Choose your stop

Is Ushuaia in Patagonia? Finding Laguna Esmeralda on the map

Brief answer

Yes, Ushuaia is in Patagonia: it sits at the southern tip, on the island of Tierra del Fuego, and Laguna Esmeralda lies in the Tierra Mayor valley east of town.

Location facts

  • Trailhead 18 km from Ushuaia on Route 34
  • Island shared with Chile2
  • 3,079 km from Buenos Aires6

Find out about 14 stops

Laguna Esmeralda, the valley and the island

First pick a route, then tap any pin or stop for details and Google Maps.

Map of southern Tierra del Fuego with Ushuaia, Laguna Esmeralda, the Martial glacier, Laguna de los Témpanos, Bahía Lapataia, Lago Fagnano and Río Grande

  1. Capital of Tierra del Fuego, on the southern tip of Patagonia; tour pickups start from town hotels.

    Google Maps

  2. The meltwater lagoon at the head of the valley; its greenish tint comes from glacier sediment.

    Google Maps

  3. Cirque glacier at about 1,000 m, 7 km from the centre.

    Google Maps

  4. The Témpanos lagoon and Vinciguerra glacier: 14 km there and back, 8 hours, rated high difficulty.

    Google Maps

  5. Route 3 ends at this bay inside the national park.

    Google Maps

  6. The Alvear range separates this big lake from the Tierra Mayor valley.

    Google Maps

  7. Direct flights from Buenos Aires land here as well as in Ushuaia.

    Google Maps

Map source: © OpenStreetMap contributors

Is Ushuaia in Patagonia? Yes: the city sits at Patagonia's southern tip, on an island shared with Chile. Laguna Esmeralda lies in a valley just east of town.

Editorial team, lagunaesmeraldatrek.quest · Updated November 9, 2026 · 8 min reading time

Key facts

  • Patagonia?Yes: Ushuaia sits at the southern tip of Patagonia.1
  • The islandTierra del Fuego, divided between Argentina and Chile.2
  • The lagoonIn the Valle Tierra Mayor reserve, off Route 3.3
  • From town18 km by the city's count, 20 km by Visit Argentina's.4,5
  • Far away3,079 km from Buenos Aires, 1,000 km from Antarctica's peninsula.6

The short answer: yes, at the very bottom

Is Ushuaia in Patagonia? Yes. Ushuaia's own tourism office places the city at Patagonia's southern tip, where Argentina itself runs out, and that is where the end of the world tag comes from.1 Visit Argentina, the national tourism body, lists Laguna Esmeralda's location in the same terms: the Province of Tierra del Fuego, Argentinian Patagonia.7 So the lagoon walk is a Patagonian hike in every official sense.

What makes the answer feel less obvious is the water in between. Ushuaia is not on the mainland at all but on the island of Tierra del Fuego, which the Strait of Magellan separates from the rest of the continent.8 Ushuaia is also the provincial capital, so it is both the seat of government and the base for almost every visit to the lagoon.9 Ask anyone in town whether they live in Patagonia and the answer is an easy yes, island or not.

The distances underline how far south you are. InFueTur, the provincial tourism board, puts Ushuaia 3,079 km from Buenos Aires and 1,000 km from the Antarctic Peninsula.6 At this latitude the light and the weather feel very different from northern Patagonia, with long summer evenings and short winter days. For the Esmeralda walk, the practical effect is a short summer, a long winter and a climate that changes by the hour.

Compare the walks

Hikes near Ushuaia side by side

TrailFrom the cityReturn distanceTimeClimb
Laguna Esmeralda18 km9 km4 to 5 hours220 m
Laguna Turquesa17 km4 km3 hours330 m
Témpanos and Vinciguerra7 km14 km8 hours350 m
Martial viewpoint7 km2500 m75 minutes220 m

All figures from Ushuaia's tourism secretariat trail pages.4,25,26,27,24,28,29,30,22,31,32,33,21,34

An island shared with Chile

Tierra del Fuego is an island divided between Argentina and Chile, according to InFueTur.2 Argentina holds the eastern part and Chile the western part.15 The Argentine part, including Isla de los Estados, covers 21,571 square kilometres.16 Ushuaia sits on its south coast, facing the Beagle Channel, while the mountains behind the city, where the lagoon lies, are the last ridges of the Andes.

That split shapes how people arrive by road. To drive onto the island from mainland Argentina you have to cross 2 borders with Chile.17 From Río Gallegos it is about 68 km to the Integración Austral crossing, then a ferry over the Strait of Magellan from Punta Delgada to Bahía Azul.11,18 InFueTur gives the crossing as about 30 minutes, adding that the ferry depends on the weather.12 Build slack into any road trip for a missed crossing, and check border opening times before you set off.

