Ushuaia
Ushuaia, Argentina, the port where most Antarctic cruises start: flights in, how many days to arrive early, what to do before and after, the port and last-minute deals.
What is Ushuaia, and how do you get there for an Antarctica cruise?
Ushuaia is the Argentine port town on the Beagle Channel, at the southern tip of Patagonia, where the city says 90% of Antarctic tourism trips begin. Fly from Buenos Aires, about 3 to 3.5 hours direct, and arrive at least a day before your ship sails. Departures run from about October to April, and a spare day fits a Beagle Channel boat trip.
Facts checked October 14, 2026 against 18 sources.
Ushuaia at a glance
- July: no trips
- August: no trips
- September: no trips
- October: in season
- November: in season
- December: best
- January: best
- February: best
- March: in season
- April: in season
- May: no trips
- June: no trips
Best Season
- Type
- Gateway town
- Location
- 54°48′S, 68°18′W
- Season
- Antarctic voyages leave Ushuaia from about October to April; the port counts its passenger season from September 1 to April 30.
- Best months
- December to February
- Getting there
- Fly: Aerolíneas Argentinas flies direct from Buenos Aires (Aeroparque or Ezeiza) in about 3 to 3.5 hours. The airport is 3 miles (5 km) from town, with no public transport, so take a taxi, remis or transfer.
- Wildlife
- Beagle Channel boat trips pass sea lion and cormorant islands, and summer trips to Martillo Island see Magellanic penguins. Tierra del Fuego National Park has foxes, Magellanic geese and woodpeckers.
- Landings
- Argentina's normal entry rules apply: US citizens need no visa for tourist stays of up to three months. Tierra del Fuego National Park costs ARS 40,000 per day at the general rate from June 2026.
Ushuaia is the Argentine port town on the Beagle Channel, at the southern tip of Patagonia, where most Antarctic cruises begin and end.15 IAATO, the Antarctic tour operators' association, reports that 98% of tourism voyages operate in the Antarctic Peninsula region between October and April and depart from Ushuaia or, to a lesser extent, other ports; the city's tourism office puts Ushuaia's share at 90% of Antarctic tourism trips.34 You fly in, usually from Buenos Aires, spend a night or two, walk up the gangway on embarkation afternoon, and sail down the Beagle Channel toward the Drake Passage.15 The town is worth a day of its own: the Beagle Channel boat trips, Tierra del Fuego National Park and the old prison museum fit easily around a cruise.
How many days do you need in Ushuaia before an Antarctica cruise?
Arrive in Ushuaia at least one day before embarkation, and allow a second spare day, in Buenos Aires or Ushuaia, if you are flying in from abroad. The standard itineraries are built around the first of those days: Quark Expeditions' Antarctic Explorer starts with Day 1 "arrive in Ushuaia" and embarks in the late afternoon of Day 2, and Aurora Expeditions' Spirit of Antarctica also starts with a Day 1 arrival and a pre-voyage hotel in Ushuaia.518 That spare day is your buffer if the flight from Buenos Aires is delayed or cancelled, because the ship sails on the afternoon the itinerary sets.
Some operators remove the problem by flying you in. HX's 12-day Highlights of Antarctica, for example, includes economy flights between Buenos Aires and Ushuaia: you take an early morning flight on Day 2 and board the ship the same day.6 If your package includes a group flight like this, the timing risk is the operator's, but you may see little of Ushuaia.
Coming home is simpler. Quark's Antarctic Explorer arrives back in Ushuaia in the morning of Day 11, so you can catch a flight home the same day or stay on.5
How do you get to Ushuaia?
