Looking for the best Tierra del Fuego National Park tours for your trip to Ushuaia? Well, you’ve come to the right place!
No trip to Ushuaia would be complete without spending at least one day exploring Tierra del Fuego National Park. This is the southernmost national park in Argentina and it features sub-Antarctic forests, lakes, lagoons, peat bogs and beaches.
So how long do you need in Tierra del Fuego National Park?
Well, you can experience the park highlights in half a day, or if you want to explore a little deeper, you can do a full day and maybe even come back for more.
I spent a full two days hiking in Tierra del Fuego National Park, including hiking the Coastal Trail and the six trails around Lapataia Bay. Plus, I also rode the End of the World Train which travels into the national park, so I got to see quite a bit!
Thankfully, there are loads of Tierra del Fuego National Park tours to choose from geared at all kinds of travellers. There are guided tours where you can go hiking, canoeing or even birdwatching.
I’ve waded through the endless list of tours and hand-picked what I think are some of the best ones on offer. So without further ado, let’s help you find the perfect tour so you can discover this remote corner of Patagonia!
My Top 3 Picks: Tierra del Fuego National Park Tours
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Tierra del Fuego:
Hiking & Canoeing
✅ Hiking and canoeing
✅ Lunch in a geodome
✅ Small group tour
Tierra del Fuego &
End of the World Train
✅ Scenic train ride
✅ Guided park visit
✅ Includes transportation
Best Tierra del Fuego National Park Tours
1. Tierra del Fuego National Park Trekking and Canoeing
⭐️ RATING: 5/5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 8 hours | ✅ Book it!
This Tierra del Fuego National Park tour allows you to experience the park by land and by water. It’s a great option for travellers who are looking for an active tour of the national park.
First things first, this tour includes transportation so you’ll be picked up from your hotel and driven to the national park to begin the adventure.
You’ll first go on a 3.5-hour coastal trek that’s considered medium difficulty. I’ve done this trek before and it is beautiful, which makes the time fly by so it doesn’t actually feel this long.
You’ll hike through a forested trail that hugs the shoreline and along the way, you’ll come across numerous secret beaches and hidden coves. It’s a great opportunity to see wildlife!
The hike is honestly not that challenging; it’s a fairly flat trail, though you do encounter a bit of elevation closer to the end.
Your reward for completing the hike is lunch and drinks in a geodome overlooking the Lapataia River.
After lunch, it’s time to hit the water! This is where you’ll board the inflatable vessels (they’re more like a raft than a canoe, if you ask me!) and you’ll embark on a journey down the Lapataia River, which flows into the sea at Lapataia Bay.
Lapataia Bay is a pretty cool spot because it’s the end of the road at the bottom of the South American continent. There’s nowhere to go from here, unless you want to turn around and drive up to Alaska!
PROS:
- Combines hiking and canoeing
- Includes lunch in a geodome
- Small group tour
“We travelled around Argentina and Chile for 2 weeks, this was by far the best day trip we did, beautiful hike, fun canoe-ing trip and lots of fun people. Glad we did it!” -Gina W
Review via Viator
2. Tierra del Fuego National Park Half-Day Tour with Lunch and Drinks
⭐️ RATING: 5/5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 6 hours | ✅ Book it!
This half-day tour of Tierra del Fuego National Park is a great alternative for visitors who want an overview of the park without committing to any major hikes.
Maybe you’re short on time, maybe you have mobility issues, or maybe the highlights are all you need! Whatever the case, this tour delivers.
On this tour, you’ll get to visit Ensenada Bay (home to this very famous post office!), Lapataia Bay which marks the end of all roads in South America, and Roca Lake which is also known as Acigami Lake and is shared by Argentina and Chile.
You’ll also have the opportunity to walk some of the shorter trails in the Lapataia Bay sector of the park. I walked all 6 of these mini trails in one day and they range between 400 meters and 2 kilometres, so they are very manageable.
A traditional Argentine lunch will be served in a geodesic dome overlooking the Lapataia River.
