Hiking just outside town and enjoying the views of Chile just across the Beagle Channel
From Buenos Aires, we took a 4-hour flight to Ushuaia, the capital of Argentina’s Tierra del Fuego province. Argentines call Ushuaia the southernmost city in the world. That title is in dispute with Puerto Williams, a small Chilean settlement just across the Beagle Channel, which Chile recently reclassified as a “city.”
Ushuaia’s nickname is “El Fin del Mundo,” the end of the world, and it does feel that way. It’s the launching point for 90% of the world’s cruises to Antarctica. It’s a cute town, full of provisioners of hiking and trekking gear. The streets are filled with people getting ready for adventure of some kind. The landscape is dramatic. The weather is moody. As soon as we stepped outside the airport Jim said, “This feels just like Alaska.”
We did a bit of hiking here, enjoying some spectacular views of the rugged landscape. We enjoyed some pretty good meals, appreciating both the grilled meats that are ubiquitous in Argentina and the seafood plentiful here in this sea facing town. And of course we found ourselves combing the town with all the other adventure seekers for last minute provisions. We are about to get on a boat for 18 days, and I really don’t want to run out of toothpaste.
So much stunning landscape around here
The town is surrounded by rugged mountains
Hiking through woodlands
A lunchtime view of the Beagle Channel and the Chilean mountains beyond
A beautiful plate of seafood to match the lovely view outside
A peat bog in the middle of the forest
Hiking through multiple terrains — forest, peat bog, mountainside
So many beautiful views
When we reached a peak, fully exposed on all sides, the views were fantastic but the wind was fierce
Just like in Alaska, the summer flowers, like these lupines, are notably huge, due to the extremely long sun exposure each day
Hiking in the forest
A gorgeous arrangement of lightly pickled fish and accompaniments
Relaxing at the end of the day in the warm pool above the Beagle Channel
Jim spent the last few hours in Ushuaia at the laundromat. While the clothes were drying he snuck down to the port and took a shot of Le Lyrial, our home for the next 18 days. We’ll be moving in soon, ready for the journey to the White Continent!