¿How to get to Tierra del Fuego?

The island has an international airport that operates flights throughout the year, a port that allows the docking of major cruise ships and a ferry service in Chilean waters, which makes daily crossings through the Strait of Magellan to the continent.

How to get here by plane

There are direct flights to Ushuaia and Río Grande from the city of Buenos Aires, with an approximate duration of three-and-a-half-hours. Another non-stop route, with weekly frequency, departs from the city of Córdoba to Ushuaia.

As for flights with stopovers, it is possible to make connections from the cities of Trelew, Bariloche, El Calafate, and Río Gallegos.

These flights are operated by Aerolíneas Argentinas and arrive at the "Malvinas Argentinas" International Airport, located about 5 kilometers from downtown Ushuaia. This airport has jetways for the boarding and arrival of passengers, as well as duty-free shops, souvenir stores, restaurants, cafes, ATMs and taxi cab services.

Flights to Río Grande, in the north of the island, arrive at the "Gobernador Trejo Noel” Airport, located  7 kilometers from the city center.

Two low-cost companies, Jetsmart and Flybondi, also have regular  flights to Ushuaia from the city of Buenos Aires.

Passengers Information

After arrival at both air terminals, controls are carried out by SENASA (Argentina's National Food Safety and Quality Service). This agency is in charge of safeguarding the sanitary status of the island, in order to prevent the spread of Foot-and-Mouth Disease and Fruit Fly.

Therefore, passengers are advised not to bring the following products in their luggage:

  • Homemade foods
  • Fruits and vegetables
  • Cheese, cold cuts, sausages, etc.
  • Meat (red or poultry)

The failure to comply with this prohibition will lead to have the products confiscated and discarded by SENASA agents.

How to get here by car/ bus

The island of Tierra del Fuego is divided into two territories: the eastern sector belongs to Argentina and the western sector to the Republic of Chile.

In order to get to the island by car or bus, it is necessary to cross the Strait of Magellan from Chilean territory.

When travelling from Argentina, you must take National Route 3, which starts in the city of Buenos Aires and crosses the Patagonian coastal region. Once you get to Río Gallegos, in the province of Santa Cruz,  you must drive about 68 kilometers to the "Integración Austral" border crossing, where you must go through the migratory procedures to enter Chile.

Once you are ready to continue, take National Route 255 and 257, which will take you to Punta Delgada. In this place, also known  as “Primera Angostura”, you will take the ferry that  crosses the Strait of Magellan  towards Bahía Azul, on the northern coast of Tierra del Fuego. The crossing takes about 30 minutes, but bear in mind that the ferry service is subject to weather conditions. It's important to check with the ferry company the fares and payment methods before your trip. For more information, visit their website: Transbordadora Austral Broom https://www.tabsa.cl/portal/index.php/en/

From Bahía Azul you must drive 148 kilometers to get to San Sebastián border crossing. Once you enter Argentina, take National Route 3  which leads to Ushuaia.

This route, with a total of 3079 kilometers long, ends at Bahía Lapataia, in the Tierra del Fuego National Park.

Crossing from Punta Arenas

For those travelers who wish to enter the island from Chile, there is the option of taking the ferry in the city of Punta Arenas and disembark in Puerto Porvenir. From Porvenir, you have a 142 kilometer drive to the San Sebastián Border Crossing, and from there, you must take National Route 3 to either Río Grande, Tolhuin or Ushuaia. This crossing takes approximately 2 hours.

For more information on road trips recommendations click here.


How to get here by sea

The port of Ushuaia welcomes every year ships from all over the world. Expedition ships, luxury cruises and vessels dock in the city during the summer season.

Those who decide to visit the island by sea, often do so aboard cruise ships that make a vast itinerary through different ports in South America. Ushuaia is one of the stopovers, and usually these cruises stay at the city for a few hours or even two or three days.

These tours can be booked directly with the cruise companies or through a travel agency.

For those travelers who wish to sail on their own, in private sailboats or smaller vessels, Ushuaia has two small docks, managed by the Ushuaia Nautical Club and the Association of Underwater and Nautical Activities (A.F.A.S.Y.N by its initials in Spanish).

The A.F.A.A.S.Y.N. dock offers a mooring service for sailboats, as well as provision of drinking water, 220v and 380v electric current and hot water showers.

The Ushuaia Yacht Club dock is less equipped and can only offer mooring service for sailboats.

Information for sailors

The arrival to the port of Ushuaia must be reported to the Prefectura Naval Argentina (VHF Channel 16). If the vessel comes from the port of Buenos Aires, it is considered local transit and a report must be given to the Prefectura approximately every 8 hours.

For more information on procedures, please visit: https://www.argentina.gob.ar/prefecturanaval

¿How to get to Tierra del Fuego?

