End of the World Train vs the Laguna Esmeralda Hike

The Laguna Esmeralda trail

Laguna Esmeralda is one of the best-known hikes near Ushuaia. The trailhead is a short drive from town along Ruta 3, and the path climbs gently through:

• forest
• peatland
• an open valley
• wetlands
• higher, alpine-style ground below the peaks

At the end is a green-blue lagoon ringed by mountains. You walk the whole way there and back, so you need a reasonable level of fitness and footwear that can cope with mud.

We have not found an official distance or walking time for the trail that we could confirm, so we do not quote one. Guided treks from Ushuaia, including transport, are sold as roughly five-and-a-half- to seven-hour outings.

Which has better scenery?

For nature, Laguna Esmeralda is the better choice. On foot you move through the forest, peatland and valley and end at the lagoon below the mountains. The train is pretty, with a river, forest and peaks from the carriage, but its views are narrower and you see them through a window for most of the ride.

Which is more unique to Ushuaia?

Both belong to the place. The train tells a story you will not find anywhere else: Ushuaia’s prison and the railway that served it. Laguna Esmeralda shows the mountain landscape people picture when they think of southern Patagonia. If you want something distinctive, the prison railway story is harder to match elsewhere. If you came for wild landscape, the lagoon will probably mean more to you.

Which is easier?

The train, by a wide margin. It asks almost nothing of you physically.

Laguna Esmeralda means several hours of walking over:

• uneven ground
• mud
• peat
• roots
• snow or ice in the colder months

Many reasonably fit travelers manage it, but it is a real hike.

Which takes longer?

The train-only visit is shorter.

End of the World Train

About 1 hour 45 minutes on the train, plus the transfer to a station 8 km from town and check-in before departure.

Laguna Esmeralda

The walk takes several hours depending on your pace and the conditions. With transport from Ushuaia, it fills a long half-day.

Add Tierra del Fuego National Park to the train and the two take a similar share of your day.

Which is better for families?

The train suits most families better. It has:

• heated carriages
• very little walking
• a short ride
• a fixed timetable
• an easy pace for younger children

Laguna Esmeralda can work with older children who are strong walkers. With toddlers it is hard work unless you are used to child carriers on rough, muddy trails. Our guide to riding the train with kids has the child fares.

Which is better for older travelers?

The train is the better choice for older travelers. The Laguna Esmeralda trail can be slippery and uneven, so it suits you less well if you have:

• knee problems
• balance issues
• limited mobility
• low fitness

Which is better for active travelers?

Laguna Esmeralda is the better choice. If you enjoy hiking, a physical challenge, mountain views, long hours outdoors and photography, the hike gives you far more of all five. The train can feel passive if you wanted an active day. If you would like to hike in the national park instead, our comparison of hiking instead of the train covers the park’s trails.

Which is better in bad weather?

The train is the better choice. The heated carriages make it a comfortable fallback on a wet, windy day.

On a bad day Laguna Esmeralda gets:

• muddy
• slippery
• wet
• windy
• much less rewarding in low cloud

You can still hike in changeable weather, but if cloud hides the peaks you lose much of the view you came for.

Which is better in winter?

It depends on how much winter hiking you have done.

Train in winter

Advantages:

• snow along the tracks
• heated carriages
• an atmospheric ride
• easy logistics

Laguna Esmeralda in winter

Advantages:

• a dramatic snowy landscape

Disadvantages:

• snow and ice underfoot
• harder route-finding
• more demanding conditions
• the need for proper footwear and equipment

For most visitors the train is far easier in winter. Experienced winter hikers can have an exceptional day at the lagoon. Our winter guide covers the train from June to August.

Which is better in summer?

Laguna Esmeralda is much easier from December to February. Long daylight gives you:

• more time on the trail
• better visibility
• easier logistics
• milder conditions

This is when the hike competes most strongly with the train. Our summer planning guide covers the train in those months.

Which is better for photography?