From Bahía Azul it is 148 km to the San Sebastián border post and the return to Argentina.13 Ushuaia's tourism office puts the city 293 km beyond that point.14 National Route 3 then carries on through the city and out to Bahía Lapataia in the national park, where its 3,079 km end.19 Laguna Esmeralda sits just off this same road, so drivers pass its car park on the way in. If you arrive by car from the north, you can stop for the walk before you even check in.

Distances

How far places are from central Ushuaia

  • Airport5
  • Martial glacier7
  • Témpanos trail7
  • National park12
  • Turquesa trail17
  • Esmeralda trail18

Distances as Ushuaia's tourism office and InFueTur publish them.20,21,22,23,24,4

From Ushuaia to the lagoon

Laguna Esmeralda lies in the mountains north-east of the city, in the valley that Route 3 follows inland. Ushuaia's tourism office puts the start of the path 18 km from the city, on the left side of the road heading north, beside a large car park.4,38 Visit Argentina gives 20 km.5 The map panels below show the trailhead, the lagoon and the glacier above it, and each pin opens in Google Maps.

Ask a local, in Spanish, Laguna Esmeralda Ushuaia dónde queda, and the answer will be the Tierra Mayor valley. InFueTur files the trail under the provincial reserve of the Valle Tierra Mayor, entered from Route 3.3 From the car park, the return walk measures 9 km according to the city and 8.6 km according to the province.25,39 Locals simply call it the Esmeralda, and any driver or hotel desk in town will know the turn-off. Writing the reserve's name on your phone helps if your Spanish is limited.

Getting to the start is simple by car, taxi or tour. Ushuaia's taxis run on a meter, while remises charge a fixed rate and are booked by phone.40 Our site tour picks you up at your Ushuaia hotel and drives roughly half an hour to the car park. The page on getting to the trailhead covers buses, timings and return pickups in more detail, so this one stays with the map and the wider geography of the island.

Plan the trip

Which walk should you add?

Choose by how much time and energy you have left.

  • If I have a spare half day

    Martial glacier

    The viewpoint loop takes 75 minutes, 7 km from the centre.34,21

  • If I want the opposite view

    Laguna Turquesa

    It faces Laguna Esmeralda across the Tierra Mayor valley.35

  • If I want a big mountain day

    Témpanos with a guide

    It is 14 km and 8 hours on high-difficulty terrain.31,32,36

  • If I want sea and forest

    Tierra del Fuego National Park

    It lies 12 km west of the city, on the coast.23

  • If I have only one day

    Laguna Esmeralda

    The city counts it among its most recommended treks.37

A second day out

More walks near the lagoon

Short and steep

Laguna Turquesa

Across the same valley

  • Return4 km
  • Time3 hours
  • Climb330 m
Check dates

Half day

Martial glacier

Above the city

  • From town7 km
  • Viewpoint loop75 minutes
  • Climb220 m
Check dates

Full day

Témpanos lagoon

Andorra Valley

  • Return14 km
  • Time8 hours
  • TerrainHigh difficulty
Check dates

Inside the Tierra Mayor reserve

The reserve that holds the trail was created in 1994 by Provincial Decree 2256/1994, for exclusively tourist use.58 InFueTur describes it as a tourist corridor laid out along Route 3, covering about 370 km2, about 40 km long and about 8 km wide on average.59,60 Its main value, in the province's words, is scenic beauty.61 From Ushuaia it is reached by driving 20 km north on Route 3.62 The Esmeralda and Turquesa trails both start inside it.63

The reserve's trekking trails include the Beban waterfall, Laguna Esmeralda, Laguna Turquesa, and the Submarino waterfall and lagoon.63 Laguna Turquesa is the nearest neighbour: its trail starts 17 km from Ushuaia, 1 km before the Esmeralda start, on the other side of the road.24 The lagoons face each other across the valley floor, so the reserve is easy to explore over several mornings.

The valley itself is glacial in origin, crossed by the meandering Lasifashaj River that flows out near Estancia Harberton.64 The Alvear range rises between the valley and Lake Fagnano to the north, and the Sierra de Sorondo blocks it off from the Beagle Channel to the south.53 On the map that makes the lagoon a pocket of high ground between Lake Fagnano and the island's southern channel, a short drive from the coast but a world away in feel.