PROS:
- Easy walks and beautiful viewpoints in the park
- Includes lunch in a geodome
- Small group tour
“Tour guide Claudio was fantastic. He really knows the area and is very fluent in both Spanish and English. Two small walks were included in the tour and both were very achievable for us 60-somethings. The lunch was held in a geodesic dome tent within the park. It consisted of cold appetizers, an entree of chicken leg and thigh with rice and moist cake for dessert. Wine, water and Pepsi were offered as beverages. Our mistake was to bring only lightweight waterproof jackets. The weather can shift from sunny and warm to light rain, cold and windy very quickly. We should have also brought warmer jackets and left them in the van when they were not needed.” -Julie R
Review via Viator
3. Tierra del Fuego National Park Tour & End of the World Train Ride
⭐️ RATING: 4/5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 5.5 hours | ✅ Book it!
This is one of the more popular tour options and that’s because it combines a guided visit of Tierra del Fuego National Park with a ride aboard the End of the World Train.
The tour begins with a hotel pick-up by minivan and you then drive towards the national park. Once you arrive at the End of the World Train Station, you board the Southern Fuegian Railway and travel the last 7 kilometres of the original prisoner’s train route. It is a 50-minute train ride.
Next, you’ll explore the park highlights where you’ll have the opportunity to walk some of the shorter trails and enjoy the views from a few different observation points.
You’ll also stop at Ensenada Zaratiegui, where the Post Office at the End of the World is located. Here you can buy postcards, send snail mail, and even get your passport stamped. It’s cash only!
This tour has a morning or afternoon option, but I would suggest the morning if you want to make it to the End of the World post office before it closes. The place is run by an older gentleman who keeps his own hours and sometimes closes early, so you’ve been warned to avoid disappointment!
PROS:
- Includes transportation to and from the park
- Guided visit of Tierra del Fuego National Park
- Ride the End of the World Train
“Our guide, Carla, is not only knowledgeable but also attentive. Only 3 of us out of 24 passengers were English speaking but she made sure to pay equal attention to us. The tour was beautiful scene one after another. I was disappointed that the fin del mundo post office was closed due to the winter season but well what can we do. I highly recommend this trip especially if your stay in Ushuaia is limited.” -Aya T
Review via Viator
4. Tierra del Fuego National Park Tour for Birdwatching
⭐️ RATING: 5/5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 8-9 hours | ✅ Book it!
I bet you didn’t think there were any Tierra del Fuego National Park tours for birdwatchers, but surprise, there are!
Tierra del Fuego National Park is the only national park in Argentina with a coastline and that means you can see all manner of birds.
These include the Austral Pygmy Owl, Flightless Steamer Duck, Flying Steamer Duck, Kelp Goose, Andean Tapaculo, Magellanic Oystercatcher, Blackish Oystercatcher, Kelp Goose, Albatross, Imperial Cormorant and Crested Duck, just to name a few!
I’m not even an avid birdwatcher and I was surprised at the number of birds I managed to see hiking in Tierra del Fuego National Park. I remember hiking the Senda de la Baliza trail and just as we were about to cross into the dead forest, we heard this loud pecking – it was a beautiful Magellanic woodpecker, and it would be the first of many on our visit.
So if you consider yourself a bird nerd, this tour is the one for you!
PROS:
- Tour geared to birdwatchers
- Includes lunch
- Combines 4×4 journey and hiking
“We had a great visit with Marcelo bird watching in tierra del fuego park and would highly recommend him. he picked us up at the pier and dropped us off at the airport. in a long day we saw 50 species, including a pair of woodpeckers, most endemics, and a new rarity for the park. Great lunch also. Would highly recommend him. Good pace to the trip.” – A TripAdvisor Reviewer
Review via TripAdvisor
5. Tierra del Fuego National Park Tour, Beagle Channel & 4×4 Adventure
⭐️ RATING: 5/5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 3 days | ✅ Book it!
This next option is an interesting one because it’s a package of 3 tours in Ushuaia. You are essentially booking 3 days worth of tours and it also includes a transfer from the airport to your hotel at the start of the trip, and your hotel to the airport at the end of the trip.
Basically, you just need to sort your own meals and accommodations, but for the duration of your 3-day trip to Ushuaia, you can be sure you are going on the most iconic tours in the region.
