Embark in Ushuaia

The excitement rises as you board your adventure ship and head south!

Information about Embark in Ushuaia

Boarding usually begins in the afternoon. Everyone will have a safety briefing and demonstration, and then you are free to explore your new floating home and meet your fellow Antarctic explorers! Later, you'll get an expedition overview from your fantastic expedition guides. You'll spend the night on board as your ship begins its journey south.

Although your focus will be on your Antarctic cruise, do consider some extra time in Ushuaia. As well as exploring the town there is the chance to explore the Martial glacier behind the town, check out the Tierra Del Fuego National Park, and go for a boat tour down the Beagle Channel to check out the sea lions and see penguins.

Interesting facts about Embark in Ushuaia

Meeting your expert guides and like-minded fellow travelers is always a highlight. Expedition guides are chosen not only for their huge depth of knowledge but also for their personalities and enthusiasm. They will bring Antarctic facts to life for you.

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Arrival at Ushuaia

Welcome to Ushuaia. It's official, you have arrived at the world's most southerly city with the evocative motto "End of the World, Beginning of Everything".

Over 50,000 people call Ushuaia home. Its unusual name derives from the language of the Yaghan people, indigenous to the Tierra del Fuego region, and translates as "deep bay".

The city was formally founded in 1884 after a small settlement and a prison had been built there in the years before, but by 1893 the population was still less than 150 thanks to a series of epidemics and the remote location. The prison population began to grow as it was used to house dangerous and repeat offenders. In effect, for the first 50 years of the city's existence, the prisoners became forced colonists, helping to build up the town and to secure the Argentine claims to the Tierra del Fuego region.

Today, Ushuaia is a busy port and a hub for adventure travel to the Antarctic and South Atlantic. Lying below the lovely snow-capped Martial Mountains, the city has grown in a rather jumbled way, expanding from its sole main street and waterfront thanks to an increase in tourism and travel.

If you want to relax before your Antarctic adventure, then a stroll along the waterfront - pausing for a selfie in front of the "end of the world" sign, of course! - is a pleasant way to spend your time. If you're feeling more energetic there are many options for hiking, biking, and boat rides into Beagle Channel. You can even take spectacular helicopter tours!

In town, there are plenty of restaurants, shops, and a recent boom in craft beers means there are several places now vying for the title of the world's most southerly brewery!

Morning in Ushuaia

Ushuaia is surrounded by stunning landscapes to visit. Or take a leisurely stroll along the waterfront, taking in the sights and sounds of this far-flung hub of Antarctic exploration.