Ushuaia: Laguna Esmeralda Trek & Fuegian Valleys with Guide
Walk to Tierra del Fuego's Emerald Lagoon with a Guide Who Knows the Beaver Dams
You walk a moderate trail through Tierra del Fuego forest to reach Laguna Esmeralda, a glacial lagoon framed by mountains and Patagonian valleys. Along the way, your naturalist guide explains the beaver dams, local birds, and ecosystem shifts. The trek includes hotel pickup, trekking poles if needed, and a picnic lunch on the lagoon's shore before returning to the city.
5h 30m
Step-by-step itinerary
Trek to Laguna Esmeralda and picnic
- Start trek to Laguna Esmeralda
- Observe beaver dams and birds
- Arrive at Laguna Esmeralda
- Take photos and walk lagoon coast
- Enjoy picnic by the lagoon
- Return to Ushuaia city
The Experience
"How much further?" someone always asks around the second hour, and the guide just smiles and points to where the water starts turning that impossible blue-green. That's Laguna Esmeralda — the whole reason you're out here in Ushuaia's Fuegian valleys, and it hits different when you've earned it on foot. The trek to Laguna Esmeralda is not a casual stroll; it's a moderate walk through southern Patagonian forest where the landscape shifts as you climb, and your guide stops to show you things most people miss: the beaver dams that have reshaped the ecosystem since they were introduced decades ago, the birds that only live in this corner of Argentina, the way the light changes on the water as you get closer.
The guides here are naturalists, not just people with a map. They work for EXPLORE, a local outfit that keeps groups small so you're not herding through the forest like a tour bus crowd. You move at a pace that lets you actually see things — the forest structure, the animal signs, the way the valleys open up. They bring trekking poles and crampons if the terrain needs them, so you're not improvising on loose ground or ice. After a few hours of walking, you reach the lagoon itself, and that's when the break happens. You sit on the shore with a box lunch — sandwich, sweet snack, water — and just sit there. The glacial melt gives the water that emerald-to-blue color, and the mountains frame it all. You take photos, walk the shoreline if you want, and then head back the way you came.
The whole day is a roundtrip from your accommodation in Ushuaia, so no logistics to figure out. Pickup happens at your hotel, the guide handles the route, and you show up with hiking shoes and warm layers. It's the kind of trek where you leave feeling like you actually know a place, not just that you've been there.
What’s included
Your day includes roundtrip hotel pickup from your Ushuaia accommodation, a professional naturalist guide, trekking poles and crampons if required by terrain, a hot drink, and a box lunch with sandwich, sweet snack and water served on the shores of Laguna Esmeralda.
Operated by Explore Tierra del Fuego
Is this one for you?Right for anyone who wants to walk into Tierra del Fuego's landscape with someone who actually knows it — the small groups and naturalist guide mean you learn as you go, which is what makes a moderate trek feel like exploration rather than exercise.
Traveler reviews
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Top questions
What's included in the picnic lunch?
A box lunch with a sandwich, sweet snack, and water.
Do I need my own trekking poles and crampons?
No. The tour provides trekking poles and crampons if the terrain requires them. You need to bring hiking or trekking shoes and warm clothing.
What is the minimum age for this trek?
Ages 7 and up, with at least moderate physical fitness.
Is hotel pickup included?
Yes, roundtrip transfers from your accommodation are included.
How large are the groups?
Groups are kept small to allow time to enjoy each site and focus on the natural and ecological details.
Will I see wildlife on the trek?
You'll see beaver dams and learn about their ecological impact, and encounter various birds representative of the Fuegian environments along the trail.
What should I bring?
Trekking or hiking shoes and warm clothing. The guide provides poles and crampons if needed, and a hot drink is included.
Ushuaia: Laguna Esmeralda Trek & Fuegian Valleys with Guide
5h 30m · EN · ES · at your hotel
from US$ 108 per person
★★★★★★★★★★4.9799 reviewsVerified traveler reviews via our booking provider