Day 1 is all about cruising the Beagle Channel, seeing Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse and viewing local wildlife.
Day 2 is a 4×4 off-road adventure to Lago Escondido. You’ll cross the Fuegian Andes Mountains via the legendary Garibaldi Pass and begin your descent down to Escondido Lake, which is only accessible on a 4×4 vehicle, before continuing to Fagnano Lake.
Lunch will be served in a geodesic dome – Argentinean asado and wine!
Day 3 is all about enjoying Tierra del Fuego National Park. You’ll visit the park with a guide and get to walk some of the shorter trails. You’ll also get to visit Lapataia Bay, which marks the end of the Panamericana Road.
If that’s not enough, this package even gives you the option of upgrading some of these experiences to include the navigation to Penguin Island and ride the End of the World Train. Read through all the options carefully at the time of booking because you have 4 different choices!
PROS:
- Package of 3 tours in 3 days
- Includes airport pick up and drop off
- Get to see the best Ushuaia has to offer
“They were highly responsive to our questions and accommodating to our specific schedule, needs and concerns. We swapped Lago Escondido activity for the Vinciguerra Glacier hike. The staff kept us informed throughout so that every event went as planned, the guides were knowledgeable, friendly, warm, and shared helpful tips to enrich our experience with unexpected memories, like a hot lunch in a glacier cave 2,400 ft high, seeing baby humpbacks at play, foraging through forests and prairies, reminding us to further memorialize our trip with the end of the world postage and passport stamps. I will recommend this team to all who plan to come Ushuaia and will use their services again for any future adventures. Thank you all.” – A TripAdvisor Reviewer
Review via TripAdvisor
Tips for Your Tierra del Fuego Trip
- Dress in layers. The weather at the end of the world is ever-changing and you can experience sunshine, rain, hail and snow all in one day. I would recommend a fleece and a waterproof jacket for your top layers.
- Wear sturdy shoes. Most of these tours include some hiking in Tierra del Fuego National Park. The trails can get quite wet and muddy depending on the time of year, so hiking shoes with good grip are ideal. This is no place for sneakers if you’re planning to hit the trails. Trekking poles are handy for longer trails.
- Check what’s included. Most Tierra del Fuego National Park tours don’t include the admission fee to the park in the tour price. This is because the price varies depending on whether you’re a local tourist, an out-of-province tourist, or an international tourist. You can also choose between a day pass or a 2-day pass, the latter of which includes a discount. You can view park rates here. Bring cash to pay the admission fee.
FAQs About Tierra del Fuego
Tierra del Fuego is an archipelago off the southernmost tip of the South American mainland and it is known as the End of the World. Tierra del Fuego National Park is the place to explore this last frontier.
Tierra del Fuego National Park is located about 11 kilometres west of Ushuaia. The park can be reached by travelling along National Route 3.
December-February (summer) is the best season to visit Tierra del Fuego National Park. This is when all trails are open and you have the greatest selection of guided tours.
Choosing a Tierra del Fuego National Park Tour
As you can see, there are plenty of options when it comes to Tierra del Fuego National Park tours!
You can choose between half-day tours, full-day tours and multi-day tours.
Plus, there are so many different angles depending on your interests. You could spend your day in the park hiking, canoeing, birdwatching, riding the End of the World train, or exploring by minivan while visiting the highlights.
If you’re interested in excursions beyond Tierra del Fuego National Park, you’ll enjoy this article on the top tours in and around Ushuaia.
GROUP TOURS – If you’d rather join a group tour to travel in Argentina, check out Gadventures.
CAR RENTAL – To explore Argentina beyond the cities, the best way to do so is by renting a car. Discover Cars offers rentals across the country.
BUS TICKETS – Bus travel is a great way to see Argentina. BusBud offers numerous routes.
TRAVEL INSURANCE – Don’t leave on your trip without booking travel insurance. You can get a quote on SafetyWing.
HOTELS – Booking.com offers accommodations to suit all budgets and travel styles.
TOURS – For a variety of tours and activities, have a look at Viator.