How to Take the Bus to Ushuaia From Rio Gallegos
This blog post will explain in detail what the journey is like on the bus to Ushuaia from Rio Gallegos including costs and border crossings.
If you plan on taking the bus to Ushuaia, the town at the end of the world, then you will most likely be passing through the town of Rio Gallegos. Buses going to Ushuaia from Chile (Punta Arenas or Puerto Natales) will connect either through Rio Gallegos or Rio Grande. Buses coming from El Calafate will always connect via Rio Gallegos.
I took the bus from El Calafate to Rio Gallegos, and then another bus from Rio Gallegos down to Ushuaia. This blog post will focus on the bus to Ushuaia from Rio Gallegos, and everything you need to know about it including costs, time, crossing borders, and the general experience.
Rio Gallegos
If you travel between El Calafate and Ushuaia, you will most likely need to stay a night (or two) in Rio Gallegos. There isn’t much to do here so don’t feel obligated to get out and do things in Rio Gallegos. I spent two nights here because I was traveling over the holidays and the bus didn’t run on January 1st.
Here are a few things to know about Rio Gallegos:
- Rio Gallegos Bus terminal: Terminal de Ómnibus de Río Gallegos
- Uber works in Rio Gallegos
- Where to sleep: Amerian Hotel (I stayed here and loved it)
- Where to eat: Neneo Restaurante
- Where to drink craft beer: Runas Craft Beer Bar
- What to do: Walk along the Costanera
The Bus to Ushuaia From Rio Gallegos
I took the bus to Ushuaia from Rio Gallegos because it was the cheapest way to get to Ushuaia from El Calafate. It was not complicated, it was just a lot of steps. I’m going to lay out all the details you need to know about this bus from Rio Gallegos to Ushuaia.
Can you get to Ushuaia by bus?
Yes! If you’re traveling in Argentina you can take the bus to Ushuaia from a coastal town in the Santa Cruz province called Rio Gallegos. Rio Gallegos is not exactly a destination city but a transfer point. If you’re taking the bus from El Calafate you need to transfer in the city of Rio Gallegos. It’s the only way to Ushuaia from El Calafate.
Is there a bus from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia?
There is no direct bus that goes from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia. The fastest way to reach Ushuaia from BA is to fly. But if you want to go overland, your best bet is to make several transfers as you bus down the coast (Puerto Madryn, Rio Gallegos). Getting to Ushuaia is not super complicated, just time-consuming if you go by bus.
First, take a bus from Buenos Aires to Puerto Madryn.
Next, take a bus from Puerto Madryn to Rio Gallegos.
Then, take a bus from Rio Gallegos to Ushuaia.
Each one of these legs is a long journey and will take a full day. You should check all the schedules before booking to make sure they all fit together based on the timetables. There is only one bus per day to Ushuaia from Rio Gallegos.
Flying to Ushuaia Argentina from Buenos Aires is your quickest option.
Is there a bus from El Calafate to Ushuaia?
No, there is no direct bus between El Calafate and Ushuaia. You need to make a transfer in the city of Rio Gallegos. There is only one bus per day that goes between Ushuaia and Rio Gallegos so make sure you sort out your schedule before booking a spot on the bus.
I was actually coming from El Chalten, so I had to spend one night in El Calafate, and then 2 nights in Rio Gallegos, on my way to Ushuaia.
El Calafate to Rio Gallegos
Two buses per day go between El Calafate and Rio Gallegos. They are both with the Marga Taqsa bus company.
One bus leaves El Calafate at 3 am and arrives at Rio Gallegos at 7 am. Take this bus if you don’t want to spend the night in Rio Gallegos. The Rio Gallegos bus leaves at 8 am to go to Ushuaia. It will be a very long travel day.
The other bus leaves El Calafate at 11:30 am and arrives at Rio Gallegos at 3:48 pm. Take this bus if you want to spend the night in Rio Gallegos, or you don’t want to stress about your first bus arriving on time to make the 8 am bus to Ushuaia. This is the bus that I took.
Rio Gallegos to Ushuaia
There is only one bus per day in each direction between Rio Gallegos and Ushuaia. They both operate with the Marga Taqsa bus company.
The bus from Rio Gallegos to Ushuaia leaves at 8 am and arrives at 8:20 pm. This is the bus that I took.
