauty is striking, Tierra del Fuego's historical allure is based more on its mythical past than on rugged reality. The island was inhabited for 6,000 years by Yámana, Haush, Selk'nam, and Alakaluf Indians. But in 1902 Argentina, eager to populate Patagonia to bolster its territorial claims, moved to initiate an Ushuaian penal colony, establishing the permanent settlement of its most southern territories and, by implication, everything in between.When the prison closed in 1947, Ushuaia had a population of about 3,000, made up mainly of former inmates and prison staff. Today the Indians of Darwin's "missing link" theory are long gone—wiped out by diseases brought by settlers and by indifference to their plight—and the 60,000 residents of Ushuaia are hitching their star to tourism.The city rightly (if perhaps too loudly) promotes itself as the southernmost city in the world (Puerto Williams, a few miles south on the Chilean side of the Beagle Channel, is a small town). You can make your way to the tourism office to get your clichéd, but oh-so-necessary, "Southernmost City in the World" passport stamp. Ushuaia feels like a frontier boomtown, at heart still a rugged, weather-beaten fishing village, but exhibiting the frayed edges of a city that quadrupled in size in the '70s and '80s and just keeps growing. Unpaved portions of Ruta 3, the last stretch of the Pan-American Highway, which connects Alaska to Tierra del Fuego, are finally being paved. The summer months (December through March) draw more than 120,000 visitors, and dozens of cruise ships. The city is trying to extend those visits with events like March's Marathon at the End of the World and by increasing the gamut of winter activities buoyed by the excellent snow conditions.A terrific trail winds through the town up to the Martial Glacier, where a ski lift can help cut down a steep kilometer of your journey. The chaotic and contradictory urban landscape includes a handful of luxury hotels amid the concrete of public housing projects. Scores of "sled houses" (wooden shacks) sit precariously on upright piers, ready for speedy displacement to a different site. But there are also many small, picturesque homes with tiny, carefully tended gardens. Many of the newer homes are built in a Swiss-chalet style, reinforcing the idea that this is a town into which tourism has breathed new life. At the same time, the weather-worn pastel colors that dominate the town's landscape remind you that Ushuaia was once just a tiny fishing village, snuggled at the end of the Earth.As you stand on the banks of the Canal Beagle (Beagle Channel) near Ushuaia, the spirit of the farthest corner of the world takes hold. What stands out is the light: at sundown the landscape is cast in a subdued, sensual tone; everything feels closer, softer, and more human in dimension despite the vastness of the setting. The snowcapped mountains reflect the setting sun back onto a stream rolling into the channel, as nearby peaks echo their image—on a windless day—in the still waters.Above the city rise the last mountains of the Andean Cordillera, and just south and west of Ushuaia they finally vanish into the often-stormy sea. Snow whitens the peaks well into summer. Nature is the principal attraction here, with trekking, fishing, horseback riding, wildlife spotting, and sailing among the most rewarding activities, especially in the Parque Nacional Tierra del Fuego (Tierra del Fuego National Park). Read More

Sail the Drake Passage

Antarctic Experience

The Antarctic Experience offers a unique opportunity to explore one of the most remote and pristine environments on Earth. Visitors can embark on guided expeditions that typically include activities such as wildlife watching, where you might encounter majestic whales, playful seals, a... The Antarctic Experience offers a unique opportunity to explore one of the most remote and pristine environments on Earth. Visitors can embark on guided expeditions that typically include activities such as wildlife watching, where you might encounter majestic whales, playful seals, and various penguin species in their natural habitats. The experience often features breathtaking landscapes of towering icebergs, vast glaciers, and dramatic mountain ranges. Many tours provide opportunities for kayaking, ice hiking, and even camping on the ice, allowing for immersive experiences in this extraordinary ecosystem. Additionally, educational programs and expert-led lectures enhance the understanding of the region’s fragile environment and its importance in the global ecosystem. Overall, the Antarctic Experience is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure for nature lovers and explorers seeking to connect with one of the planet's last frontiers. Read More

Antarctic Experience

The Antarctic Experience offers a unique opportunity to explore one of the most remote and pristine environments on Earth. Visitors can embark on guided expeditions that typically include activities such as wildlife watching, where you might encounter majestic whales, playful seals, a... The Antarctic Experience offers a unique opportunity to explore one of the most remote and pristine environments on Earth. Visitors can embark on guided expeditions that typically include activities such as wildlife watching, where you might encounter majestic whales, playful seals, and various penguin species in their natural habitats. The experience often features breathtaking landscapes of towering icebergs, vast glaciers, and dramatic mountain ranges. Many tours provide opportunities for kayaking, ice hiking, and even camping on the ice, allowing for immersive experiences in this extraordinary ecosystem. Additionally, educational programs and expert-led lectures enhance the understanding of the region’s fragile environment and its importance in the global ecosystem. Overall, the Antarctic Experience is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure for nature lovers and explorers seeking to connect with one of the planet's last frontiers. Read More

