Located at the very foot of South America within close proximity to Antarctica, the island of Tierra del Fuego (named ¨Land of Fire´ by the first European explorers sailing down the Beagle Channel) is truly one of the continents last remaining, true-wilderness regions. Its main centre 'Ushuaia' lays claim as the most southern town in the world, so greetings literally from the end-of-the-world as we know it ;)
Traditionally it was difficult for travellers to visit in any sort of comfort, hence an obvious lack of developed tourism at present, however as the primary gateway into ´Tierra del Feugo National Park´ and acting as the main port to and from the Antarctic Peninsula, Ushuaia´s future popularity as a must-visit destination is all but guaranteed.Nicole and I arrived soon after trekking in Torres del Paine, however due to straining a ligament in my right knee and coming off the Torres with a snapped tent pole (making it unpitchable), we were forced to take things much slower than anticipated.
Opting for more granny-style sightseeing we took a great afternoon boat trip to some seal and cormorant infested islands, an out-of-season ski lift up to see a hanging glacier with a view back over the bay AND a short day in Tierra del Fuego National Park itself after signature bad weather blew in ( which ended with some last minute hitch-hiking back into town :)Leaving Ushuaia by budget airline for El´Calafate and El´Chalten, the closest town to the famous 'Fitz Roy' mountain massif, we said goodbye to Geoff and Etiennette who had spent the last few lazy days kicking back with us before they soon headed back to England.