The bus from Ushuaia to Rio Gallegos leaves at 3 am and arrives at 3 pm. There is no bus on Sundays.
How long is the bus from Rio Gallegos to Ushuaia?
The bus between Ushuaia and Rio Gallegos takes 12.5 hours in the direction of Ushuaia. Going north, the bus shaves off 30 minutes and takes exactly 12 hours. I assume this is because the bus leaves so early and avoids all traffic at the border crossings.
Does the Rio Gallegos-Ushuaia bus go all year round?
No. Because of the harsh winter climate, the buses only run from April to September. If you want to visit Ushuaia from October to March, you will have to fly.
How much does the bus cost between Rio Gallegos and Ushuaia?
As of January 2025, the price of the bus between Ushuaia and Rio Gallegos is 70,400 pesos ($70). Prices do change slightly based on the season and the demand. There are 118 available seats on the bus, but I still suggest booking in advance just in case.
How do I book my ticket to Ushuaia from Rio Gallegos?
You can check the bus routes and book tickets on BusBud. When you choose your seat, don’t choose any of the front-row seats because they are reserved for the drivers. If you choose one of these seats, they will change it at the counter when you check in.
Are there bathrooms on the bus?
Yes, there is one bathroom at the back of the bus. There is no toilet paper and no hand soap. Make sure to bring your own TP and hand sanitizer.
Does the bus to Ushuaia have plugs or wifi?
The Rio Gallegos to Ushuaia bus does not have Wifi. There are certain points during the journey where your phone can pick up a signal, but I would say that 90% of the trip you can’t connect. The bus does have USB plugs from the ceiling, but not all of them work. You may need to move around the bus a bit to find a working plug.
When we crossed the border, I got a message from Claro welcoming me to Chile.
Tips for taking the bus to Ushuaia
This is a long ride, so make sure you are prepared and do the following:
- Charge your phone and any devices (iPad, headphones, etc.) in advance.
- Bring a charging block and cords(some of the USB ports don’t work).
- Download movies, books, and podcasts in advance.
- Bring your own TP and hand sanitizer.
- Bring food, water, and snacks with you.
- Wear comfortable clothes.
- Keep all your important items with you in a backpack up top.
- You’ll need your passport a lot.
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Will I cross international borders on the bus to Ushuaia?
Yes, on the bus to Ushuaia from Rio Gallegos, you will cross the Argentina/Chile border twice. That means getting on and off the bus a total of 4 times to stop at immigration at each border. Chile will stamp your passport both times. Argentina must do it digitally because they didn’t stamp my passport.
Even though you’re only in Chile for a couple of hours, it counts as leaving the country and coming back in. Once you re-enter Argentina, your 90 days reset. I have previously reset my 90 days by taking the ferry from Buenos Aires to Uruguay.
Should I arrive early on the day I take the bus?
Yes, you should arrive about 20-30 minutes before the bus departure. When you arrive, you need to check in at the Marga Taqsa counter. Even if you already bought your ticket online you need to check in and show your passport. They will give you a paper ticket that you should keep with you.
What is the experience on the bus like?
If you’re curious about the Argentina bus to Ushuaia from Rio Gallegos that lasts 12 hours, I will tell you about each step in the process so that you will feel more prepared.
Boarding the Marga Taqsa bus
Around 7:45 am, the line will begin to form outside the bus terminal in Rio Gallegos. Two luggage attendants will put your bags and suitcases in the section below the bus. You should tip them at least $1 since they don’t make a regular salary.
Show your paper ticket and your passport to the bus driver as you get on. Then find your assigned seat. My bus was not full so a lot of people changed seats once the bus started going, myself included.
Rio Gallegos to the first border crossing
8 – 9:10 am
The first section of the bus ride lasts about 70 minutes and is pretty uneventful. If you haven’t yet filled in the Chilean immigration form online, you can do it on the bus. It takes about 2 minutes and is very basic.
You cannot take any eggs or produce across the border. If you have any fruit on you, make sure you eat it right away and throw away the banana peel or apple core in the trash can once you reach the Argentinian side of the border.
An armed guard rode with us on the bus during this portion.
