Isla de los Estados — Staten Island in English — sits at the ragged tip of Argentina like a secret the rest of the world forgot to tell you about. Most visitors arrive expecting dramatic scenery and leave genuinely stunned by just how raw, remote, and untouched this place truly is. This is not polished Patagonia with boutique lodges; this is wilderness in its most uncompromising form.
Arriving by Ship
Reaching Isla de los Estados is itself a statement of intent. The island lies roughly 29 kilometres east of Tierra del Fuego, separated from the mainland by the Le Maire Strait — one of the most notoriously rough stretches of water in the Southern Hemisphere. Expedition and expedition-style cruise vessels are the primary way to access the island, and many sailings approach as part of broader Beagle Channel itineraries departing from Ushuaia.
As your ship rounds the island’s coastline, the scenery hits you like something out of a 19th-century maritime novel — jagged peaks draped in temperate rainforest, sea lions hauled out on rocky outcrops, and albatrosses riding the wind overhead with lazy authority. Zodiac landings are the norm here, and conditions can change rapidly, so flexibility is essential. Many itineraries that pass through this region also include time in Ushuaia, where catamaran excursions offer a gentler introduction to the channel wildlife. 🎟 Book: USHUAIA: Beagle Channel Navigation – Isla de los Lobos and Descent at Bridges Islands If you want a broader taste of the Beagle Channel before venturing further out, the Canoero Catamarans tour covering Isla de los Lobos and the Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse is a superb half-day option from Ushuaia. 🎟 Book: Canoero Catamarans: Isla de los Lobos, Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse and Pingüinera tour
Things to Do
Isla de los Estados has no tourist infrastructure to speak of — and that is precisely the point. The island is home to a small Argentine naval presence and a lighthouse at San Juan de Salvamento, famously the inspiration for Jules Verne’s The Lighthouse at the End of the World. Visiting this lighthouse, whether up close or from the water, is one of those genuinely spine-tingling travel moments that photographs struggle to capture adequately.
Wildlife watching dominates every hour you spend here. Southern sea lions loll on every available rock, Magellanic penguins shuffle through tussock grass, and the birdlife is extraordinary — condors, steamer ducks, and rockhopper penguins all make appearances depending on the season. Hiking ashore through dense lenga beech forest, where the silence is broken only by wind and the distant crash of waves, produces a particular kind of clarity that most people don’t even realise they’ve been craving. For travellers wanting a dedicated penguin experience, the Catamaran Tour through the Beagle Channel to Isla Martillo offers unforgettable close encounters. 🎟 Book: Catamaran Tour through the Beagle Channel and Penguins in Isla Martillo
Local Food
Isla de los Estados has no restaurants, cafés, or food vendors — none, zero, absolutely nothing. Your ship’s galley is your kitchen for the duration, and most expedition vessels sailing these waters take their catering seriously, often serving freshly caught Patagonian toothfish, king crab, and centolla alongside hearty stews designed to fortify you against the cold.
If your itinerary begins or ends in Ushuaia, take time to eat well in town. Centolla (southern king crab) is the unmissable local delicacy — order it simply, with butter, and let it speak for itself. Lamb slow-roasted on a cruz (a traditional open-fire cross) is another regional staple that rewards patient waiting.
Shopping
Much like dining options, shopping on the island itself is a concept that doesn’t apply. There are no markets, no artisan stalls, no souvenir shops. What you will accumulate instead is a memory card full of extraordinary photographs and a deep appreciation for places that commerce hasn’t touched.
Stock up on mementos in Ushuaia before or after your cruise — the city offers quality Patagonian wool goods, mate gourds, locally produced craft beer, and the obligatory “End of the World” stamped passport, available at the post office on San Martín Street.
Practical Tips
Pack serious layers — even in summer, temperatures hover around 5–10°C and the wind makes it feel considerably colder. Waterproof everything: your outer layer, your camera bag, and your boots. Zodiac landings mean wet conditions are almost guaranteed.
Bring binoculars; they will be your most-used piece of equipment after your camera. Seasickness medication is genuinely worth having for the Le Maire Strait crossing, regardless of how hardy a sailor you consider yourself. Ensure your travel insurance covers remote expedition activities — the nearest hospital is in Ushuaia, and evacuation from these waters is a serious logistical undertaking.
Isla de los Estados rewards those who arrive without expecting comfort or convenience. What it offers instead — solitude, wildlife, history, and scenery of almost aggressive beauty — is worth every grey sky and rolling wave to get there.
🎟️ Things to Book in Advance
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📍 Getting to Isla De Los Estados Argentina
Use the interactive map below to explore the port area and plan your route from the terminal.
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