Antarctica

Antarctic Experience

The Antarctic Experience offers a unique opportunity to explore one of the most remote and pristine environments on Earth. Visitors can embark on guided expeditions that typically include activities such as wildlife watching, where you might encounter majestic whales, playful seals, a... The Antarctic Experience offers a unique opportunity to explore one of the most remote and pristine environments on Earth. Visitors can embark on guided expeditions that typically include activities such as wildlife watching, where you might encounter majestic whales, playful seals, and various penguin species in their natural habitats. The experience often features breathtaking landscapes of towering icebergs, vast glaciers, and dramatic mountain ranges. Many tours provide opportunities for kayaking, ice hiking, and even camping on the ice, allowing for immersive experiences in this extraordinary ecosystem. Additionally, educational programs and expert-led lectures enhance the understanding of the region’s fragile environment and its importance in the global ecosystem. Overall, the Antarctic Experience is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure for nature lovers and explorers seeking to connect with one of the planet's last frontiers. Read More

Antarctic Experience

The Antarctic Experience offers a unique opportunity to explore one of the most remote and pristine environments on Earth. Visitors can embark on guided expeditions that typically include activities such as wildlife watching, where you might encounter majestic whales, playful seals, a... The Antarctic Experience offers a unique opportunity to explore one of the most remote and pristine environments on Earth. Visitors can embark on guided expeditions that typically include activities such as wildlife watching, where you might encounter majestic whales, playful seals, and various penguin species in their natural habitats. The experience often features breathtaking landscapes of towering icebergs, vast glaciers, and dramatic mountain ranges. Many tours provide opportunities for kayaking, ice hiking, and even camping on the ice, allowing for immersive experiences in this extraordinary ecosystem. Additionally, educational programs and expert-led lectures enhance the understanding of the region’s fragile environment and its importance in the global ecosystem. Overall, the Antarctic Experience is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure for nature lovers and explorers seeking to connect with one of the planet's last frontiers. Read More

Antarctica

Antarctica

Sail the Drake Passage

Sailing the Cape Horn

Ushuaia

At 55 degrees latitude south, Ushuaia (pronounced oo-swy-ah) is closer to the South Pole than to Argentina's northern border with Bolivia. It is the capital and tourism base for Tierra del Fuego, the island at the southernmost tip of Argentina.Although its stark physical beauty is str... At 55 degrees latitude south, Ushuaia (pronounced oo-swy-ah) is closer to the South Pole than to Argentina's northern border with Bolivia. It is the capital and tourism base for Tierra del Fuego, the island at the southernmost tip of Argentina.Although its stark physical beauty is striking, Tierra del Fuego's historical allure is based more on its mythical past than on rugged reality. The island was inhabited for 6,000 years by Yámana, Haush, Selk'nam, and Alakaluf Indians. But in 1902 Argentina, eager to populate Patagonia to bolster its territorial claims, moved to initiate an Ushuaian penal colony, establishing the permanent settlement of its most southern territories and, by implication, everything in between.When the prison closed in 1947, Ushuaia had a population of about 3,000, made up mainly of former inmates and prison staff. Today the Indians of Darwin's "missing link" theory are long gone—wiped out by diseases brought by settlers and by indifference to their plight—and the 60,000 residents of Ushuaia are hitching their star to tourism.The city rightly (if perhaps too loudly) promotes itself as the southernmost city in the world (Puerto Williams, a few miles south on the Chilean side of the Beagle Channel, is a small town). You can make your way to the tourism office to get your clichéd, but oh-so-necessary, "Southernmost City in the World" passport stamp. Ushuaia feels like a frontier boomtown, at heart still a rugged, weather-beaten fishing village, but exhibiting the frayed edges of a city that quadrupled in size in the '70s and '80s and just keeps growing. Unpaved portions of Ruta 3, the last stretch of the Pan-American Highway, which connects Alaska to Tierra del Fuego, are finally being paved. The summer months (December through March) draw more than 120,000 visitors, and dozens of cruise ships. The city is trying to extend those visits with events like March's Marathon at the End of the World and by increasing the gamut of winter activities buoyed by the excellent snow conditions.A terrific trail winds through the town up to the Martial Glacier, where a ski lift can help cut down a steep kilometer of your journey. The chaotic and contradictory urban landscape includes a handful of luxury hotels amid the concrete of public housing projects. Scores of "sled houses" (wooden shacks) sit precariously on upright piers, ready for speedy displacement to a different site. But there are also many small, picturesque homes with tiny, carefully tended gardens. Many of the newer homes are built in a Swiss-chalet style, reinforcing the idea that this is a town into which tourism has breathed new life. At the same time, the weather-worn pastel colors that dominate the town's landscape remind you that Ushuaia was once just a tiny fishing village, snuggled at the end of the Earth.As you stand on the banks of the Canal Beagle (Beagle Channel) near Ushuaia, the spirit of the farthest corner of the world takes hold. What stands out is the light: at sundown the landscape is cast in a subdued, sensual tone; everything feels closer, softer, and more human in dimension despite the vastness of the setting. The snowcapped mountains reflect the setting sun back onto a stream rolling into the channel, as nearby peaks echo their image—on a windless day—in the still waters.Above the city rise the last mountains of the Andean Cordillera, and just south and west of Ushuaia they finally vanish into the often-stormy sea. Snow whitens the peaks well into summer. Nature is the principal attraction here, with trekking, fishing, horseback riding, wildlife spotting, and sailing among the most rewarding activities, especially in the Parque Nacional Tierra del Fuego (Tierra del Fuego National Park). Read More