Ushuaia: End of the World Train & Tierra del Fuego Day Trip

Summary

Ride the Prisoners Train then walk wild shores at Tierra del Fuego

You’ll ride Ushuaia’s famous End of the World Train through lenga forests with a local guide, walk along Lake Acigami’s wild shore, and reach Lapataia Bay—the true end of Route 3. Expect salty air, shifting weather, and stories that linger long after you leave.

What’s the experience like?

Ever wonder what it feels like to stand at the very end of a continent? That’s how our day started, leaving Ushuaia with that weird mix of excitement and “are we really this far south?” Our guide Martín had this way of making history sound like gossip—he pointed out the old tracks as we pulled into the End of the World Station, telling us about prisoners who once built them. The train itself is all creaks and whistles, windows fogging up as you pass through mossy lenga forests. I tried to imagine being stuck here in winter—can’t say I’d have lasted long.

We hopped off near Ensenada Bay, where the wind smells like salt and wet earth. There’s this tiny post office—the End of the World Mail. It was closed when we passed (apparently it opens when it wants), but just seeing it made me grin. I could hear gulls arguing overhead while Martín showed us how the mountains just drop straight into the Beagle Channel. He kept switching between Spanish and English, sometimes both in one sentence—felt right for a place that’s always been a crossroads.

The walk along Lake Acigami (Martín still calls it Roca) was quiet, except for crunching gravel under boots and distant laughter from another group. You can actually see where Argentina meets Chile—a line on a map that means nothing to the wind or water here. At Lapataia Bay, there’s this battered sign marking kilometer zero of Route 3, which runs all the way up to Alaska. I touched it without thinking; maybe hoping some sense of journey would stick. The light was already shifting when we headed back—I still think about that view across water and forest, how small we felt at the edge.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Explore Tierra del Fuego National Park

• Depart from Ushuaia on Route N°3
• Arrive at End of the World Station
• Ride the old Prisoners Train
• Visit Ensenada Bay and End of the World Mail
• Walk along Lake Acigami coast
• See Argentina-Chile border at Lake Acigami
• Stop at Lapataia Bay, end of Route N°3

Top questions

Is pickup included for this Tierra del Fuego tour?

No, pickup isn’t mentioned in the inclusions for this tour.

How long is the End of the World Train ride?

The train ride lasts about an hour from End of the World Station.

Can I send a postcard from End of the World Mail?

You can if it’s open—it operates occasionally and hours aren’t guaranteed.

What will I see on this day trip from Ushuaia?

You’ll visit Ensenada Bay, Lake Acigami (Roca), Lapataia Bay, and ride the Prisoners Train through Tierra del Fuego.

Is this tour suitable for young children?

Yes, infants and small children can join; prams or strollers are allowed and infant seats are available.

Does this tour run in winter?

Yes, but some paths and Ensenada Bay may be closed due to snow in winter season.

What’s included

Your day includes entry to Tierra del Fuego with a ticket for the full route on the historic End of the World Train; you’ll be guided throughout by a local expert who shares stories in both Spanish and English as you explore bays, forests, lakeshores—and reach Lapataia Bay before heading back to Ushuaia.