Is the End of the World Train Worth It?
Who enjoys Ushuaia's End of the World Train and who should skip it: what you see on the 7 km ride, the prison history, the full cost and the alternatives.
Yes, if you enjoy history and slow scenery and you are visiting Tierra del Fuego National Park anyway. The ride takes about 1 hour 45 minutes round trip in heated carriages, along the line prisoners once used to reach the forest. If your day is about hiking, or every peso counts, the park on its own gives you more.
The train is a gentle, narrated ride of 7 km from a station just outside the park to a station inside it, with one stop at a waterfall. It will not replace a day in the park, but it adds a story to it that the viewpoints alone do not tell. Our End of the World Train homepage has the basics; this guide helps you decide whether to spend the money and the time.
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Who enjoys it, and who should skip it
The train suits you if you like railways, local history or an easy outing with children or older relatives. The carriages are heated, the seats are comfortable and the audio guide runs in 10 languages, so it works in any weather. It runs every day of the year, including in snow, and the heated cars matter most in winter. Adapted carriages exist for travelers with reduced mobility, with advance notice.
You can skip it if you came to Ushuaia to hike. The whole line is 7 km, and the Senda Costera trail inside the park covers 8 km of coast on foot. Skip it too if the budget is tight. The ticket costs twice the park entry, and on a guided tour the train option roughly doubles the price.
Reviewers on the most popular park tours are fond of the train, with a few reservations. One traveler on the Tierra del Fuego National Park Tour wrote that the tour “is a bit dominated by the train though when park is the main spectacular event”, and the listing’s review summary notes that some travelers wanted clearer details on the train’s extra cost and short length. Another reviewer said: “We did the train, we weren’t going to at first but glad we did.” Our breakdown →
What you actually see
You board at Estación Fin del Mundo, on Ruta Nacional 3, 8 km west of Ushuaia and 1 km before the park gate. From there the train follows the Río Pipo valley into the park.
| Stretch | What you see | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Estación Fin del Mundo | The main station, where every ride begins | Check-in 45 min before departure |
| Río Pipo valley | The river, the Puente Quemado bridge and the tree cemetery | On board |
| Estación La Macarena | The locomotive up close, Cascada La Macarena, a viewpoint, Monte Susana and Cerro Guanaco | About 20 min stop |
| Lenga forest | Southern beech forest as the line enters the park | On board |
| Estación Parque Nacional | The terminus inside the park | About 10 to 15 min before the return |
The tree cemetery is the part most people remember. Fields of low stumps, most no higher than about 50 cm, still stand where prisoners cut timber for nearly half a century. At La Macarena, the Paseo del Valle walk opened in December 2025, with added access for visitors with reduced mobility.
The full route and timings are in our End of the World Train schedule.
The prison history behind the ride
Ushuaia began as a penal settlement. The foundation stone of the national penitentiary was laid in 1902, and a steam railway on narrow track was running by around 1909 to 1910. Prisoners rode it out to the forests to cut lenga for firewood and building and to quarry stone. The original line ran to about 25 km.
The prison closed in 1947. An earthquake in 1949 badly damaged the railway, and it closed in 1952. The line reopened as a tourist train in 1994, rebuilt to a narrower gauge, and it still carries the nickname “Tren de los Presos”, the prisoners’ train. The audio guide tells this story as you ride.
For the full picture, the Maritime and Prison Museum in town charges ARS 44,000 for adults in 2026, with the ticket valid for two consecutive days.
What it really costs
A realistic budget includes the ticket, the park entry and a way to reach the station. Figures below are for one foreign adult from October 2026.
| How you go | Train | Park entry | Transport | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| On your own, ticket from the railway | ARS 80,000 | ARS 40,000 | Taxi or car | ARS 120,000 plus transport |
| On your own, ticket on GetYourGuide | $53 (8 Oct 2026) | ARS 40,000 | Taxi or car | $53 plus ARS 40,000 plus transport |
| Guided park tour with train (788107) | Included | ARS 40,000 | Included | $124 plus ARS 40,000 |
| All-inclusive small-group tour (1116165) | Included | Included | Included | $189 |
| Premium class, ticket from the railway | ARS 250,000 | ARS 40,000 | Taxi or car | ARS 290,000 plus transport |
The park entry applies to every rider, even on a round trip that never leaves the train. The operator’s own End of the World Train ticket lists it as required (our breakdown →). Every fare and discount is in the tickets and prices guide.
Good alternatives
A park tour without the train covers the headline stops: Ensenada Zaratiegui, Lake Acigami and Lapataia Bay, where the Pan-American Highway ends. The standard option of the 788107 tour costs $58 on 8 October 2026. See the Tierra del Fuego National Park tour guide for more.
From November to April, the Senda Costera trail runs 8 km along the coast from Ensenada Zaratiegui, a medium walk of about 4 hours. The Tierra del Fuego Trekking & Canoeing day adds a guide, a canoe and lunch, from $184 (our breakdown →).
If the water appeals more than the rails, the park, train and Beagle Channel combination fits both into one day.
The verdict by traveler
| You are… | Take the train? |
|---|---|
| Visiting the park for the first time, with a half day free | Yes, as the train option on a park tour |
| Traveling with children or older relatives | Yes, it is short, heated and easy |
| In Ushuaia in winter | Yes, it runs through the snow |
| A keen hiker with one day | Skip it and walk the Senda Costera (Nov–Apr) |
| Counting every peso | Skip it and do the park on its own |
| On a cruise with limited hours | Yes, if your tour is timed to the ship |
Still choosing a format? Which End of the World Train tour is right for you compares every option.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the End of the World Train ride?
About 1 hour 45 minutes round trip, including a stop of about 20 minutes at La Macarena. Tours that ride one way spend about an hour on board.
Is the End of the World Train good in winter?
Yes. It runs every day of the year, including in snow, and only cancels in extreme weather. The carriages are heated, so the ride stays comfortable while the valley is under snow.
Is the park entry included in the train ticket?
No. The ARS 40,000 park entry for foreign visitors is separate and required for every rider.
Is the End of the World Train good for kids?
It suits children well. Under-4s ride free and ages 4 to 12 pay half. There is no space on board for strollers, so plan to carry small children.
What is the best alternative to the train?
A park tour without it, or from November to April, the 8 km Senda Costera trail along the coast.
Ready to book?
The End of the World Train homepage has the operator’s ticket and the tour options side by side. If you have decided to ride, start with our breakdown of the train ticket and plan the journey with how to get to the End of the World Train.
Ride the Southernmost Railway in the World
Pick a departure, add your national park ticket, and board a steam train on the line prisoners once worked. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on the GetYourGuide ticket.
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