Ushuaia, Patagonia, Argentina

Ushuaia

Charles Darwin Exploring the Area & a Brief History of Ushuaia 

It was in 1833, when Charles Darwin, on board HMS Beagle, happened upon what is now the site of Ushuaia. Here, he encountered a people known as the Yamana. Above all these indigenous Indians were known for their paint-covered bodies.

Until now, it is recorded that the first time the name Ushuaia appeared in writing was when, in 1869, the English missionary Waite Hockin Stirling documented his experiences of living with the Yamana people. In 1870, more British missionaries arrived and established a very small settlement, whereupon they erected European-style houses, which were pre-built in the Falkland Islands before being transported over to Ushuaia. One particular house was for the Reverend Thomas Bridges. His house comprised of two bedrooms, which were allocated as one bedroom for the Bridges family, and the other for the use of a married Yamana couple with a third room used as a chapel.

First Marriage

It is registered that in 1871 the first official marriage was recorded, and in 1872 Thomas Despard Bridges was recorded as the first birth to a European.

Argentine Citizens

Owing to the arrival of Argentine citizens to Ushuaia in 1873 to teach at the newly constructed school, the then Argentine President, Julio Argentino Roca, decided to make Ushuaia a penal colony for serious criminals, based upon the British model of using Tasmania and Australia for the same purpose.

Most importantly, the plan to build the new prison also required the construction of houses for staff and logistical support personnel. However, even though the building was ready for its inmates, it was not until 1896 when the prison was officially recognized by Executive Order from President Roca and received its first occupants.

However, behind this plan was a ploy to establish a colony for Argentina to lay claim to Tierra del Fuego. At the time the land was part of Chile, but eventually in 1881, after the boundary agreement between Chile and Argentina, Tierra del Fuego became Argentine territory.

On the 12th of October 1884, as part of the South Atlantic Expedition, Commodore Augusto Lasserre established Ushuaia as an Argentine sub-division, with the missionaries and naval officers signing the decree.

Census

The first census was carried out in 1893 and recorded 113 men and 36 women living in Ushuaia, but at the 1914 census the registered population had gown to 1,558. the “Act of Ceremony”. Don Feliz Paz was named as the Governor of Tierra del Fuego and in 1885 named Ushuaia as its capital,

Furthermore, in 1904 the Federal Government of Argentina recognized Ushuaia as the capital of Tierra del Fuego.

Maritime Museum

In 1903 a military prison opened at the nearby Puerto Golondrina, which later merged with the original public prison in 1910 and operated through to 1947 when President Juan Peron closed the facility by executive order due to reports of prisoner abuse. The building continued as a storage and office facility for the Argentine Navy until the early 1990’s. Today it is the Ushuaia Maritime Museum.

Ushuaia suffered several epidemics, including typhus, whooping cough, and measles, all of which decimated the indigenous population, but because the native Yámana were not included in the census data the exact numbers of the Yamana people lost to disease and illness are not known, but by 1911 the Yámana had all practically disappeared, so the original mission was closed.

Experience Chile Service

We can arrange accommodation in Ushuaia, especially if you are joining or coming off a Patagonia Australis cruise or Antarctic expedition.

Send Your Enquiry to here: request@experiencechile.org

Ushuaia

We Offer

Many of our itineraries include a night or more in Ushuaia.

The main reason, for the vast majority of people, to come to Ushuaia is because they are boarding, or coming off of an Antarctica expedition trip or a Patagonian cruise. However, considering that Ushuaia is the southern-most city (Puerto Williams, opposite, in Chile is further south, but it is a small village) in the world, many people wish to say that they have “been here”. Also, it has an iconic sea channel in front of it, called The Beagle Channel and this, too, is a motivation to come to Ushuaia.

Staying Over in Ushuaia

If you are only passing through Ushuaia “because you have to”, then we suggest one night here. On the other hand, if you allow for two nights then you will have at least, one full day, to enjoy a trip into the Beagle Channel or visit some of other wild areas that surround the city.

If you would like us to arrange a custom-itinerary for you, please send us an enquiry.

Send Your Enquiry to here: request@experiencechile.org

Arriving to Ushuaia

Ushuaia Arrivals

By air to Ushuaia airport from Buenos Aires or from El Calafate, and by road on a 12hr bus trip from Punta Arenas in Chile.

Also by small boat from Puerto Navarino (close to Puerto Williams) in Chile, opposite Ushuaia. Access to Puerto Navarino is by road (1.5hrs from Puerto Williams), but the Beagle-Channel crossing is governed by weather conditions, so only possible if you have a very flexible time period.

The other option is aboard the Australis cruise ship from Punta Arenas or at the end of an Antarctic expedition cruise.

Send Your Enquiry to here: request@experiencechile.org

Ushuaia: The Main Places of Interest

Ushuaia Places of Interest

Apart from its importance as an Argentine military base, Ushuaia serves as the principal departure port for cruise ships heading out to Antarctica. It is also possible to cross the Beagle Channel in a rib-zodiac dinghy to get over to Puerto Williams in Chile (by previous arrangement and subject to local weather conditions) and for cruises to Punta Arenas in Chile.

Local attractions include:

The Tierra del Fuego National Park, containing the End of the World Train (which is very commercial and touristy) and a variety of marine fauna in the area such as penguins, seals and orcas.

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Ushuaia Accommodation

Places to Stay in Ushuaia

Here, below, is only a selection of the many accommodation varieties in Ushuaia. If you want a place not shown here, just ask and we will sort it out for you.

However, link through to our Experience Chile mother site for much more information.

Send Your Enquiry to here: request@experiencechile.org