The road south

Driving from the mainland to the lagoon

  1. Buenos Aires

    Route 3 begins

    The road runs south along the Patagonian coast.10

  2. Río Gallegos

    To the border

    About 68 km to the Integración Austral crossing.11

  3. Punta Delgada

    Ferry

    About 30 minutes over the Strait of Magellan.12

  4. Bahía Azul

    Across Chile

    148 km to the San Sebastián border.13

  5. San Sebastián

    Back in Argentina

    Ushuaia is 293 km further on.14

  6. Ushuaia

    Lagoon turn-off

    The trailhead is 18 km beyond the city.4

The Fuegian Andes, the end of the range

The mountains around the lagoon are the southern end of the Andes. Ushuaia's tourism office describes Route 3 winding into that final stretch of the range, through glacial valleys with peat bogs, lagoons and rivers.65 The peaks are not very high, but the city notes that climate and relief make trekking here harder than the numbers suggest, and recommends specialised guides.66 Snow can lie on the upper slopes well into spring, even when the city below is clear.

Heights on the official pages vary with what they measure. Visit Argentina gives the lagoon walk an altitude of 450 m, while InFueTur puts the upper trail, which it calls high mountain terrain, at 600 m on average.67,68 Above the lagoon the Ojo del Albino Glacier reaches 1,000 m.43 The Martial glacier above the city sits at about the same height.52 In other words, the ice you see from the shore stands roughly as high as the glacier that overlooks the town.

Visit Argentina promises a panorama of Bonete hill and the Toribio range where the valley closes.45 Both are marked on the trail panel above. Seen from the lagoon shore, they close the valley like a wall. It is a compact landscape: forest, bog, lake and ice sit within a few hours' walk of the road, which is what makes this valley such a rewarding first hike on the island.

Video

Ushuaia travel guide: the city at the end of the world

Samuel and Audrey on YouTube · Nothing is fetched until you hit play.

Tierra del Fuego is an island separated from the American continent by the Strait of Magellan and its territory is divided between Argentina and Chile
Instituto Fueguino de Turismo (InFueTur)2

Arriving in Ushuaia

Arrival checklist

Before you land3

  • Leave fresh food at home: SENASA checks arrivals55
  • Book a taxi, remise or transfer from the airport51
  • Driving in? Carry papers for 2 Chilean borders17

In town3

  • Book a guided trek with hotel pickup
  • Use a SUBE card on the city buses56
  • Save the emergency numbers 103 and 91157

Other hikes near Ushuaia

If the lagoon leaves you wanting more, the city has several walks within easy reach. The Martial glacier is 7 km from the centre, inside a natural reserve of the same name.21 Its glacier viewpoint circuit covers 2500 m with 220 m of climb in 75 minutes.34 In winter the same slopes are used for alpine skiing and snowboarding.69 It is the easy add-on for a half day, and the views over the city and the channel are a good contrast with the closed valley of the lagoon.

For a longer and harder day, the route to Laguna de los Témpanos and the Vinciguerra glacier starts 7 km from the city, through the Andorra Valley.22 The city lists it at 14 km there and back, 8 hours and 350 m of height difference, on high-difficulty terrain.31,32,33,36 Its glacier and peat bogs form a Ramsar wetland site.70 Go with a guide unless you are an experienced mountain walker, and allow a full day with an early start.

West of the city lies Tierra del Fuego National Park, created in September 1960, 12 km from Ushuaia and the only national park in Argentina on the sea.71,23 It protects 68,909 hectares.72 At Lapataia, a sign marks 3,063 km to Buenos Aires.73 The Beagle Channel boat trips and penguin colonies are a separate day out, covered by our sister site on Ushuaia penguin tours. Together with the lagoon, they make a well-rounded few days.

Getting to Ushuaia in the first place

Flying is the quick way in. InFueTur gives direct flights from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia and Río Grande of about three and a half hours, while Ushuaia's tourism office gives the flight as 3 hours.54,74 Ushuaia's Malvinas Argentinas International Airport is 5 km from town.20 Río Grande's airport, in the north of the island, lies 7 km from that city's centre.75 From there it is a long drive south, so fly into Ushuaia if the lagoon is your main goal.

There is no public transport from Ushuaia airport into town, so the options are taxi, remise or a booked transfer.51 Bring nothing fresh in your luggage: SENASA, Argentina's food safety service, checks arrivals at both airports, and travellers are asked not to carry homemade food, fruit and vegetables, cheese or cold cuts.55 Finish your snacks on the plane.

Once in town, the lagoon is a morning's drive or a booked tour away. Laguna Esmeralda, Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego: that full address puts the walk at the bottom of the Americas, yet the trailhead is only a short drive from your hotel. Spend a day settling in, check the forecast and pick a clear morning for the hike. If the weather turns, the city's museums and the waterfront fill a spare day easily.

