Argentina - The Rough Guide to South America on a Budget - page 145

sheltered bay overlooking the Beagle
Channel. Built in 1886, this working sheep
station lies 85km east of Ushuaia along
a scenic road. The land was a government
donation to the English missionary
Reverend Thomas Bridges in recognition
of his work with the local indigenous
population and for rescuing shipwreck
victims from the channels. His descendants
now run the farm, offering guided tours,
sugar hits in the tearoom, overnight stays
in the cottages and free camping on the
property (ask permission first).
he marine wildlife museum on the
property ( W acatushun.org) features an
amazing assortment of skeletons of Tierra
del Fuego's sea mammals and birds.
Minibuses for the estancia leave Ushuaia
from Juan Fadúl and Avenida Maipú
several times daily. Some day-long Beagle
Channel boat excursions stop here too.

Parque Nacional Tierra del Fuego o ce Av San Martín
1395 (Mon-Fri 9am-4pm; T 02901 421315, W parques
nacionales.gov.ar). Fishing licences are available from here.
Tour operators Canal Fun & Nature, 9 de Julio 118
( T 02901 437345, W canalfun.com), and Rumbo Sur, San
Martín 350 ( T 02901 421139, W rumbosur.com.ar), both
offer a range of tours and day-trips, from kayaking to
beaver-spotting. All Patagonia, Juan Fadul 60 ( T 02901
433622, W allpatagonia.com), runs Antarctic expeditions,
scenic flights and nature and sailing excursions. Patagonia
Adventure Explorers, at the Muelle Turístico ( T 02901 15
465842, W patagoniaadvent.com.ar), runs Beagle Channel
boat trips in a smaller boat that allows you to get closer to
the islands to see wildlife. Ushuaia Divers ( T 02901 444701,
W ushuaiadivers.com.ar) operates diving trips in the Beagle
Channel to see shipwrecks, sea lions and king crabs.

1

ACCOMMODAT ION
In summer, book accommodation in advance and be
prepared for high prices.

HOSTELS AND CAMPSITES
For the budget traveller, a number of excellent hostels
offer good services and plenty of buena onda (good vibes).
All those listed below provide kitchens, free breakfast and
internet/wi-fi access.
Antarctica Hostel Antartida Argentina 270 T 02901
435774, W antarcticahostel.com. This sociable hostel has
a light-drenched lounge area, spotless loft kitchen, coin-
operated laundry machines and a downstairs bar that
takes things up a notch at night. The plain upstairs dorms
are a b it of a hik e from th e downstairs bathrooms. Dorms
AR$90 , doubles AR$290
Camping Pista del Andino 3km uphill at Alem 2873
T 02901 435890. This site has bay views and good
facilities, including a kitchen and bike r ental. T They offer
free pick-up from town. Camping/person AR$30
Cruz del Sur Deloqui 242 T 02901 434099, W xdelsur
.com.ar. Based in a new building along the road from their
former location, this hostel is a reliable choice. The dorms
are on the small sid e but ar e clean, bright and each one has
a view. Dorms only AR$70
Freestyle Gobernador Paz 866 T 02901 432874,
W ushuaiafreestyle.com. Freestyle is a delightful hostel
with spacious four- and six-bed dorms, swish bathrooms, a
beanbag-filled TV room, and a relaxing top-floor lounge
that has superb views across the bay. The adjoining Alto
Andino is a consid erable step up in comfort (and price).
Dorms only AR$90
Ì La Posta Perón Sur 864 T 02901 444650, W laposta
-ush.com.ar. Too bad it's so far from town (20min walk),
because this sparkling hostel ticks every other box:
two kitchens, free laundry, well-scrubbed dorms, private
rooms and self-contained apartments, plus staff who will

ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
By plane Ushuaia Airport is 4km southwest of the centre
of town; a taxi costs around AR$30-40. Passengers on all
domestic flights must pay an AR$28 departure tax.
Destinations Daily flights to Buenos Aires, El Calafate and
Trelew, and less frequent services to Puerto Madryn and
Río Gallegos.
By bus There's no central bus terminal; instead buses
depart from their company o ces. Buses Pacheco (San
Martín 1267; T 02901 437073, W busespacheco.com)
runs buses to Punta Arenas (6 weekly; 12hr) via Río Grande
(3hr 30min). Bus Sur (San Martín 245; T 02901 430727,
W bus-sur.cl) has services (4 weekly) to Punta Arenas
(12hr) and Puerto Natales (15hr). Tecni Austral also has
services to Punta Arenas and a single one to Río Gallegos
(daily 5am; 12hr); book through Tolkar (Roca 157, T 02901
431408, W tolkarturismo.com.ar). Lider (Gob. Paz 921,
T 02901 436421, W lidertdf.com.ar) has (6-8 daily) buses
to Río Grande. Taqsa (Godoy 41, T 02901 435453, W taqsa
.com.ar) has a single daily bus (5am) to Río Gallegos. Note
that these are the summer season timetables; out of
season, services are reduced drastically.

INFORMAT ION AND TOURS
Tourist information The main tourist o ce is at Av San
Martín 674 (Mon-Fri 9am-10pm; Sat & Sun 9am-8pm;
T 02901 432001, W turismoushuaia.com). Register here
if you plan to go hiking anywhere but the main route
through Parque Nacional Tierra del Fuego, as many area
trails are poorly marked. There are also tourist o ces at the
Muelle Turístico (daily 9am-6pm; T 02901 437666) and
the airport (no phone: opens to meet incoming flights).