End of the World Train vs the Martial Glacier

What is the Martial Glacier like?

The Martial Glacier sits in the mountains directly above Ushuaia, about 7 km from the centre. The city tourist office lists the area as open daily from 9:00 to 19:30, with trails that take from about 2.5 to 4 hours in total. People go for:

• walking
• viewpoints
• mountain scenery
• views over the city
• views over the Beagle Channel

You do not need to commit to a full-day hike. A shorter visit fits well alongside other Ushuaia plans. If you would rather not organize it yourself, the Martial Glacier Trekking Experience with Chairlift is a 5-hour guided hike with pickup, from about $95 and rated 4.7 from only 7 reviews, so treat that rating as an early one. Check with Cerro Martial whether the chairlift is running on your date before you plan around it.

Which has better views?

For wide views, the Martial Glacier. From higher on the trail you look back over:

• Ushuaia
• the Beagle Channel
• the mountains
• the valleys around the city

The train has attractive scenery, but the views are more enclosed. You are mostly traveling through:

• forest
• the river valley
• peatland
• the Pipo River

Which is better for history?

The End of the World Train. The ride tells the story of the prisoners from the Ushuaia jail who cut wood along this valley and of the line that carried it. The Martial Glacier is a nature and viewpoint outing. Our history of the train has the full story.

Which is easier?

The train. You spend most of it sitting down. The Martial Glacier means walking uphill. How hard it feels depends on how far you go, but even a short visit is more physical than the railway.

Which takes longer?

The train has the more fixed timing.

End of the World Train

About 1 hour 45 minutes for the round trip, plus the drive to the station, about 8 km from central Ushuaia, and a 45-minute check-in before departure.

Martial Glacier

Flexible. You can spend:

• an hour or two on a short visit
• about 2.5 to 4 hours on the full trails, by the tourist office’s figures

So the glacier fits around other plans more easily.

Which is better for families?

The train is easier with younger children. It has:

• a short ride
• very little walking
• heated carriages
• a clear structure

The Martial Glacier can be a great outing for active families with older children. Younger children may find the uphill walk tiring. Our guide to the train with kids has the child fares and tips.

Which is better for older travelers?

Usually the train. The Martial Glacier involves:

• a steady incline
• uneven ground
• slippery patches in wet or icy weather

The train suits travelers with lower fitness much better.

Which is better for active travelers?

The Martial Glacier. If you enjoy:

• hiking
• walking
• viewpoints
• outdoor exercise

you are likely to get more from the glacier area. Very active travelers can find the train too passive.

Which is better in bad weather?

The train. Its heated carriages keep you comfortable in:

• rain
• wind
• cold

The Martial Glacier gives you less when:

• cloud hides the view
• the wind is strong
• the trails are muddy or icy

The view is the main reason to go up, and bad weather can take most of it away.

Which is better in winter?

That depends on how used you are to snow.

Train in winter

What you get:

• a heated carriage
• snowy scenery
• easy logistics
• an atmospheric railway

Martial Glacier in winter

What you get:

• deep snow on the mountain
• snowshoeing, sledding and a ski school on the slopes below the glacier, according to the city tourist office

What makes it harder:

• ice
• snow underfoot
• harder walking
• poorer visibility
• the need for proper winter footwear

For casual visitors, the train is easier. For experienced winter walkers, the Martial Glacier can be excellent. Our guide to the train in winter covers the June to August timetable and what to wear.

Which is better in summer?

The Martial Glacier is much easier from December to February. With long daylight and drier trails, you can get much further up. The train works well in summer too, especially combined with Tierra del Fuego National Park; see our summer guide.

Which is better for photography?

The Martial Glacier gives you wider landscapes. The train gives you heritage pictures you will not find elsewhere.

Martial Glacier

Best for:

• the Ushuaia skyline
• the Beagle Channel
• mountain views
• panoramas

Train

Best for:

• the locomotive
• railway atmosphere
• forest
• the tracks
• snow in winter

Which is better value?

The Martial Glacier can cost less, especially if you take a taxi and walk on your own. The train has a fixed fare: a Turista train ticket costs ARS 80,000 per adult from October 2026 to March 2027, and every rider also needs the national park entry, ARS 40,000 for foreign visitors.

If scenery and exercise are what you want, the glacier may feel like better value. If the history matters to you, the train gives you something you cannot get anywhere else. A guided park tour with the train, such as the Tierra del Fuego National Park Tour, Train Optional (from $52, rated 4.8 from 505 reviews), adds hotel pickup; the train costs extra on its “With train included” option.

Which is better if you only have half a day?

Both work. Choose the train for a structured outing, and the Martial Glacier for flexibility. The glacier is easier to cut short if the weather changes or you need to get back to town.

Can you do both in one day?

Yes. Pairing the train with a walk at the glacier is much more realistic than pairing it with a long hike. A summer day could run:

morning End of the World Train → lunch in Ushuaia → afternoon at the Martial Glacier

or the other way round. Leave slack between the two. Our one-day Ushuaia itinerary puts the pieces in order.

Which is better for cruise passengers?

The train is more predictable. It has:

• fixed departure times
• park tours with pickup that include it
• an easier return to plan

The Martial Glacier is possible on a long port call, but a hike adds uncertainty about timing. Our guide for cruise passengers has the port-day timings.

Which is more unique?

The train is more particular to Ushuaia. Many destinations have mountain viewpoints, but only Ushuaia has the End of the World Train and its prison story. That gives the railway the edge if you want something tied to the city itself.

Which is better if you dislike tourist attractions?

The Martial Glacier. The train is run as an organized tourist attraction, with:

• scheduled departures
• a station
• ticket classes
• an audio guide
• shops and a café at the station

The Martial Glacier feels more like an outdoor walk.

Which is better if you do not like hiking?

The train, which involves very little walking.

Which is better if you do not care about history?

The Martial Glacier. Without the prison-railway story, the train loses much of what makes it different. Our page on whether the train is worth it goes into who enjoys it and who does not.

Best choice by traveler type

History lover

End of the World Train

Hiker

Martial Glacier

Family with young children

End of the World Train

Active couple

Martial Glacier

Older traveler

End of the World Train

Photographer

Martial Glacier for panoramas; train for heritage pictures

Winter visitor

Train, unless you are comfortable on snowy mountain trails

Cruise passenger

End of the World Train

Frequently asked questions

Is the Martial Glacier harder than the train?

Yes. It involves walking uphill.

Which has better scenery?

The Martial Glacier gives wider views. The train gives more enclosed forest and valley scenery.

Which is more unique?

The End of the World Train.

Which is better for children?

Usually the train, especially for younger children.

Can you do both in one day?

Yes, especially in summer.

Which is more weather-dependent?

The Martial Glacier.

How long does the train take?

About 1 hour 45 minutes for the round trip, plus a 45-minute check-in before departure.

The bottom line

Choose the End of the World Train if you want:

• history
• Ushuaia’s best-known attraction
• easy sightseeing
• an outing that suits families
• something that works in changing weather

Choose the Martial Glacier if you want:

• hiking
• mountain views
• views over the city
• a flexible outdoor outing

For a first visit, the train is the attraction you will not find anywhere else. For an active traveler, the Martial Glacier may be more rewarding. If you have time, do both: the train shows you the valley the prisoners worked, and the glacier shows you the city from above. If you are also weighing a longer hike, our train versus Laguna Esmeralda comparison covers it, and if you are riding without a tour, see visiting the train independently.