What "end of the world" means

The phrase "fin del mundo" — "end of the world" — greets travelers in Ushuaia at every turn. But what exactly counts as the southernmost point on the planet depends on how you count: by latitude, by settlement status, by continental affiliation, or by where tourists are even allowed.

Ushuaia — the southernmost city in the world

Ushuaia lies at 54°48′ south latitude, on the shore of the Beagle Channel, in the Argentine part of Tierra del Fuego. Population — about 80,000. Thanks specifically to its size and full city status, Argentina holds the title "southernmost city in the world."

It has an airport, a sea port from which Antarctic cruises depart, a university, hospitals and the Cerro Castor ski resort.

Puerto Williams — the Chilean rival

On the other shore of the Beagle Channel, on the Chilean Navarino Island, sits Puerto Williams. Coordinates — 54°56′ S, indeed about 12 km south of Ushuaia. Population — about 2,800.

In 2019 the Chilean government officially granted it the category of ciudad — city. From that point Chileans insist: Puerto Williams is the southernmost city in the world.

Puerto Toro — southernmost permanent settlement

A fishing village on the eastern coast of Navarino Island, 55°05′ S. Residents — about 36, mostly king crab fishers.

You can't get there by road: only by boat from Puerto Williams.

Cape Horn — symbol of the end of the world for sailors

Cape Horn (Cabo de Hornos) lies at 55°58′ S, on the eponymous island in the Chilean archipelago. It's the last rock of South America before the open ocean.

For sailors, Cape Horn for four centuries was synonymous with the most dangerous crossing in the world. Winds regularly exceed 100 km/h, waves — 10–15 meters.

Today on the cape stands a small lighthouse, next to it — a memorial to perished sailors as a steel silhouette of an albatross.

Cape Froward — the real south of the continent

If counting only continental South American land, its southernmost point is Cape Froward (Cabo Froward) in Chile, 53°54′ S, on the Brunswick Peninsula south of Punta Arenas.

A huge metal cross stands on the summit — Cruz de los Mares, erected in 1987 for the visit of Pope John Paul II.

Isla de los Estados — forgotten Argentina

East of Tierra del Fuego, across the Le Maire Strait, lies Isla de los Estados. It's the easternmost and one of the southernmost parts of Argentine land: 54°47′ S.

There's no permanent population — only lighthouse keepers and a small naval station. It was here, on Estados, in 1884 that the San Juan de Salvamento lighthouse went into operation — the very one that inspired Jules Verne for the novel "The Lighthouse at the End of the World."

Lighthouses of the end of the world

  • Les Éclaireurs — a small red-and-white lighthouse on an islet in the Beagle Channel.
  • San Juan de Salvamento — the real "Vernian" lighthouse on Isla de los Estados.
  • Cabo de Hornos — the lighthouse on Cape Horn, with a keeper's family living next to it.
  • San Isidro — the oldest lighthouse in southern Patagonia (1904).

Drake Passage — the southernmost crossing

Between Cape Horn and the Antarctic Peninsula lies the Drake Passage — 800 km of open water, the southernmost maritime crossing in the world.

Cruises from Ushuaia to Antarctica cross the passage in 1.5–2 days each way.

Antarctica — the real south

  • Antarctic Peninsula — the part of the continent closest to South America. From Cape Horn to its northern tip is about 1,000 km.
  • South Pole (90° S) — the geographic pole of Earth. A commercial trip costs from $50,000.
  • Vinson Massif (4,892 m) — the highest mountain in Antarctica. The ascent — several weeks, budget from $45,000.

Historical southern travelers

  • 1520 — Ferdinand Magellan first passed the strait that now bears his name.
  • 1578 — Francis Drake crossed the passage later named after him.
  • 1616 — Jacob Le Maire and Willem Schouten first rounded Cape Horn.
  • 1832–1834 — HMS Beagle expedition under Robert FitzRoy with young Charles Darwin on board.
  • 1911 — Roald Amundsen first reaches the South Pole.

How much it costs to see all this

  • Ushuaia — airfare from Buenos Aires from $150 one way, lodging from $80/night.
  • Puerto Williams — ferry or small plane from Punta Arenas, $200–400 one way.
  • Cape Horn cruise — 4–5 days from Ushuaia or Punta Arenas, from $3,000 to $5,000 per person.
  • Antarctic cruise — 10–11 days, from $7,000 to $15,000.
  • Flight to the South Pole — from $50,000.
  • Vinson Massif climb — from $45,000.

Time zone paradox

A curious fact: despite its latitude, Ushuaia lives in the UTC−3 time zone — the same as Buenos Aires. This is a political decision. So in summer the sun in Ushuaia sets after 22:00, and in winter rises closer to 10:00.

What "end of the world" means to Argentines

For Argentina Ushuaia and Tierra del Fuego aren't just a geographic record but a symbol of sovereignty. The city grew around a naval base, and the status of "the southernmost" point of the country is still felt here almost as a national title.

How to build the route

The classic combination for those who want to "tick off" the maximum number of southern points:

  1. Arrival in Ushuaia — city overview tour and the Beagle Channel.
  2. Tierra del Fuego National Park and trek to Laguna Esmeralda.
  3. One-day or two-day excursion to Puerto Williams across the border.
  4. Cape Horn cruise (4–5 days).
  5. Optionally — an Antarctic cruise (10–11 days).

Even without the cruises, Ushuaia itself is a complete meeting with the "end of the world.