wangy26 Posted December 1, 2018 #1 Share Posted December 1, 2018 We will be at port of Ushuaia (on Celebrity cruise) on Jan 12, 2019. Our plan for that day is still uncertain as of now. We are still waiting for the Pira tour's decision if they will offer penguin tour for the cruise passenger on that day. I want to have some back up plan in case that one doesn't work out. I am considering just hire a taxi driver at the port to take us (6 of us) to the Tierra del Fuego National Park for the day (5-6 hours sightseeing and some easy hiking). I will really appreciate it if you can help for the following questions: 1. Is taxi/tour readily available at the port? 2. Do some of taxi drivers/tour guides speak English since we don't speak Spanish? 3. How much is average cost to hire a taxi driver/tour guide for 5-6 hour to the NP? Thanks so much for the help! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budget Queen Posted December 1, 2018 #2 Share Posted December 1, 2018 I find penguin tours out of this port, probably my last choice. Other areas are superior for my preferences. There is a taxi stand- coming out of the dock area- at the main street- turn left cross the main street and walk up to the next block. Cab stand is in that area. Very close to the port entrance. As for "tours" via cabs- sorry, you don't run into much English speaking. There is much more to visiting the area, then using the generic term of "Tierra del Fuego". That is like saying you are touring Florida. You would be way better off, doing your homework and routing out points of interest, and then having a driver take you there. Just riding on the main highway- is hardly worthwhile. Knowing areas is superior. There is also a per person park admission that has to be paid in Argentine pesos. Multiple ATM's right on the main street up the hill. I've seen cab "tours" offered with fixed prices, but again inclusions are very important for my preferences, but may not matter for others. If you want "hiking", then I'd only suggest a car rental, several not far from the port and the area is simple to drive. Would make the best use of your time. The train is a grossly superior entrance into the park vs road, plus vintage trains. - if of interest. Several worthwhile attractions walkable right in the port as well. This is a wonderful port to enjoy- as are all the others. Enjoy you trip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wangy26 Posted December 1, 2018 Author #3 Share Posted December 1, 2018 Budget Queen, Thanks so much for the taxi stand and park entrance fee info. Besides national park what are the other places that are worth seeing (not within walking distance)? Can you also elaborate a little bit why you consider that the penguin tour (Pira tour) from this port is your last choice? Thanks again! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iancal Posted December 2, 2018 #4 Share Posted December 2, 2018 We did a private tour organized by a person on our forum. Very good tour, a very nice hike. We did not consider the penguin tour here or elsewhere. We have seen lots of penguins on other land trips. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budget Queen Posted December 3, 2018 #5 Share Posted December 3, 2018 By far the jackpot penguin tour is Volunteer Point. This is my first contact after I book these cruises. Next- Punta Tombo and Magdalena Island. Far superior in my opinion. I'd suggest- if doing your own taxi routing- you get out to the glaciers. The "regular" basic taxi tours, don't go there, with their routes, going to several pull outs, sometimes the small museum, and end of Highway 1. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boom_boom Posted December 5, 2018 #6 Share Posted December 5, 2018 We booked the train via Viator. Price was reasonable for first class and a good schedule considering how long we are in port that day. The train sounded really good and we love train travel as opposed to buses or vans. Just personal preferences. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b.allen Posted December 6, 2018 #7 Share Posted December 6, 2018 (edited) On 12/1/2018 at 11:29 AM, wangy26 said: We will be at port of Ushuaia (on Celebrity cruise) on Jan 12, 2019. Our plan for that day is still uncertain as of now. We are still waiting for the Pira tour's decision if they will offer penguin tour for the cruise passenger on that day. I want to have some back up plan in case that one doesn't work out. I am considering just hire a taxi driver at the port to take us (6 of us) to the Tierra del Fuego National Park for the day (5-6 hours sightseeing and some easy hiking). I will really appreciate it if you can help for the following questions: 1. Is taxi/tour readily available at the port? 2. Do some of taxi drivers/tour guides speak English since we don't speak Spanish? 