Laguna Esmeralda is better for landscapes. You can photograph:

• the lagoon
• the mountains
• forest
• peatland
• changing weather
• wide valley views

The train suits a different set of pictures:

• the heritage railway
• the steam locomotive
• snowy tracks in winter
• station details
• the historical atmosphere

Which is better value?

Laguna Esmeralda costs less if you hike on your own. Your main costs are:

• transport to the trailhead
• a guide, if you want one
• equipment, if you need it

The train has a fixed fare. A Turista train ticket costs ARS 80,000 per adult from October 2026 to March 2027, and the national park entry fee of ARS 40,000 for foreign visitors comes on top. Once you add a guided park tour, the day costs considerably more than an independent hike. If scenery per dollar is your measure, the hike wins. If the history matters to you, the train earns its price more easily. Our tickets and prices guide has every fare.

Which is safer?

The train is far more predictable. Laguna Esmeralda asks more of you, and the main risks are:

• slippery ground: mud, roots and wet peat cause most falls, so wear waterproof boots with grip
• sudden weather changes: wind and rain can arrive within an hour, so carry a waterproof layer and turn back if cloud closes in
• getting wet and cold
• snow or ice in the colder months
• fatigue on the way back

The trail is popular, but it is still a hike in mountain country.

Do you need a guide for Laguna Esmeralda?

Not always. Many people hike it independently.

A guide is useful if:

• you do not know local conditions
• you visit in winter
• the weather is poor
• you want someone to explain the landscape
• you are not confident on rough ground

GetYourGuide does not sell a Laguna Esmeralda trek. On Viator, the Trekking Tour Laguna Esmeralda and Fuegian Valleys lasts about 5.5 hours from Ushuaia, from $90 per person, rated 5.0 from 103 reviews when we checked in October 2026. The train, by contrast, is a fully organized outing with a timetable.

Which is better if you only have one day?

If it is your first day in Ushuaia and you want a broad introduction, the train with Tierra del Fuego National Park gives you more variety: history, forest, Lake Acigami and Lapataia Bay in one trip. The National Park & End of the World Train Tour (from $50, 4.5 from 1,212 reviews) is the most reviewed way to book the two together. If hiking is one of the main reasons for your trip, choose Laguna Esmeralda.

Can you do both in one day?

It is technically possible in summer with a very early start and quick transport, but we would not plan it. Both are more enjoyable without a clock running. A better plan:

Day 1: End of the World Train + Tierra del Fuego National Park

Day 2: Laguna Esmeralda hike

Our one-day Ushuaia itinerary shows how to fill the train day.

Which should cruise passengers choose?

The train is much easier on a port day. It has:

• a fixed duration
• a straightforward transfer
• less weather risk
• an easy return to the pier

Laguna Esmeralda is possible on some long port calls, but a hike adds timing risk, and your ship will not wait. Our guide for cruise passengers covers timing against all-aboard.

Best choice by traveler type

Frequently asked questions

Is Laguna Esmeralda harder than the train?

Yes. It is a hike of several hours over uneven, often muddy ground. The train needs almost no effort.

Which is more scenic?

Laguna Esmeralda gives you wider mountain views and the lagoon itself. The train is scenic, but its views are narrower.

Which is better in winter?

The train is easier and more comfortable. Laguna Esmeralda becomes much more demanding in snow and ice.

Which is better for children?

The train for younger children; Laguna Esmeralda for older children who walk well.

Can you do both?

Yes, ideally on separate days.

Which depends more on the weather?

Laguna Esmeralda. Low cloud can hide the mountains, and rain turns the trail to mud.

The bottom line

Choose the End of the World Train if you want:

• history
• easy sightseeing
• comfort
• a family-friendly outing
• something that runs reliably all year

Choose Laguna Esmeralda if you want:

• hiking
• mountain scenery
• nature
• a more active day
• better landscape photography

For most first-time visitors, the train works better as part of a full Tierra del Fuego day. For active travelers, Laguna Esmeralda is likely to be the more rewarding outing. If you have time, do both: one tells the story of how people lived and worked here, and the other takes you into the wild landscape around the town. Check the train’s departures for your dates before you book, because the timetable changes on 1 May and 1 September.