Introduction: Laguna Esmeralda Ushuaia
Laguna Esmeralda is one of the highlights in term of trekking near Ushuaia. It is an easy trek that can be done from downtown in a single day. The total length of the day is 9,7km (both ways) with an ascent/descent of 204m.
Laguna Esmeralda is a small lagoon located at the end of an easy trail through a forest and grassland, it’s surrounded by small mountains.
Table of Contents
Getting there
Unlike the day before, today was sunny and there was no rain, so we took the first hour of our day to visit the Ushuaia sign and a bit of the main street before heading to the shuttle station opposite of the bus station.
We were at the shuttle station the day before to take a van to Tierra del Fuego (TDF) national park and had mentioned the will of going to Laguna Esmeralda. At that time, we got a ticket that we did not pay but with a discounted price. So, if you plan on using more than once the shuttle, tell them right away, you do not commit to anything and will get a discount.
At 9:50am, we paid 500 pesos (instead of 600) per person for the transfer from Ushuaia to the beginning of the trail and back to town later.
Our ticket was again at first from SOL, but later was exchanged for another company that brought us. As we mentioned in our post to TDF national park, it’s a bit messy there but fair.
Our shuttle left at 10:05am and we arrive at the trail to the lagoon around 10:25am.
Trail to the lagoon
At first the trail goes through a forest, then finish in a grassland. The landscapes along are gorgeous especially that the trail has no difficulties. Unfortunately, as it rained a lot the day before, the trail was super muddy, and it was at some points impossible to avoid having mud till our knees.
Once out of the forest, the trail was almost gone and it was just going wherever through the land to avoid the mud.
Unlike TDF national park, there quickly was tonnes of people arriving from everywhere. Not only shuttle from Ushuaia are actually bringing people but also tour companies arrive will full buses.
So, we would recommend the trail if there was no rain before.
The lagoon
The lagoon area is nice, and if you walked fast enough and passed all the tour agency group, you will find a cute lagoon. The perfect place to chill for a while and enjoyed some brought food.
At that point, we also got to meet a Canadian guy that asked us for a picture. We ended up talking all the way back with him. He had just started his travelling and was coming from Asia in hope of escaping the Covid-19 and keep travelling.
Return trail & Shuttle
The trail is the same as the previous one, we left around 1:15pm and made it back for 3pm. We even got a bit lost in the wood before the end.
Around 3ish pm shuttles started to arrive. By chance, the Canadian was in the same as us and as we were talking on the way back an Argentinian Chinese joined up our discussion. She was a Chinese teacher in Buenos Aires and was travelling with her mother (that could only speak Chinese). It was great, and t quickly become a mix between Spanish, English and Chinese.
We arrived in Ushuaia at 3:30pm where we parted way after a great experience.
At the end of the day, your feet should be dirty, your hair should be messy and your eyes sparkling
Where to stay in Ushuaia
There are some unique places to stay in Ushuaia:
- Cozy Apartment: Amaneceres del Beagle
- Cute houses: Aves del Sur
- B&B: Mysten Kepen B&B
