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Beagle Channel from Ushuaia, Argentina

Argentina: Ushuaia
February 2024

Southern Giant Petrel Ushuaia

 

Ushuaia was the start point for our voyage to the Antarctic.

Legado Mitico, Buenos Aires
Our room at the Legado Mitico, Buenos Aires.

 

We flew to Ushuaia via Buenos Aires, a city we have previously visited. This time we were staying in Palermo, a lovely area which we hadn't visited before. Just one night but in a lovely hotel, the Legado Mitico, which only has eleven en suite rooms, each named for a famous Argentinean - we had La Primera Dona, also known as Evita. We had a great meal at Cabernet - so good we went back when we stayed another night at the same hotel, in the same room, when we returned from Antarctica!

Cabernet, Buenos Aires
Excellent empanadas at Cabernet...
Legado Mitico, Buenos Aires
Photographs of Eva Peron in our room at Legado Mitico.
Cabernet, Buenos Aires
...followed by great steaks.

Excellent empanadas followed by 300g rib eye steaks, perfectly cooked and very succulent.

The following morning we had an early flight to Ushuaia - dismayed to see it was a Boeing Max aircraft but all went well.

Beagle Channel
Beagle Channel from Las Lengas.
Southern Giant Petrel Ushuaia
Southern Giant Petrel

In Buenos Aires it had been very hot and it was also sunny and surprisingly warm in Ushuaia. We were staying in Las Lengas which wasn't a great hotel - we'd not been given a choice and this arranged by Quark the expedition company. It was well outside the centre of the town, though convenient for walks along the shore and it had great views of the Beagle channel. The room was very basic but clean and we were only there one night; the breakfast selection was also poor.

Ushuaia
Crested Caracara Ushuaia
Crested Caracara
Wreck of St Christopher Ushuaia
The wreck of the St. Christopher, grounded off Ushuaia.
The ship was variously owned by the USA and UK, serving as a rescue tug in WW2, before being sold to Argentina.

Crested Ducks Ushuaia
Seabirds Ushuaia
A number of orange-billed Dolphin Gulls (the youngsters have less colourful beaks and dark heads), a large white Kelp Gull in the centre, and I think the pair top right are Red Shovelers. Plus a seal poking its head out of the water top left.
Southern Lapwing Ushuaia
Southern Lapwing

We explored the seashore and the town and as we also had the following morning free we went into the Maritime Museum in the town's former prison. We had trouble finding a decent place for lunch and ended up at the Hard Rock Cafe where the food was very good, ditto the Beagle beers.

This is more time than you need in Ushuaia.

Mountains Ushuaia
Mountains Ushuaia
Mountains Ushuaia
Mountains Ushuaia
The Argentinean Navy icebreaker Almirante Irizar (on the right) with cargo vessel Canal Beagle alongside.
Maritime useum in the former prison Ushuaia
The former prison now houses the Maritime Museum.
Mountains Ushuaia

Ushuaia is basically a jumping-off point, partly for the interior, but mainly for Antarctica, where we were headed.

Ocean Adventurer
Our ship, Ocean Adventurer, ready for departure.