The island has an international airport that operates flights throughout the year, a port that allows the docking of major cruise ships and a ferry service in Chilean waters, which makes daily crossings through the Strait of Magellan to the continent.

How to get here by plane

There are direct flights to Ushuaia and Río Grande from the city of Buenos Aires, with an approximate duration of three-and-a-half-hours. Another non-stop route, with weekly frequency, departs from the city of Córdoba to Ushuaia.

As for flights with stopovers, it is possible to make connections from the cities of Trelew, Bariloche, El Calafate, and Río Gallegos.

These flights are operated by Aerolíneas Argentinas and arrive at the "Malvinas Argentinas" International Airport, located about 5 kilometers from downtown Ushuaia. This airport has jetways for the boarding and arrival of passengers, as well as duty-free shops, souvenir stores, restaurants, cafes, ATMs and taxi cab services.

Flights to Río Grande, in the north of the island, arrive at the "Gobernador Trejo Noel” Airport, located  7 kilometers from the city center.

Two low-cost companies, Jetsmart and Flybondi, also have regular  flights to Ushuaia from the city of Buenos Aires.

Passengers Information

After arrival at both air terminals, controls are carried out by SENASA (Argentina's National Food Safety and Quality Service). This agency is in charge of safeguarding the sanitary status of the island, in order to prevent the spread of Foot-and-Mouth Disease and Fruit Fly.

Therefore, passengers are advised not to bring the following products in their luggage:

  • Homemade foods
  • Fruits and vegetables
  • Cheese, cold cuts, sausages, etc.
  • Meat (red or poultry)

The failure to comply with this prohibition will lead to have the products confiscated and discarded by SENASA agents.

How to get here by car/ bus

The island of Tierra del Fuego is divided into two territories: the eastern sector belongs to Argentina and the western sector to the Republic of Chile.

In order to get to the island by car or bus, it is necessary to cross the Strait of Magellan from Chilean territory.

When travelling from Argentina, you must take National Route 3, which starts in the city of Buenos Aires and crosses the Patagonian coastal region. Once you get to Río Gallegos, in the province of Santa Cruz,  you must drive about 68 kilometers to the "Integración Austral" border crossing, where you must go through the migratory procedures to enter Chile.

Once you are ready to continue, take National Route 255 and 257, which will take you to Punta Delgada. In this place, also known  as “Primera Angostura”, you will take the ferry that  crosses the Strait of Magellan  towards Bahía Azul, on the northern coast of Tierra del Fuego. The crossing takes about 30 minutes, but bear in mind that the ferry service is subject to weather conditions. It's important to check with the ferry company the fares and payment methods before your trip. For more information, visit their website: Transbordadora Austral Broom https://www.tabsa.cl/portal/index.php/en/

From Bahía Azul you must drive 148 kilometers to get to San Sebastián border crossing. Once you enter Argentina, take National Route 3  which leads to Ushuaia.

This route, with a total of 3079 kilometers long, ends at Bahía Lapataia, in the Tierra del Fuego National Park.

Crossing from Punta Arenas

For those travelers who wish to enter the island from Chile, there is the option of taking the ferry in the city of Punta Arenas and disembark in Puerto Porvenir. From Porvenir, you have a 142 kilometer drive to the San Sebastián Border Crossing, and from there, you must take National Route 3 to either Río Grande, Tolhuin or Ushuaia. This crossing takes approximately 2 hours.

For more information on road trips recommendations click here.


How to get here by sea

The port of Ushuaia welcomes every year ships from all over the world. Expedition ships, luxury cruises and vessels dock in the city during the summer season.

Those who decide to visit the island by sea, often do so aboard cruise ships that make a vast itinerary through different ports in South America. Ushuaia is one of the stopovers, and usually these cruises stay at the city for a few hours or even two or three days.

These tours can be booked directly with the cruise companies or through a travel agency.

For those travelers who wish to sail on their own, in private sailboats or smaller vessels, Ushuaia has two small docks, managed by the Ushuaia Nautical Club and the Association of Underwater and Nautical Activities (A.F.A.S.Y.N by its initials in Spanish).

The A.F.A.A.S.Y.N. dock offers a mooring service for sailboats, as well as provision of drinking water, 220v and 380v electric current and hot water showers.

The Ushuaia Yacht Club dock is less equipped and can only offer mooring service for sailboats.

Information for sailors

The arrival to the port of Ushuaia must be reported to the Prefectura Naval Argentina (VHF Channel 16). If the vessel comes from the port of Buenos Aires, it is considered local transit and a report must be given to the Prefectura approximately every 8 hours.

For more information on procedures, please visit: https://www.argentina.gob.ar/prefecturanaval