Descripción
NATIONAL PARK TOUR
At 12 km westwards from Ushuaia it is located the entrance to Tierra del Fuego National Park, the only one with a seacoast in our country. It has an area of 63000 hectares where lengas (Nothofagus pumilio), sour cherry trees, ñires (Nothofagus Antarctica), berberis, flowers such as orchids, violets and senecios live together. A trip around this national park, in addition to the several panoramic views of Beagle Channel framed by the mountains and forest, approaches us to nature. The chance of breathing sea air as well as the forest smell is a privilege for only a few people. We follow the road that traces a very thin strip in the mountain foothills; we go past peat bogs, beavers’ dams and finally we arrive in Lapataia River. After crossing the river, the road becomes winding and full of bushes with some panoramic views like Verde Lagoon. Geese and storks come here every summer.
If the passenger wants to feel like the main character in a short story, we suggest taking the hike along the path that leads to Negra Lagoon or Beavers’ Path to interpret these curious animals’ work. Then the last section to Lapataia (National Route 3 end) starts where the old inhabitants of this area left their legacy: the shell middens, some incredible archaeological sites. Before returning to Ushuaia we stop at Roca Lake whose color changes according to the weather. There we can taste a chocolate in the café.
SEA LION’S ISLAND AND BIRD’S ISLAND
We set sail from the local tourist pier. We sail across the wide bay in Ushuaia until taking Beagle Channel through Chico Pass.
There we navigate around both Bird’s Island to appreciate avifauna from Tierra del Fuego such as skuas, black-browed albatross (Thalassarche melanophrys), Fuegian steamer ducks, sheldgeese, kelp gulls (Larus dominicanus), dolphin gulls (Leucophaeus scoresbii) and Sea Lion’s Island Lobos to watch one-haired sea lions and South American fur seals (Arctophoca australis).
Both islands are in Bridges Archipelago.
Once we reach Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse, we can contemplate the colonies of imperial shags (Leucocarbo atriceps) and rock shags (Phalacrocorax magellanicus). We can listen to the story of SS Monte Cervantes sinking in 1930.
By the end of the tour we are surprised by the mountainous range that is round Ushuaia and the sumptuous nature around. We visit interesting privileged points all along the trip. This is a tour with both historical and landscape richness that is discovered while sailing by Canoero Catamarans in the Beagle Channel.
ESCONDIDO AND FAGNANO LAKES
Get ready to cross the Andes Range. Yes! This excursion takes us to travel around a wide variety of landscapes. In all cases the forest accompanies us. When we leave Ushuaia eastwards, we stop to watch the whole Old Prison; we go past the industrial area and once we go deep into the forest, Velo de la Novia Waterfall surprises us. On bordering Olivia Mount base, the imposing Alvear Hill can be seen at the front with its eternal snow and a huge peat bog valley at its base. This valley is called Carbajal Valley that later changes its name into Tierra Mayor and Las Cotorras. When the road goes past Rancho Hambre, the ascent starts. At 430 masl, in Garibaldi Pass, we can enjoy an unforgettable view of Escondido and Fagnano Lakes. We descend towards Escondido Lake shore where Petrel Inn is located.
When we leave the inn, we take national route 3 again to start our travel by the sawmill area where lengas (Nothofagus pumilio) make a dense even forest. A few kilometers ahead a detour leads us to the biggest lake in Tierra del Fuego.
Fagnano Lake is so big that some birds lose their way and wind makes them fly over it. That is why we can see some albatrosses and petrels. On approaching the shore, water transparency invites us to meditate. Our return is by the same national route 3 straight ahead to Ushuaia.
