Laguna Esmeralda
- Duration
- 5–6 hours
- Transport
- On foot
- Group
- up to 3 ppl
- Season
- November–April
Turquoise you don't believe in until you see it. 9 km on foot through lenga beech forest and beaver dams — and there it is, the Emerald Lagoon. I do this hike year-round and feel a bit embarrassed by my own oohs and aahs each time. But it really is wow.
Program
-
Pickup from hotel. 30 min to the trailhead at Ruta 3, km 18
-
Start of the trek. First through lenga beech forest — 45 minutes on flat ground, you can breathe and listen
-
Beaver dams [invasive species, introduced in 1946 for fur, they reshaped the entire hydrology of the island]. Dead standing trees — their work
-
Peat bog and 200 m climb. Mud is normal [trekking boots, not sneakers]
-
Laguna Esmeralda: turquoise — hard to believe it's real. The color comes from glacial flour. Lunch with the view, optional jog around the shore
-
Descent the same way — 1.5 hours
-
Return to Ushuaia
Included
- ✓Russian-speaking guide
- ✓Transport to the trailhead
- ✓Trekking poles on request
Extra cost
- +Personal snacks
- +Trekking footwear (bring your own)
Photos
per group
Related reading
Questions and answers
Is it hard for someone not used to hiking? +
9 km round trip with 200 m of gain is at the level of "a regular park walk, just longer." The mud (always!) and the climbing pace add the difficulty. If you normally walk more than 5 km a day — you'll be fine.
What shoes do I need? +
Trekking boots with good grip, or at minimum sneakers you don't mind ruining [the mud is for real]. Gaiters welcome. There's no café on site, we carry everything.
Can I go with kids? +
Kids 7+ who can walk — yes. Smaller kids better in a backpack carrier or off-road stroller. Our Agata did the first km in Vanya's ergo-backpack.
When's the best time to go? +
December–March — dry, trail passable. April–May — golden lenga forests, empty trails, but mud. June–August — snow, you'll need snowshoes and a local guide.
What should I bring to the lagoon? +
Water (1.5 L), sandwiches, windbreaker, thermos with tea. Swimming? Possible if you're brave — the water is glacial, 4-6°C. I swam once. Once was enough.
Similar tours
Beagle Channel + lighthouse
Half a day on a catamaran to Les Éclaireurs lighthouse and sea lion colonies. The most popular boat trip in Ushuaia — and yes, I love it too, even after a hundred times leading it. The Beagle Channel is the water that separates us from Antarctica.
Martillo Island Penguins
10 hours and three small wonders. In the morning — the Ruca Kellen chacra with raspberries and strawberries at Andrés's place; then lunch with seafood in the fishing village of Almanza; and the finale — Martillo Island. The only place in the world where you're allowed to walk between the penguins.
National Park + Train
The one. The most popular excursion in Ushuaia — and for good reason. Tierra del Fuego National Park + the narrow-gauge End of the World train, the southernmost railway in the world. Half a day, car and train, plus the point where Ruta 3 ends and everything else begins.