FAQ

Brief questions, brief answers.

Is Ushuaia in Patagonia?
Yes, at its southern tip.

Ushuaia's tourism office places the city at the southern tip of Patagonia.1

Is Laguna Esmeralda in Argentina or Chile?
Argentina.

It lies in the province of Tierra del Fuego, in Argentinian Patagonia.7

How far is Laguna Esmeralda from Ushuaia?
About 18 to 20 km by road.

The city gives 18 km to the trailhead and Visit Argentina 20 km.4,5

Is the lagoon inside the national park?
No.

It sits in the provincial Valle Tierra Mayor reserve, off Route 3.3

Is Tierra del Fuego an island?
Yes.

It is separated from the continent by the Strait of Magellan and shared with Chile.2

How far is Ushuaia from Antarctica?
About 1,000 km from the peninsula.

InFueTur gives 1,000 km from Ushuaia to the Antarctic Peninsula.6

Sources

  1. Secretaría de Turismo, Municipalidad de Ushuaia · City of Ushuaia ↩
  2. Instituto Fueguino de Turismo (InFueTur) · Where is Tierra del Fuego ↩
  3. Instituto Fueguino de Turismo (InFueTur) · Laguna Esmeralda trail ↩
  4. Secretaría de Turismo, Municipalidad de Ushuaia · Laguna Esmeralda ↩
  5. Visit Argentina (Instituto Nacional de Promoción Turística) · Esmeralda Lagoon ↩
  6. Instituto Fueguino de Turismo (InFueTur) · Where is Tierra del Fuego ↩
  7. Visit Argentina (Instituto Nacional de Promoción Turística) · Esmeralda Lagoon ↩
  8. Secretaría de Turismo, Municipalidad de Ushuaia · How to get here? ↩
  9. Ushuaia Tourism Secretariat (Municipality of Ushuaia, turismoushuaia.com) · How to get here? ↩
  10. Instituto Fueguino de Turismo (InFueTur) · How to get to Tierra del Fuego ↩
  11. Instituto Fueguino de Turismo (InFueTur) · How to get to Tierra del Fuego ↩
  12. Instituto Fueguino de Turismo (InFueTur) · How to get to Tierra del Fuego ↩
  13. Instituto Fueguino de Turismo (InFueTur) · How to get to Tierra del Fuego ↩
  14. Secretaría de Turismo, Municipalidad de Ushuaia · How to get here? ↩
  15. Instituto Fueguino de Turismo (InFueTur) · How to get to Tierra del Fuego ↩
  16. Instituto Fueguino de Turismo (InFueTur) · Where is Tierra del Fuego ↩
  17. Instituto Fueguino de Turismo (InFueTur) · Where is Tierra del Fuego ↩
  18. Instituto Fueguino de Turismo (InFueTur) · How to get to Tierra del Fuego ↩
  19. Instituto Fueguino de Turismo (InFueTur) · How to get to Tierra del Fuego ↩
  20. Secretaría de Turismo, Municipalidad de Ushuaia · How to get here? ↩
  21. Secretaría de Turismo, Municipalidad de Ushuaia · Glaciar Martial ↩
  22. Secretaría de Turismo, Municipalidad de Ushuaia · Glaciar Vinciguerra y Laguna de los Tempanos ↩
  23. Instituto Fueguino de Turismo (InFueTur) · Protected Natural Areas ↩
  24. Secretaría de Turismo, Municipalidad de Ushuaia · Laguna Turquesa ↩
  25. Secretaría de Turismo, Municipalidad de Ushuaia · Laguna Esmeralda ↩
  26. Secretaría de Turismo, Municipalidad de Ushuaia · Laguna Esmeralda ↩
  27. Secretaría de Turismo, Municipalidad de Ushuaia · Laguna Esmeralda ↩
  28. Secretaría de Turismo, Municipalidad de Ushuaia · Laguna Turquesa ↩
  29. Secretaría de Turismo, Municipalidad de Ushuaia · Laguna Turquesa ↩
  30. Secretaría de Turismo, Municipalidad de Ushuaia · Laguna Turquesa ↩
  31. Secretaría de Turismo, Municipalidad de Ushuaia · Glaciar Vinciguerra y Laguna de los Tempanos ↩
  32. Secretaría de Turismo, Municipalidad de Ushuaia · Glaciar Vinciguerra y Laguna de los Tempanos ↩
  33. Secretaría de Turismo, Municipalidad de Ushuaia · Glaciar Vinciguerra y Laguna de los Tempanos ↩
  34. Secretaría de Turismo, Municipalidad de Ushuaia · Senda glaciar Martial ↩