Fly. Aerolíneas Argentinas runs direct flights from Buenos Aires that take about 3 to 3.5 hours (the province says about 3.5, the city about 3), plus a weekly nonstop from Córdoba, and the low-cost carrier JetSMART also flies weekly to Buenos Aires.12 In Buenos Aires, flights to Ushuaia leave from both Aeroparque Jorge Newbery and Ezeiza, so check which one your ticket uses.2
| Route | Airline | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Buenos Aires to Ushuaia | Aerolíneas Argentinas | Direct, about 3 to 3.5 hours; connections also via Trelew, Bariloche, El Calafate and Río Gallegos1 |
| Buenos Aires to Ushuaia | JetSMART | Weekly flights1 |
| Córdoba to Ushuaia | Aerolíneas Argentinas | Weekly nonstop1 |
| São Paulo (GRU) to Ushuaia | GOL | Direct, in both winter and summer seasons1 |
| São Paulo to Ushuaia | LATAM | Winter months only, so not during the Antarctic season1 |
Ushuaia's Malvinas Argentinas International Airport is about 3 miles (5 km) from downtown, and there is no public transport into town: you take a taxi, a remis (a booked car) or a transfer.2 Driving is possible but slow, because Tierra del Fuego is an island and the road crosses Chilean territory and the Strait of Magellan by a ferry of about 30 minutes, with two border crossings.12
US citizens do not need a visa to enter Argentina as tourists for stays of up to three months, according to Argentina's consulate in Houston.17 Other nationalities should check the consulate or migration pages for their own passport.
What is there to do in Ushuaia?
The best use of a spare day is a Beagle Channel boat trip, followed by Tierra del Fuego National Park if you have a second day. These are the main options, with the distances published by the city and province:
| Activity | Distance from town | What you see | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beagle Channel boat trip | Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse is about 12 miles (20 km) out | Islands with cormorants and sea lions, the lighthouse; kayak and dive trips also run9 | A half-day on arrival |
| Martillo Island penguin trip | On the Beagle Channel | Magellanic penguins, seen on summer channel trips; a species you will not see in Antarctica1011 | Wildlife watchers |
| Tierra del Fuego National Park | Minibuses from Maipú Avenue in town | 170,000 acres (68,909 hectares) of forest, lakes and coast; Lapataia Bay, the end of Route 3, 1,903 miles (3,063 km) from Buenos Aires12 | A full day of walking |
| End of the World Train | Station outside town, by taxi | A 5 mile (8 km) ride into the national park; a little under 2 hours in all11 | Families, a slower day |
| Maritime Museum and former prison | In town | The southernmost prison, and until 1947 the most feared; tickets valid for two days14 | A bad-weather day |
| Martial Glacier hike | About 4 miles (7 km) by cab to the ski hills | A climb with views over the city, the Beagle Channel and Chile's Navarino Island11 | A harder hike |
| Puerto Almanza | About 47 miles (75 km) | A fishing village known for king crab and shellfish9 | Food |
Entry to the national park costs ARS 40,000 per day at the general rate from June 1, 2026, against ARS 18,000 at the national rate; the ticket office sets your category from your ID or passport, and a second day is half price within 72 hours if you bought the ticket online.13 The tourist train recalls the prison railway, which prisoners opened in 1913 and which once ran 16 miles (25 km) from the prison toward what is now the park.14
In town, San Martín is the main shopping and restaurant street, and the waterfront path leads past the old settlers' houses to the commercial pier and the Antarctic Pioneers Promenade.15 Quark Expeditions' own visitor notes say you can use US dollars in Ushuaia and most places accept major credit cards.11
Where do Antarctic cruise ships leave from in Ushuaia?
Ships sail from the town's own port, which takes large cruise ships as well as expedition ships; the downtown waterfront walk ends at the commercial pier and the Antarctic Pioneers Promenade.115 The port is busy: the provincial port authority counts passenger ships arriving between September 1 and April 30, and it logged more than 500 passenger-ship calls in each of the four full seasons from 2022-23 to 2025-26, carrying between 116,172 and 164,557 passengers a season.16 The count covers all passenger ships, including cruise ships that stop in Ushuaia on longer South America itineraries.116
Quark's ships embark in the late afternoon of Day 2 and head straight down the Beagle Channel.5 The city's tourism office describes Antarctica as about 620 miles (1,000 km) away, and Quark's itinerary allows two days for each Drake crossing.45 Read our Drake Passage page before you go, and our guide to flying or sailing the Drake if two days of open ocean each way worry you.
How much does an Antarctic cruise from Ushuaia cost?
