As the harbour of one of the world’s southernmost cities, Ushuaia Port is home to an array of large ships and yachts. It is the gateway to Antarctica and a historic site, where Darwin and others visited on voyages of scientific discovery. Consider the harbour’s intriguing past as you enjoy the view of the snowy mountains that surround it.
Note the sign that says “Fin del Mundo” (End of the World) as you enter the port. This description gives you a real sense of the geographical importance of this southern cape of South America. Enter the port to look around the various ships. Many restaurants and bars line the streets in and around the port. Take a break with a view of the snow-capped mountains that decorate the area beyond the Beagle Channel.
A little west lies the St. Christopher Shipwreck. The former British Royal Navy vessel served in World War II, before being sold and eventually marooned on a small rock beside the port. See the black-and-white ship illuminated against a moody sunset in the evening.
For a sense of local history, make your way to the nearby Malvinas Memorial. Learn about the importance of the Falklands War with the British in 1982. When speaking with locals, make sure to refer to the islands and the war by the Spanish name of Malvinas as the English name is deemed offensive.
Take a cruise from the port to the unspoiled region of Antarctica. The vast majority of the world’s traffic to the snowy continent comes from Ushuaia Port.
Learn about the history of the harbour, which was the important starting point for many European expeditions of South America. The city was also once home to the Yamana indigenous people, before it was converted into a penal colony in the early 20th century.
Look for Ushuaia Port beside the “Fin del Mundo” sign on the southern coast of the city. It is several blocks east from the Malvinas Monument and just two blocks south of the Government House.
