End of the World

Beyond Patagonia is a place where land meets the convergence of two great oceans at the end of the world. A climate ruled by ocean currents and strong westerly wind constantly changes. This land is mostly uninhabited, wild and beautifully raw. One moment monotenous rain showers drizzle from grey skies and the next a soft rainbow pierces through parting columnous clouds. Largely undiscovered by the rest of the world, Tierra del Fuego has a wealth of outdoor activites without the crowds of other national parks. Some say Tierra del Fuego is what Patagonia was before it became trendy.

When the Spanish sailed to the the tip of South America in 1830, led by Captain Fitzroy, they saw green, sharp mountains blanketed in snow and turquoise waterways weaving through rocky islands covered with sea lions and birds. Huge bonfires burned on the shores, the warm centers of local settlements around which people gathered. The people who inhabited this area, called Yamanas, were barely clothed with sea lion skins despite the cold temperatures and fierce wind. Tierra del Fuego, land of fire, came to describe this land, this important gateway to the Pacific Ocean.

Ushuaia, the capital of Tierra del Fuego, is the southernmost town with a population over 100,000. The town forms an amphitheatre that pours down into the Bay in the Beagle Channel. Sharp sloped roofs and colorful houses give the town an inviting feeling, like an alpine ski town. Shops and hotels line the main street, but there are few bars and the night life is still in its infancy. The temperatures and climate are surprisingly mild despite its latitude so close to the South Pole. So head down to the end of the earth before everyone else discovers it.

Visit Ushsuaia and Tierra del Fuego National Park in these trips:
Argentine Odyssey 9n
Patagonia Ice Trail 11n

Photo Gallery -- Hotel Los Nires -- Hotel Tolkeyen -- Las Hayas Hotel