Chasing Summer –

In order to create a more stable population in Ushuaia, a penal colony for repeat offenders was developed, with the first prisoners arriving in 1884.

After being sent to the very bottom of the South American continent, the prisoners were put to work building their own prison. I applaud the sheer creativity in developing this plan – the budget is almost nonexistent, labor is free, keeps the prisoners busy, and the quality of the prison is in the prisoners hands.

This meant prisoners needed to transport rock and timber from the nearby forests to the town, first using oxen-pulled wagons, and eventually, this narrow gauge railway.

Back then, this was known as the Train of Prisoners, and the prisoners had to complete the journey twice a day to and from the logging camps. Escape wasn’t a concern since there was nowhere for them to go.

Today, the Train at the End of the World has been developed into a heritage train, and it’s considered the southernmost functioning railway in the world. The ride is about 45 minutes long one way. There are also prisoners to take a souvenir picture with.

The ride ends inside the National Park- Tierra del Fuego. Entering the park costs 12,000 pesos, but you can pay with cash or card. It is one of the few that accept credit or debit cards.

Inside the park are many hiking trails. The one downside is that several are linked by the dusty and busy dirt road. Wear a face covering to protect yourself against the huge clouds of dust that the tour buses produce.

In the park, I did three main sections with short and easy hikes at each. Acigami Glacier Lake, Lapataia Bay, and Ensenada Bay.