3. How much is average cost to hire a taxi driver/tour guide for 5-6 hour to the NP? Thanks so much for the help! We will be in Ushuaia December 31st. I also contacted Pira Tours back in September regarding their "penguin tour". Their initial response was quick to arrive and stated that they were working with the ship to see how many people were interested. At the end of September I received an e mail from them apologizing " but with the time constraints of the ship's time in port , they were unable to offer their tour that day". I have since booked the Punta Tomba Penguin Rookery tour in Puerto Madryn through the ship. The Pira Tours are highly recommended and may not be your outcome. I'm just happy I get to "see penguins"! Edited December 6, 2018 by b.allen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeresaDom Posted December 13, 2018 #8 Share Posted December 13, 2018 We will be visiting Ushuaia in January as well. We have decided to "do our own thing" and see the sights on our own. There is a neat double-decker bus tour that leaves from the information center. We plan on doing this as it seems reasonable. https://www.interpatagonia.com/ushuaia/ushuaia-citytour.html?fbclid=IwAR2romgpGnReXMztI7q9UzgLyEiF99CpIPljWdHme6igngBbOSfDL3ZVcNc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roberts2005 Posted December 19, 2018 #9 Share Posted December 19, 2018 On 12/5/2018 at 6:06 PM, boom_boom said: We booked the train via Viator. Price was reasonable for first class and a good schedule considering how long we are in port that day. The train sounded really good and we love train travel as opposed to buses or vans. Just personal preferences. Where did you get the train? Did it start from the port or did you take a bus to the train? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gphanton Posted December 20, 2018 #10 Share Posted December 20, 2018 (edited) On 12/1/2018 at 1:29 PM, wangy26 said: Edited December 20, 2018 by Gphanton Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gphanton Posted December 20, 2018 #11 Share Posted December 20, 2018 We did a great tour last year (National Park with easy hiking). The tour company is 5 stars rated at Tripadvisor. You can find it as tourguideushuaia.net Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budget Queen Posted December 20, 2018 #12 Share Posted December 20, 2018 On 12/13/2018 at 8:16 AM, TeresaDom said: We will be visiting Ushuaia in January as well. We have decided to "do our own thing" and see the sights on our own. There is a neat double-decker bus tour that leaves from the information center. We plan on doing this as it seems reasonable. https://www.interpatagonia.com/ushuaia/ushuaia-citytour.html?fbclid=IwAR2romgpGnReXMztI7q9UzgLyEiF99CpIPljWdHme6igngBbOSfDL3ZVcNc Being you have not taken this bus, it really is very basic and only goes around the immediate area- that is just as easy to walk. It's hardly worth it for many people. If only staying in the general port area, there are some interesting museums that are walkable. Museo del Fin del Mundo Museo Marítimo y del Presidio de Ushuaia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budget Queen Posted December 20, 2018 #13 Share Posted December 20, 2018 On 12/6/2018 at 5:59 AM, b.allen said: We will be in Ushuaia December 31st. I also contacted Pira Tours back in September regarding their "penguin tour". Their initial response was quick to arrive and stated that they were working with the ship to see how many people were interested. At the end of September I received an e mail from them apologizing " but with the time constraints of the ship's time in port , they were unable to offer their tour that day". I have since booked the Punta Tomba Penguin Rookery tour in Puerto Madryn through the ship. The Pira Tours are highly recommended and may not be your outcome. I'm just happy I get to "see penguins"! An alternative to consider with Punta Tombo- are the excellent walk up vendors that pick up and return to the ship. Highly reliable and in operation over numerous years. Usually a significant savings over ship tours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jccruiser Posted December 28, 2018 #14 Share Posted December 28, 2018 We were in Ushuaia a few weeks ago and pre-rented a car with Budget- across street from port. we drove to Tierra del Fuego Park - entrance fee can be paid in pesos or by credit card- and explored the park, taking several of the shorter walks. the map you receive on entering is quite clear and gives details of each trail - most are one way so allow time for return. Also shows locations of parking areas, visitor centre, washrooms, etc others from our cruise took one of the “buses” to the park and back. They run every hour or so and have several drop off/pick up points throughout the park We picked up car at 9.30, spent a few hours at the Park (4 walks, had our passports stamped at End of World, and went to visitors centre to see the small interpretive Museum plus have a snack), drove back to town via the hills and ski area behind the town which gave us beautiful views over the whole bay, filled up with gas/petrol downtown and then returned the car at 4.30- just to give you an idea of timing. and we used credit card for all purchases so didn’t need to get pesos- most of the stores also took US$. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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