On the three voyages we checked on October 14, 2026, an 11 to 12 day Peninsula trip from Ushuaia in the 2027-28 season started at $11,314 to $18,395 per person at regular fares, or $10,396 to $15,636 with the published offers shown.5618 Fares are per person in US dollars, in the lowest cabin listed:
| Voyage (2027-28 season) | Length | Regular fare | Price shown | What it includes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HX, Highlights of Antarctica (March 2028, Fridtjof Nansen or Roald Amundsen) | 12 days | $11,314 | $10,396 | Flights Buenos Aires to Ushuaia and back6 |
| Quark Expeditions, Antarctic Explorer (Ocean Explorer) | 11 days | $14,895 | $14,895 (brochure fare; no automatic offer) | Day 1 hotel night in Ushuaia511 |
| Aurora Expeditions, Spirit of Antarctica (December 3 or 12, 2027, Douglas Mawson) | 11 days | $18,395 | $15,636 | Ushuaia round trip, pre-voyage hotel18 |
For the coming 2026-27 season, prices vary more by sailing: HX's Highlights of Antarctica started at $8,830 on October 30, 2026 (see below), while Aurora's cheapest open Spirit of Antarctica cabin was $17,096 per person in a triple on February 27, 2027.618
For the full cost of a trip, see our Antarctica trip cost guide and the cheapest way to get to Antarctica.
Can you get a last-minute Antarctic cruise in Ushuaia?
You can sometimes book a discounted departure close to sailing, but the discounts we could verify are published online by the operators, not offered to walk-ins at the dock. The clearest near-term example on October 14, 2026 was HX's Highlights of Antarctica sailing on October 30, 2026 at $8,830 per person against a regular $10,589, under its 130th anniversary offer, with the flights from Buenos Aires included.6 A "last minute" label is not proof of a near-term deal: Aurora Expeditions' Last Minute Deals page listed Spirit of Antarctica from $15,636 against $18,395, but on the voyage's own page that fare belonged to the December 3 and 12, 2027 sailings, more than a year away.818
We found no official source for the often-repeated idea that agencies in Ushuaia sell unsold cabins cheaply in person, so do not fly to Ushuaia without a booking hoping for one. If price matters more than timing, watch the operators' own offer pages from home, and read how to choose an Antarctica cruise before you commit to a ship.
What is the best month to visit Ushuaia?
For an Antarctic trip, December to February gives the longest days: the city's tourism office says summer brings almost 18 hours of daylight, and Magellanic penguins at Martillo Island are seen on summer Beagle Channel trips.10 Antarctic departures run from about October or November to April.34 The month to sail matters far more than the month in Ushuaia, so start with the best time to visit Antarctica. Some voyages from Ushuaia also visit South Georgia, though not all of them start here: HX's 23-day South Georgia voyage sails from Punta Arenas in Chile.7 Quark also sells Antarctic Explorer departures that start in Buenos Aires, on Ultramarine and World Voyager.5
Voyages that visit Ushuaia
Landings depend on weather and ice, so no operator can promise a specific site.
