Experience the natural wonders of Ushuaia, Argentina

A South American cruise is a great way for you to experience the continent's diverse and varied terrain, but few destinations have as unique an atmosphere as Ushuaia, Argentina, the southernmost city in the world.

Ushuaia is located in the Argentine province of Tierra del Fuego, which earned its name when the explorer Magellan saw flames rising from its seaside cliffs. This treacherous reputation endured for centuries, and even today, the area's name conjures up images of the mysterious and extraordinary. Accordingly, you will marvel at Ushuaia's otherworldly scenery while visiting the city on your vacation.

One of the top attractions near Ushuaia is Tierra del Fuego National Park. This vast reserve is famous for its jagged, snow-capped mountains and its cold, rushing rivers. Whether you want to hike along the park's many trails, canoe down its flowing streams or just take a drive to the area's southernmost point to look out over the Southern Ocean, you are sure to find a South American shore excursion that fits the bill.

Nature lovers have plenty of ways to see the unique wildlife of Tierra del Fuego when their cruise makes a stop in Ushuaia. In the Tierra Mayor Natural Reserve, you can see beaver dams as you hike through dense old-growth Lenga forests and peat bogs. Once your hike in the reserve is over, you can take in amazing views of the beautiful Five Cascades Mountains. If you would rather get up close and personal with some marine life, you can always go for a catamaran cruise in the Beagle Channel. Named after the ship of famed naturalist Charles Darwin, the channel divides the island of Tierra del Fuego from the South American mainland and is home to a wide variety of seabirds and sea lions.