Ushuaia presents itself as "the end of the world," and in a way it is: it's the southernmost city on the planet, surrounded by the Beagle Channel and the snowy peaks of the Darwin Range, and it's where every cruise to Antarctica departs. Getting there from Buenos Aires is the start of a journey that many travelers describe as the most transformative of their lives.

This guide covers the complete route: what to do in Buenos Aires before flying south, the trip's logistics, the must-do experiences in Ushuaia, and how to link it all into a coherent itinerary with the help of DePasseios and OnlyPatagonia.

All international flights to Argentina land in Buenos Aires. Even connecting flights to Ushuaia stop in the capital. Buenos Aires isn't just a layover: it's the perfect contrast to what comes next.

A traveler who arrives in Ushuaia directly without passing through Buenos Aires misses half of Argentina's cultural journey. Porteño cuisine, tango, European architecture, and the city's rhythm of life are an essential part of the Argentine soul.

Day 1: a 4-hour private city tour with DePasseios (Recoleta, San Telmo, La Boca, Puerto Madero, and Palermo), lunch at a neighborhood parrilla, and tango or a milonga in the evening.

Day 2: free morning at the San Telmo market or in the Palermo neighborhood, shopping for what you need for the south (see checklist below), a light lunch, and a private transfer to Aeroparque Airport.

The flight from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia takes about 3 hours and 15 minutes. Aerolíneas Argentinas operates it daily from Aeroparque (AEP). LATAM also covers the route with some weekly frequencies. The flight over Patagonia — the lakes, the forests, the glaciers seen from above — is already part of the experience.

Important: always check which airport your flight departs from. International flights arrive at Ezeiza (EZE) and domestic flights leave from Aeroparque (AEP). They are two different airports 40 km apart.

12 km from downtown Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego National Park is the only Argentine national park with a maritime coastline. The Lake Roca coastal trail is one of the most accessible and spectacular: an 8 km walk between the lenga forest and the Beagle coast with views of the Chilean mountains in the background.

Sailing the Beagle Channel is Ushuaia's most popular experience, and for good reason: seeing the sea lion colonies, the Magellanic penguins, and the cormorants from the water, with snowy peaks in the background, is an image that stays with you forever. Departures are morning and afternoon, last between 2 and 3 hours, and can be booked directly at the port.

The End of the World Train, the Les Éclaireurs lighthouse (wrongly called "the lighthouse at the end of the world," but photogenic all the same), and the End of the World Museum round out Ushuaia's cultural experience. For those seeking more adventure, the Martial Glacier and the ski resorts in winter are high-quality options.

Things worth buying in Buenos Aires before flying: thermal underwear (first or second generation depending on the season), lightweight rain gear (it rains often in Ushuaia), boots with good soles for wet trails, SPF 50+ sunscreen (essential even when it's cloudy), and snacks for the trails, since kiosks inside the National Park are scarce.