Antarctica: Whale Watching Discovery and Learning Voyage (Hondius)
Oceanwide Expeditions · Hondius · 11 days · from Ushuaia, Argentina · Sail both ways · March
from $7,800about $709 a day
ViewHighlights of Antarctica
HX Expeditions · Fridtjof Nansen · 12 days · Buenos Aires, Argentina (flight to Ushuaia included) to Buenos Aires, Argentina (flight from Ushuaia included) · Sail both ways · October to March
from $8,830about $736 a day
ViewAntarctica: Discovery and Learning Voyage (Hondius)
Oceanwide Expeditions · Hondius · 11 days · from Ushuaia, Argentina · Sail both ways · December to January
from $9,650about $877 a day
ViewAntarctica: Basecamp, with free camping, kayaking, snowshoeing and mountaineering (Hondius)
Oceanwide Expeditions · Hondius · 13 days · from Ushuaia, Argentina · Sail both ways · November
from $10,150about $781 a day
ViewAntarctica & Falklands Expedition, Buenos Aires to Montevideo
HX Expeditions · Fridtjof Nansen · 19 days · Buenos Aires, Argentina (flight to Ushuaia included) to Montevideo, Uruguay · Sail both ways · March
from $10,485about $552 a day
ViewIconic Antarctica: The Explorer's Route
HX Expeditions · 16 days · Buenos Aires, Argentina (flight to Ushuaia included) to Buenos Aires, Argentina (flight from Ushuaia included) · Sail both ways · October to December, March
from $10,863about $679 a day
ViewAntarctica: Polar Circle, Deep South Discovery Voyage (Ortelius)
Oceanwide Expeditions · 13 days · from Ushuaia, Argentina · Sail both ways · March
from $11,000about $846 a day
ViewWeddell Sea: In Search of the Emperor Penguin, incl. helicopters (Ortelius)
Oceanwide Expeditions · 11 days · from Ushuaia, Argentina · Sail both ways · November to December
from $12,100about $1,100 a day
ViewAntarctic Circle Expedition
HX Expeditions · 16 days · Buenos Aires, Argentina (flight to Ushuaia included) to Buenos Aires, Argentina (flight from Ushuaia included) · Sail both ways · December, February
from $13,578about $849 a day
ViewAntarctica Direct: Sail and Fly the Drake Passage
Lindblad Expeditions · 10 days · Ushuaia, Argentina (a reverse version starts in Puerto Natales) to Puerto Natales, Chile (flight from King George Island included) · Fly one way · November to February
from $14,500about $1,450 a day
ViewAntarctic Explorer: Discovering the 7th Continent (Ocean Explorer)
Quark Expeditions · 11 days · from Ushuaia, Argentina · Sail both ways · November to March
from $14,895about $1,354 a day
ViewAntarctic Explorer
Viking Expeditions · Viking Octantis · 13 days · Buenos Aires, Argentina (charter flight to Ushuaia included) to Ushuaia, Argentina (charter flight to Buenos Aires included) · Sail both ways · December to February
from $14,999about $1,154 a day
ViewAntarctica Active: All Inclusive Activities
Aurora Expeditions · Sylvia Earle · 14 days · from Ushuaia, Argentina · Sail both ways · November to December
from $15,296about $1,093 a day
View11-Day The Great White Continent (Seabourn Pursuit)
Seabourn · 11 days · Buenos Aires, Argentina (hotel night and charter flight to Ushuaia included) to Buenos Aires, Argentina (charter flight from Ushuaia included) · Sail both ways · February to March
from $15,998about $1,454 a day
ViewEmblematic Antarctica
Ponant · 12 days · Ushuaia, Argentina (Buenos Aires hotel night and flight to Ushuaia included) to Ushuaia, Argentina (flight to Buenos Aires included) · Sail both ways · November to February
from $16,850about $1,404 a day
ViewSpirit of Antarctica
Aurora Expeditions · Sylvia Earle · 11 days · from Ushuaia, Argentina · Sail both ways · December, February
from $17,096about $1,554 a day
View11-Day The Great White Continent
Seabourn · Seabourn Venture · 11 days · Buenos Aires, Argentina (hotel night and charter flight to Ushuaia included) to Buenos Aires, Argentina (charter flight from Ushuaia included) · Sail both ways · December to February
from $17,298about $1,573 a day
ViewFalkland Islands, South Georgia and Antarctica (Hondius)
Oceanwide Expeditions · Hondius · 19 days · from Ushuaia, Argentina · Sail both ways · January
from $17,400about $916 a day
ViewAcross the Antarctic Circle
Aurora Expeditions · Sylvia Earle · 13 days · Ushuaia, Argentina to Ushuaia, Argentina (Feb 13, 2027 departure ends in Punta Arenas, Chile) · Sail both ways · November to December, February
