RANCHES

HARBERTON RANCH (including Almanza)
90 km east of Ushuaia, on National Route Nº3, is situated Tierra del Fuego's oldest ranch: Estancia Harberton. The lands it is built on were a present from President Roca's government to Rev. Thomas Bridges, for his contributions in exploring the area and in establishing a harmonious relationship with the native inhabitants.

On leaving Ushuaia, you drive along the slopes of Monte Olivia, a mountain that is extremely impressive at close sight. You continue along the Carbajal Valley, where you find the greatest peat bog on the island, as well as the winter sports centers of Altos del Valle, Valle de Los Huskies, Refugio Nunatak, Tierra Mayor, Las Cotorras and the Cerro Castor Complex, until you access the foot of the Rancho Hambre, where you will reach the Route J.

Then you go eastward along a valley, past peat bogs, rivers and lakes, bordered by lush Flora. The road is narrow, with a series of curves and steep climbs; 30 km of this driving will take you to Puerto Almanza.

When you get there, an enchanted coastal scene will unfold before your eyes with a deep-blue Beagle Channel whose south coast displays the town of Puerto Williams (Chile) located on Navarino Island.

You must follow along the road, and at the next fork take the east branch. The lush green valley becomes a rolling grassy plain, with small patches of "árboles bandera" (flag-trees), so-called because of their horizontally directed growth pattern, the result of the predominant and always blowing west wind.

After you have made your way through all these joys of eyes and soul, you will arrive at Estancia Harberton.

The main ranch house is placed in a sheltered bay. Its original building, watchfully kept, is wooden with an exterior lining of iron sheeting. The beautiful gardens contain most of the local flora species and are well worth a visit.

The visitor will be invited to stroll across the ranch, and will be informed on its past and current activities. Then he will be asked to have a delicious tea with home-made cookies before returning to the city.

MOAT RANCH
At 115 km, after crossing the bridge of the same name, you go into Estancia Moat. This is another area peopled by the descendants of an Anglican pastor, Rev. Lawrence, one of Ushuaia's pioneers. From this ranch you can see the Beagle Channel and Picton Island; they are part of Chile.

Francisco Jerman
5 km from the city center, it has a perfect system of ski-run signaling and has been especially prepared for competitive skiing according to International Ski Federation standards.

There are 5 circuits, of different difficulty levels, suitable for all degrees of skiing proficiency. It is an excellent vantage point for beautiful scenery, commanding views of the Beagle Channel, Ushuaia Bay, the Bridges Islands, etc.

The ski lodge is accessible to the general public. It offers a buffet and rens skiing equipment. Due to its closeness to the ocean, temperatures are not very low, with the presence of dry or powdered snow 60 cm deep in the months of June and July.

Altos del Valle
17 km from the city, along National Route Nº3, this center offers lodging in cabins, parking, a bar, regular transport and a skiing school. It also has the first school for child sled team drivers and Siberian Husky breeding establishments.

Solar del Bosque
18 km from the city, along National Route Nº3, this is a tourist complex with a ski lodge for 18 people, a dining room seating 25, and a fully equipped campsite. It offers snow cat rides, skiing and snowshoe excursions and equipment rental. Skiing instructors are available. It has different type of circuits for speed skiing. Some of them are laid down in the nearby area, and others connect with the winter sports centers of Altos del Valle and Valle de los Huskies.

Valle de los Huskies
10 km from Ushuaia, along National Route Nº3, it has a restaurant, a tea shop a bar and other facilities. They rent and sale skiing equipment, rent sleds, dog sled rides, snow cats, illuminated runs, "flexmobile" excursions and a skiing school. There is a 1,000 m high-speed ski run.

Valle de Tierra Mayor
21 km from the city, along National Route Nº3, it has a restaurant, bar, day care center, regular transport, sales of clothing and skiing equipment, a skiing school, illuminated skating rinks, "windskiing" and tours on "snowcats". There are also tours that last several days using the mountain lodges of Bonete Mt and Nunatak to spend the night. It also has a restaurant-bar.

Las Cotorras
20 km from the city, along National Route Nº3, it offers snowboarding, sledding, visits to beaver dams with long-distance skis, a Kassbohrer (special machine for preparing high speed ski runs), a restaurant, a bar, regular transport, rental of skiing equipment, a skating rink, trips in the "flexmobile", a skiing academy, rental of rubber rafts and children's sleds.

Haruwen
36 six km from the city, along National Route Nº3, it provides skiing services, rental of speed skiing equipment, a skating rink, snowshoe excursions, horse riding, regular transport, a bar, a restaurant and warm lodging in mountain lodges. You can ride in troikas or sleighs, and walk on snowshoes.

Kawi Shiken
On the banks of Turbio River, 2 km from Tolhuín and 110 from Ushuaia, we will find Kawi Shiken. It offers lodging, a snack-room/bar seating 45 and a sitting room. Here you can practice speed skiing, children can practice sledding and buy a beautiful Siberian Husky from a breeding station. Visits to beaver dams are encouraged.

Club Andino Ushuaia
This is two km from the city on the Martial range. It has an 850 m long run. There is a ski-lift, and the skiing capacity is 42,500 square m, with a 190 m altitude difference. There is a lodge at the base with snack-room/bar, a skiing school and rental of equipment. Depth of the snow varies between 0.70 and 2 m. It is usable from mid-June to September.

Hostería Petrel
60 km from the city, along National Route N°3, across the Fueguian Cordillera and on the shores of Lake Escondido you will find this ski run around 450 m long, accessible by a ski-lift. It has a restaurant, lodging, bar and rental of 4 wheel motorcycles and complete skiing equipment.

Nunatak
It is 21 km from the city. It is at the center of the Natural and Landscape Reserve of Tierra Mayor Valley. Starting here, one can do a walking tour to the Alvear mountain range, permitting a view of nature in all her splendor. You can also carry out dog sled excursions.

Valle Hermoso
Sited at 24 ½ km from the city. It is a district completely dedicated to eco-tourism. You can practice speed skiing and walking on snowshoes. There is a tea house and a restaurant which offer a wide variety of local dishes, such as mutton or trout.