The mountains around Ushuaia usually remain snow covered even in the summer. Credit: Wikimedia

Flanked by the most southern point of the Andes mountain range, the cruise port of Ushuaia in Tierra del Feugo is a gem in the south. But it is located so far south that there are best and worst times to travel there.

This popular tourist town, well loved by locals and foreigners alike, is located in the southern hemisphere. As such, the climatic pattern is very different from the north. In fact, it’s the exact opposite.

The weather pattern in the area is also quite volatile and can therefore change from one extreme to another in an instant.

Summer

The traditional summer months of June through August for North America will see the typical wintertime conditions in Ushuaia. During these months, the city at 55 degrees latitude south, said to be the southernmost city on earth, is extremely cold and similar to that of northern countries during winter. 

During this period, high temperatures average in the low 40s with average lows in the upper 20s and low 30s.

Rainfall is light not only during the summer but throughout the entire year. On average, the city sees about 12 days of rain every month.

As one would expect, hotel rates are lower during this period. Secondly, accommodations are readily available and attractions are far less crowed. As consolation, the indoors in Ushuaia are always well heated.

Other Seasons

Typically, other traditional seasons winter, spring and autumn see the same weather conditions in general. Still, the weather is a dynamic element of nature in Ushuaia. During these seasons, weather conditions are chances on the fly, in some cases leading to tremendous inconveniences.

More specifically, during autumn (March through to May), the city’s flora and fauna come alive with striking colours and a vibrant atmosphere. There are several bright and clear days during this period.

But because the city is so far south, high temperatures average only in the mid to upper 50s Fahrenheit. On an especially warm day, it may even reach into the 60s.

The High Season and When To Go

Generally, the best time to travel to southern hemisphere locations is December through to March.

For Ushuaia, this is no different. Particularly, the high season in Ushuaia is October to March. This is in fact the rainy season.

During this period, temperatures are more tolerable, with highs in the high 40s to high 50s and night-time lows in the upper 30s and low 40s. Note that during the month of January, the city is normally packed with tourists from all over the world.