from $18,086about $1,391 a day
ViewVoyage to Antarctica
Lindblad Expeditions · National Geographic Endurance · 12 days · Buenos Aires, Argentina (hotel night included; group flight to Ushuaia extra) to Ushuaia, Argentina (group flight to Buenos Aires extra) · Sail both ways · December to January
from $19,968about $1,664 a day
ViewThe Great Austral Loop (Ushuaia to Buenos Aires)
Ponant · 20 days · Ushuaia, Argentina (Buenos Aires hotel night and flight to Ushuaia included) to Buenos Aires, Argentina · Sail both ways · February to March
from $21,670about $1,084 a day
ViewAntarctica by Helicopter: Crossing the Circle and the Peninsula
Quark Expeditions · Ultramarine · 14 days · Buenos Aires, Argentina (charter flight to Ushuaia) to Buenos Aires, Argentina · Sail both ways · February
from $22,290about $1,592 a day
View13-Day Antarctica Exploration
Seabourn · Seabourn Venture · 13 days · Buenos Aires, Argentina (hotel night and charter flight to Ushuaia included) to Buenos Aires, Argentina (charter flight from Ushuaia included) · Sail both ways · January
from $22,998about $1,769 a day
ViewEmperor Penguin Quest: Expedition to Snow Hill
Quark Expeditions · Ultramarine · 14 days · Buenos Aires, Argentina (charter flight to Ushuaia) to Buenos Aires, Argentina · Sail both ways · November
from $26,090about $1,864 a day
ViewSouth Georgia, Falklands & Antarctic Odyssey
Aurora Expeditions · Sylvia Earle · 21 days · Ushuaia, Argentina to Punta Arenas, Chile (Jan 8, 2027 Sylvia Earle departure) or Ushuaia, Argentina (Mar 9, 2027 Douglas Mawson departure) · Sail both ways · January, March
from $26,686about $1,271 a day
View21-Day Ultimate Antarctica, Falklands & South Georgia
Seabourn · Seabourn Venture · 21 days · Buenos Aires, Argentina (hotel night and charter flight to Ushuaia included) to Buenos Aires, Argentina (charter flight from Ushuaia included) · Sail both ways · March
from $28,198about $1,343 a day
ViewPenguins of the Far South: Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica (Ocean Explorer)
Quark Expeditions · 20 days · from Ushuaia, Argentina · Sail both ways · October, February
from $28,595about $1,430 a day
ViewAntarctica & South Georgia Island
Viking Expeditions · Viking Octantis · 19 days · Buenos Aires, Argentina (charter flight to Ushuaia included) to Ushuaia, Argentina (charter flight to Buenos Aires included) · Sail both ways · November, March
from $28,999about $1,526 a day
ViewSetting sail for the ice of the mythical Weddell Sea
Ponant · Le Commandant Charcot · 14 days · Ushuaia, Argentina (Santiago hotel night and flight to Ushuaia included) to Ushuaia, Argentina (flight to Santiago included) · Sail both ways · October to December
from $29,600about $2,114 a day
ViewQuest for the Antarctic Circle
Lindblad Expeditions · National Geographic Endurance · 16 days · Buenos Aires, Argentina (hotel night included; ship boards in Ushuaia) to Ushuaia, Argentina, then on to Buenos Aires · Sail both ways · January
from $29,900about $1,869 a day
ViewAntarctica, South Georgia, and the Falklands
Lindblad Expeditions · National Geographic Endurance · 22 days · from Ushuaia, Argentina · Sail both ways · November, February
from $33,301about $1,514 a day
ViewThe Americas & Antarctic Explorer
Viking Expeditions · Viking Octantis · 41 days · Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, United States to Ushuaia, Argentina (charter flight to Buenos Aires) · Sail both ways · November
from $37,497about $915 a day
ViewEpic Antarctica: The Falklands, South Georgia and Crossing the Circle
Quark Expeditions · Ultramarine · 23 days · Buenos Aires, Argentina (charter flight to Ushuaia) to Buenos Aires, Argentina · Sail both ways · January
from $43,590about $1,895 a day
ViewUnexplored Western Antarctica between Two Continents
Ponant · Le Commandant Charcot · 31 days · Ushuaia, Argentina (Santiago hotel night and flight to Ushuaia included) to Hobart, Tasmania, Australia · Sail both ways · January
from $75,490about $2,435 a day
View
Lowest published price per person in the operator's currency, checked October 15, 2026. Taxes, flights and single supplements vary.