  35. Secretaría de Turismo, Municipalidad de Ushuaia · Laguna Turquesa ↩
  36. Secretaría de Turismo, Municipalidad de Ushuaia · Glaciar Vinciguerra y Laguna de los Tempanos ↩
  37. Secretaría de Turismo, Municipalidad de Ushuaia · Laguna Esmeralda ↩
  38. Secretaría de Turismo, Municipalidad de Ushuaia · Laguna Esmeralda ↩
  39. Instituto Fueguino de Turismo (InFueTur) · Laguna Esmeralda trail ↩
  40. Secretaría de Turismo, Municipalidad de Ushuaia · Useful Information for travelers ↩
  41. Instituto Fueguino de Turismo (InFueTur) · Laguna Esmeralda trail
  42. Visit Argentina (Instituto Nacional de Promoción Turística) · Ojo del Albino Glacier
  43. Visit Argentina (Instituto Nacional de Promoción Turística) · Ojo del Albino Glacier ↩
  44. Instituto Fueguino de Turismo (InFueTur) · Laguna Esmeralda trail
  45. Visit Argentina (Instituto Nacional de Promoción Turística) · Esmeralda Lagoon ↩
  46. Secretaría de Turismo, Municipalidad de Ushuaia · Tierra Mayor
  47. Secretaría de Turismo, Municipalidad de Ushuaia · Tierra Mayor
  48. Secretaría de Turismo, Municipalidad de Ushuaia · Tierra Mayor
  49. Secretaría de Turismo, Municipalidad de Ushuaia · Llanos del Castor
  50. Secretaría de Turismo, Municipalidad de Ushuaia · Llanos del Castor
  51. Secretaría de Turismo, Municipalidad de Ushuaia · How to get here? ↩
  52. Secretaría de Turismo, Municipalidad de Ushuaia · Glaciar Martial ↩
  53. Instituto Fueguino de Turismo (InFueTur) · Tierra Mayor Valley Nature Reserve ↩
  54. Instituto Fueguino de Turismo (InFueTur) · How to get to Tierra del Fuego ↩
  55. Instituto Fueguino de Turismo (InFueTur) · How to get to Tierra del Fuego ↩
  56. Secretaría de Turismo, Municipalidad de Ushuaia · Useful Information for travelers ↩
  57. Secretaría de Turismo, Municipalidad de Ushuaia · Trekking Ushuaia ↩
  58. Instituto Fueguino de Turismo (InFueTur) · Tierra Mayor Valley Nature Reserve ↩
  59. Instituto Fueguino de Turismo (InFueTur) · Tierra Mayor Valley Nature Reserve ↩
  60. Instituto Fueguino de Turismo (InFueTur) · Tierra Mayor Valley Nature Reserve ↩
  61. Instituto Fueguino de Turismo (InFueTur) · Reserva Natural y Paisajística Valle de Tierra Mayor ↩
  62. Instituto Fueguino de Turismo (InFueTur) · Tierra Mayor Valley Nature Reserve ↩
  63. Instituto Fueguino de Turismo (InFueTur) · Tierra Mayor Valley Nature Reserve ↩
  64. Instituto Fueguino de Turismo (InFueTur) · Tierra Mayor Valley Nature Reserve ↩
  65. Secretaría de Turismo, Municipalidad de Ushuaia · Valley Circuit - Winter Centers ↩
  66. Secretaría de Turismo, Municipalidad de Ushuaia · Trekking Ushuaia ↩
  67. Visit Argentina (Instituto Nacional de Promoción Turística) · Esmeralda Lagoon ↩
  68. Instituto Fueguino de Turismo (InFueTur) · Laguna Esmeralda trail ↩
  69. Secretaría de Turismo, Municipalidad de Ushuaia · Glaciar Martial ↩
  70. Instituto Fueguino de Turismo (InFueTur) · Protected Natural Areas ↩
  71. Instituto Fueguino de Turismo (InFueTur) · Protected Natural Areas ↩
  72. Secretaría de Turismo, Municipalidad de Ushuaia · Tierra del Fuego National Park ↩
  73. Secretaría de Turismo, Municipalidad de Ushuaia · Tierra del Fuego National Park ↩
  74. Secretaría de Turismo, Municipalidad de Ushuaia · How to get here? ↩
  75. Instituto Fueguino de Turismo (InFueTur) · How to get to Tierra del Fuego ↩

Read on

More for the trail to the lagoon

GuideLaguna Esmeralda tour pricesGuideGuided trek or on your ownGuideGetting to the Laguna Esmeralda trailheadGuideHow long and how hard is the hike

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