Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina

(This posting for USHUAIA should have be placed between the CAPE HORN and the ANTARCTIC LANDING postings below)

USHUAIA Stopover and TIERRA DEL FUEGO National Park

and Sailing the BEAGLE CHANNEL Tour

Sunday 25th March 2012

Welcome to USHUAIA and "PUERTO USHUAIA" on the island of TIERRA DEL FUEGO in Argentina.

Awaking at first light in the City of USHUAIA on the island of TIERRA DEL FUEGO in Argentina (although most of the main island of TIERRA DEL FUEGO belongs to Chile) was already a spectacular sight. 

And throughout this day the whole area in and around USHUAIA (with its mountainous backdrop and amazing bay and islands) would provide some of the most incredible scenary and fantastic sights so far on this cruise journey.

The numerous mountain peaks are nearly all jagged and pinnacle like with virtually all having a sprinkling of snow on their tops after the first snows of the season, falling two weeks previously. Simply breathtaking!

The TIERRA DEL FUEGO National Park includes some of the world's most majestic mountains and glacial formations along with giant peat bogs and ancient lakes filled with algae. 


The TIERRA DEL FUEGO National Park is the only National Park in Chile that offers the 3 elements of the forest, the mountains and the sea. 

Hidden deap within the "Austral Forest" are pretty lakes, known as "secret retreats" for the residents of USHUAIA, who often take their 4x4 vehicles out to reach these remote regions.

The TIERRA DEL FUEGO National Park is also a paradise for birdwatchers with quite the mixture of both sea and water based birds and forest and land based birds including seagulls, albatross, hawks, parakeets ducks and geese. It is also the home of several mammals such a grey fox, guanaco, otter (chungungo) and beaver. 

The weather was very changable, one minute sunshine, the next minute rain and of course because of this we saw many rainbows.

The waters of each lake and channel and the two rivers (Rio Olivia and Rio Pipo) that we  encountered were all crystal clear with beaches of small rocks, pebbles and shells.  

Sailing the BEAGLE CHANNEL in a catamaran was both exhillerating and exciting and showed to the fullest the vistas available all around the the BEAGLE CHANNEL. Many different sea birds were visible both high in the air and skimming the waters including various seagulls and albatross. 

Sail-by visits were also made to several islands in the BEAGLE CHANNEL at the entrance to the harbour of USHUAIA having both seal and sea lion colonies, which were an incredible sight albeit rather busy and noisy.

Upon returning to USHUAIA to re-join the MS VEENDAM there were some brief moments to explore the main square and surrounding points of interest and finally, to receive a certificate from the USHUAIA Tourist Information Board thanking us for "choosing the southernmost city in the world to live an unforgettable experience", which on that day, we most certainly did!

Due to a 2 hour delay in the Port Authorities issuing the necessary permits for the MS VEENDAM to leave USHUAIA, it meant that although the MS VEENDAM entered and passed through the GLACIER ALLEY, it was well after nighfall and a great shame as it just too dark for us to see the spectacular sights.