Lakes Escondido and Fagnano

Overview

The excursion to Lake Escondido and Fagnano is purely contemplative, the objective is to enjoy the tranquility that the Fuegian landscape and its southern mountain range transmit.

The excursion departs by bus from Ushuaia along National Route 3 heading north after picking up the passengers from their respective hotels. Once the Beagle Channel is left behind, the giant gaze of the Olivia and Cinco Hermanos mountains appears. Then the Carbajal valley made up of a huge peat bog, which is exploited for commercial purposes.

Following the path, on both sides of the route, you will see several valleys where different activities are carried out in winter (such as sledding pulled by Huskies, snowshoe walks, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling).

Our next stop is the Harwen Winter Center (closed on Mondays), home of the national snow sculpture festival. It is also part of the final section of the provincial cross-country ski tracks. The southernmost gin artisan distillery in the world is also located there. We will learn about the production process of this spirit drink that was born in the Middle Ages and we will have the opportunity to taste it. Next to the distillery there is a small museum where the history of the motorcycles of the national industry is exhibited since the 1950s, with the mythical Puma, Tehuelche, Siambretta, etc; and the experiences of the pioneers in the long journeys uniting the south and the north of the continent.

Arriving at the highest point for the crossing of the Andes mountain range in Tierra del Fuego Argentina, we will be in front of the Garibaldi Pass (the only place in the country where crossing the Andes mountain range does not imply crossing a border, we continue transiting the same national territory ). This is a panoramic point with spectacular views of the Escondido and Fagnano Lakes and the old National Route No. 3 in a frame of Patagonian Andean forest, a landscape setting of impressive beauty.

The trip continues resuming the route until passing through the Bronzovich sawmill, active and of significant size on the coast of Lago Escondido. Afterwards, Lake Fagnano will be reached, where we will descend again to appreciate and understand the enormous magnitude of the lake, one of the largest in South America, with more than 100 km long and 7 km wide.

On the way back to Ushuaia, we will stop at one of the winter centers and have time to have lunch with a typical dish of the area: the Fuegian lamb “a la estaca” (lunch not included). After trying it you will want to know more about the secret flavors of Ushuaia. After dessert, there will be a moment of relaxation to then resume the last 20 km towards Ushuaia, ending the excursion to Lake Escondido and Fagnano, arriving around 4:00 p.m.