Argentina is country number 61 for us, and our first stop, Ushuaia, is an appealing pocket of the world.
Ushuaia is the southernmost city in the world and the gateway to the Tierra del Fuego National Park, one of the most beautiful spots for outdoor activities.
Ushuaia is the end of the world and the gateway to Antarctica.
We disembarked our three-month North to the South Pole cruise, checked into an Airbnb in Ushuaia for a week, and were blessed with the most magical views. It was a welcoming gift to be back on land and enjoy some home-cooked meals and our space.
Ushuaia has a long and storied history, first settled by indigenous tribes over 6,000 years ago. In the 19th century, Ushuaia became a bustling port town with European and British settlers, whalers, fur hunters, and missionaries.
Today, the city has become a significant tourist destination, with a booming tourist industry and a thriving cultural centre.
Ushuaia is known for its breathtaking views of the Beagle Channel, the Andes Mountains, and the Tierra del Fuego National Park. Visitors can take boat tours to explore the Beagle Channel, hike in the National Park, and even take a scenic train ride to the nearby glaciers.
We were in our element, and it ticked all our boxes!
You are surrounded by snow-capped mountains everywhere you look (although rapidly melting as the sunshine kissed them all week), the ocean, and beautiful coffee houses for our daily coffee; you must check out Ana & Juana, stunning Airbnbs with views we were constantly in awe of and a culinary adventure, oh and of course the vino!
It is a haven for all you adventurous travellers, too. Ushuaia is home to national parks in very close proximity, an abundance of treks so you can hike to your heart's content, boat cruises to penguin colonies and Beagle Channel and much more.
We love this charming town at the end of the world and enjoyed resetting and recharging, maybe even having a few days off the vino! Okay, we lasted 48 hours!
As the month is booked to explore our new country by air travel, a new adventure awaits. This time, there will be glaciers, horse riding, mountains, lakes, wine regions, boat and helicopter trips and, of course, the magnificent wonder of Iguazu Falls. We can't wait to share our next adventure in Latin America.
For the weekend, we moved from our Airbnb on the top of the hill to a new Airbnb in the heart, making it easier to explore and enjoy being local and visiting a salon to brighten the hair!
The location was perfect; you were in the city's heart, and everything was a hop and a skip away. The views are everywhere; you are enveloped by the majestic mountains, two outside balconies perched above the streets, and a little oasis.
We kept ourselves busy by getting some steps on; after three months on a ship with a few half-day stops a week, it is refreshing to get out and be more active again. The main shopping street is spotlessly clean, with boutique shops selling various goods and dining establishments. The souvenir stores all have some class, not the tacky ones that line the streets of typical tourist towns.
Friday evening, we booked into a fine dining restaurant, Karma, which a fellow passenger recommended. Unfortunately, it didn't quite deliver and was very overpriced. $40AUD for eight pieces of tortellini was uncalled for, and the meat dish was mediocre. Still, the wine was delicious, so points for introducing us to the pearls of Argentinean Malbec.
We followed this with a visit to the local Ginoteria 'Jeremy Buttons'. We propped ourselves at the bar and enjoyed the staff's energy and impressive selection of gins and high-quality cocktails.
Saturday lunch was the highlight, the Patagonian lamb Casimiro Biguá Parrilla & Asador Ushuaia. They slow BBQ over the wood fire a salted lamb in a room just off the restaurant. We were in our happy place, and we were offered to take some pics as we were leaving to get up close and personal; as most know, we love our lamb!
Sunday was quiet in town; everyone had a well-deserved rest, so most shops and dining establishments were closed. Still, we found a beautiful restaurant, Augusto Ushuaia, serving Pisco Sours (the best!) and a snack; before our adventure around Argentina begins, we have three weeks scheduled to explore the places not to be missed, and our first flight is to El Calafate, home to Glaciers and the Andes!
We can't wait to share our new adventures with you all soon. (It has been a jampacked few months of travel - and we are busy trying to catch up).