Wildlife at Ushuaia
Emperor penguin
Where and how to see emperor penguins in the wild: why Antarctic Peninsula cruises miss them, which helicopter voyages and fly-in trips go to a colony and for how much, plus size, lifespan and conservation status.
Penguin species
All 18 penguin species in one table, with scientific names, where each breeds, size and IUCN status, plus which ones you can see on an Antarctic, South Georgia, Falklands or Ross Sea trip.
Plan the trip
What is the cheapest way to get to Antarctica?
The lowest 2026-27 fares on eight expedition lines, what triple and quad cabins and shoulder dates save, what last-minute deals really exist, and what the cheapest trips leave out.
Should you fly or sail across the Drake Passage?
Flying over the Drake Passage saves about three days but costs more per day and hangs on the weather at King George Island. Fares, delay records, refund rules and who should pick which.
How to choose an Antarctica cruise
How to pick an Antarctica cruise: ship size and landings first, then route, the Drake crossing, activities, comfort and price, with eight expedition ships compared and a pick for each traveler.
When is the best time to visit Antarctica?
Antarctica month by month, October to March: temperatures, daylight, sea ice, penguin and whale timing, fares and crowds, with the best month for each kind of traveler.
How much does an Antarctica trip cost?
Published 2026-27 fares from eight Antarctic expedition lines, cabin by cabin, plus the flights, hotel nights, insurance, tips and gear around them, with a worked budget for a couple.
Sources
- 1.How to get to Tierra del Fuego, Tierra del Fuego Tourism Institute (InFueTur), Fin del Mundo. Accessed October 14, 2026.
- 2.How to get here, Municipality of Ushuaia, Secretariat of Tourism (Turismo Ushuaia). Accessed October 14, 2026.
- 3.IAATO Overview of Antarctic Vessel Tourism: The 2025-26 Season, and Preliminary Estimates for 2026-27 (ATCM 48 IP 200 rev. 1), International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO). Accessed October 14, 2026.
- 4.Antarctica, Municipality of Ushuaia, Secretariat of Tourism (Turismo Ushuaia). Accessed October 14, 2026.
- 5.Antarctic Explorer: Discovering the 7th Continent, Quark Expeditions. Accessed October 14, 2026.
- 6.Highlights of Antarctica Expedition Cruise (12 days, round-trip flights from Buenos Aires), HX Expeditions (Hurtigruten Expeditions). Accessed October 14, 2026.
- 7.In-depth Antarctica, Falklands & South Georgia Expedition (23 days, round-trip flights from Santiago de Chile), HX Expeditions (Hurtigruten Expeditions). Accessed October 14, 2026.
- 8.Last Minute Deals, Aurora Expeditions. Accessed October 14, 2026.
- 9.Beagle Channel, Municipality of Ushuaia, Secretariat of Tourism (Turismo Ushuaia). Accessed October 14, 2026.
- 10.Summer, Municipality of Ushuaia, Secretariat of Tourism (Turismo Ushuaia). Accessed October 14, 2026.
- 11.Ushuaia, Argentina: much more than your gateway to the Antarctic, Quark Expeditions. Accessed October 14, 2026.
- 12.National Park, Municipality of Ushuaia, Secretariat of Tourism (Turismo Ushuaia). Accessed October 14, 2026.
- 13.Tarifas (national park entry fees), Administración de Parques Nacionales, Argentina. Accessed October 14, 2026.
- 14.Museo Marítimo y del Presidio de Ushuaia, Museo Marítimo de Ushuaia. Accessed October 14, 2026.
- 15.Ushuaia city, Municipality of Ushuaia, Secretariat of Tourism (Turismo Ushuaia). Accessed October 14, 2026.
- 16.Evolución de pasajeros (Puerto Ushuaia), Dirección Provincial de Puertos, Tierra del Fuego. Accessed October 14, 2026.
- 17.Visas: pautas generales, Consulado General de la República Argentina en Houston (Cancillería Argentina). Accessed October 14, 2026.
- 18.Spirit of Antarctica (11 days, Ushuaia round trip): dates, cabin prices, inclusions, Aurora Expeditions. Accessed October 14, 2026.