Tierra del Fuego hike and canoe tour from Ushuaia: Lapataia Bay

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Duration8h

GroupUp to 20

LanguagesEN · ES

PickupAt your hotel

You canoe to the end of the world on the same day you hike into the forest.

A full-day tour from Ushuaia combines a 3-hour hike through Tierra del Fuego National Park with a 1.5-hour canoe paddle down the Lapataia River to Lapataia Bay, where the Beagle Channel meets snow-capped mountains. The guide chooses between two routes based on conditions and group interests; lunch and all equipment are included, and numbers stay under 12 to keep the group intimate. Hotel pickup and drop-off bookend the day.

Step-by-step itinerary

Tierra del Fuego National Park adventure

Pick up from hotel in Ushuaia
Travel to Tierra del Fuego National Park
Hike Pampa Alta or Senda Costera trail
Enjoy picnic lunch at Lago Roca
1.5-hour canoe ride on Lapataia River
Return by minivan from Panamerican Highway end
Drop off at hotel in Ushuaia

The Experience

The minivan leaves your hotel and covers the 30 minutes to Tierra del Fuego National Park. Once there, your guide picks the route—either Pampa Alta, a 3-mile trail through open terrain with bird-watching views, or Senda Costera, a 4-mile coastal path that hugs the shoreline for the full three hours. Both routes move through Antarctic beech forest and past traces of ancient Yámanas settlements. The guide talks through the geography and wildlife as you walk, so the landscape stops being scenery and starts being readable.

At Lago Roca, you reach the forest edge and eat lunch: chicken breast baked in foil with tomato and cheese, mineral water, wine and soft drinks, all served in the open. After lunch, the guide readies the canoes for the 1.5-hour paddle down the Lapataia River. The river narrows as it opens into Lapataia Bay, where the water meets the Beagle Channel and the mountains close in. Waterfowl—ducks, geese, plovers—work the shallows. The paddle ends at the Panamerican Highway terminus, the southernmost point of the road system, before the minivan carries you back to Ushuaia.

The whole day runs eight hours door to door. You'll need warm layers, a waterproof jacket and pants, waterproof trekking boots, gloves and a hat; the guide can refuse entry if the gear is not adequate. Children from age 10 are welcome. The tour is not suitable for travelers with spinal injuries, cardiovascular concerns or pregnancy, and requires at least moderate fitness.

What’s included

Hotel pickup and drop-off in Ushuaia.
a specialized guide fluent in English and Spanish.
lunch (chicken breast en papillote with tomato, cheese, mineral water, wine and soft drinks).
all canoes and paddling equipment.
access to both the hiking trails and the Lapataia River paddle.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Tangol

Is this one for you?The eight-hour commitment means you can fit this into a single day in Ushuaia without splitting your time across two mornings, but it also rules out combining it with other activities. Groups stay at 12 people, so you're hiking and paddling with a small crew rather than a larger tour group.