Being in Argentina and missing out on a visit to Tierra del Fuego is hardly likely. Tierra del Fuego, which is a peninsula, is separated from the mainland by the Strait of Magellan. Visiting the city of Ushuaia, which is the capital city of Tierra del Fuego on the Argentinean side of the region, the other half being in Chile, and also the southernmost tip of Argentina is certainly a part of a visitor’s itinerary. The Cordillera Darwin mountain range, which continues on to the Patagonian Andes, separates the countries of Argentina and Chile into the eastern and western sides.
Tierra del Fuego has the most fascinating landscape with picturesque lakes, snow clad mountains and glistening glaciers slowly moving down the mountains into the large open sea. The best way to view the spectacular beauty of the region is to take a cruise through the enchanting fjords, rugged mountains, craggy cliffs, beautiful glaciers and view some of the most exotic flora and fauna as you pass through breathtaking scenery. You can even take boat excursions to the Beagle Island, which offers some of the most beautiful views of sea mammals, cormorants, sea gulls and sea lions, perched on the rocky shores of the mystic island.
The Magellanic penguins’ colony in Martillo Island and the Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse, a structure built on the endmost tip of the world, also form part of the excursion. Besides boat trips and cruises, you can do a lot of things inland too. Visiting the Tierra del Fuego National Park is a must. As this part of the world is almost untouched by human development, you can view some of the most extraordinary natural beauties in this region. Whether it is trekking to the ice-packed mountains with floating glaciers or exploring hidden trails along lakes and the nature reserve, every experience is far more enchanting than the one before.
The Lake Escondido at the foothills of the Garibaldi pass, the grand Lake Fagnano, Argentina’s
third largest lake, the Corazon de la Isla, hiking and bird watching at Lake Yehuin or visiting the Martial Glacier and many other scenic beauties all hold a different experience altogether. You can even explore the country life of the local inhabitants by traveling to the mesmerizing countryside. The End of the World Train trip, which is a special tourist train excursion that begins within the Tierra del Fuego at the Del Parque Station is also worth taking. The trip lasts for two hours and it takes you on a guided tour of the park.
There is a lot to see and do at Tierra del Fuego and mere words cannot describe the beauty that abounds here. You have to see it to believe it, but you can take my word for it because once you have visited the region you are certain to come back for more. If you are the adventure loving kind, you will not be satisfied by a single visit, as there is an abundance of beauty to explore. So get packing and take a trip to the end of the world, you are certainly going to love it.
Photo by Igor Podymov provided courtesy of Panoramio.com
Photo by lord_mauricio provided courtesy of Panoramio.com
Photo by lord_mauricio provided courtesy of Panoramio.com
Photo by Igor Podymov provided courtesy of Panoramio.com