Argentina border crossing
9:10 – 9:48 am
Once you reach the border, you need to stay on the bus for several minutes while the bus drivers get off and sort out some stuff. After about 10 minutes of waiting on the bus, they’ll ask you to get off and wait in line. You only need to bring your passport with you. Your luggage stays on the bus.
There is a separate line for those crossing the border on their own, and another line for people taking the bus. Once you get inside the building, you’ll see that there is also a special immigration line just for your bus group. The bus line moves much faster. Once you speak to the Argentine agent at the counter, get back on the bus.
Once everyone passes through the Argentina immigration, the bus will drive another 3 minutes across the border to reach the Chilean immigration office.
Chile border crossing
9:48 – 10:28 am
Once again you need to wait on the bus for several minutes so the drivers can get off and take care of business. They will come back and let you know when you can get off the bus. Once you get off, you’ll enter the red building on the left and wait in line.
Bring your passport and your backpack if you have it up above with you. You do not need to retrieve any suitcases or backpacks that are below the bus.
The immigration agent will stamp your passport and give you a form that says PDI at the top. Keep it in your passport. Once they give you back your passport, you can skip the room that says “Paso 2” and go outside.
Cross the street and enter the other small red building that is just for people from the bus. This is where you will present the Chilean document that you filled out on the bus at the very beginning of the ride. Afterward, you will put your bag on an X-ray scanner. When you exit this room you’ll see your bus waiting for you on the Chilean side.
Snack time
10:28 – 11:22 am
Once the bus starts to drive in Chile, the bus drivers will pass out an alfajor as a snack. They will also prepare coffee at the back of the bus. It is only black coffee and they do not provide milk. Luckily, one guy on our bus had a small carton of milk and shared it with everyone. This is the only food that they give you on the bus.
The coffee will be available at the back of the bus for the rest of the journey.
Ferry Crossing – The Magellan Strait
11:22 am – 12:07 pm
Around noon, you’ll reach the Magellan Strait. Here you will board the ferry, along with several other motorcyclists, truck drivers, and people from other buses. You are free to walk around on the upper decks of the ferry during the ride if you want. It’s very windy but it was cool to be out there and see everything.
When the ferry nears the land, you need to make your way back to the bus.
Chile border crossing (again)
12:08 pm – 2:08 pm
You will drive for a very uneventful two hours until you reach the next border crossing to exit Chile.
2:08 pm – 2:28 pm
When you arrive at the Chilean border, you can leave your bag on the bus. When you get off, just take your passport and the PDI paper. Give both documents to the immigration agent. They will stamp your passport. Get back on the bus.
Argentina border crossing (again)
2:28 – 3:05 pm
The drive from the Chilean immigration office to the next Argentinean office takes about 30 minutes.
3:06 – 3:30 pm
When you arrive at the Argentinian immigration office in San Sebastian, you will get off the bus and enter the building to the right. You will give them your passport. They will also ask for your address in Ushuaia, so make sure you have that ready.
Stop in Rio Grande
3:30 – 4:35 pm
You will drive for another uneventful hour until you reach Rio Grande. The bus makes a stop here for only 10 minutes. You can get off the bus to go to the bathroom or grab a quick snack at the food stand. But you must be quick!
New people will get on and join your bus here. They are people who took the bus from Puerto Natales or Punta Arenas in Chile. This is their transfer point to reach Ushuaia. You will recognize them from the ferry.
Stop in Tolhuin
4:45 – 6:10 pm
You will drive for another 1.5 hours until you reach this small restaurant just outside the town of Tolhuin.
6:10 – 6:35 pm
The bus will make a stop here for 20-25 minutes. If you’re hungry you can order food. They accept credit cards. All the bus drivers ate here. I ate here too because I was starving, but the food was expensive and mediocre. However, the portions are big. Most people from the bus did not eat here and waited outside.
Arrive in Ushuaia
6:35 – 8:15 pm
Over the next two hours, you will be exposed to some beautiful views of the surrounding area in the Tierra del Fuego province. The bus arrived at Ushuaia 5 minutes early. Because the sun sets at 10:30 pm in the summer here, it was still light outside which was nice. Everyone grabbed their bags from the bottom of the bus and took off.
The Ushuaia bus terminal: Av. Maipú & Juana Genoveva Fadul
Is there Uber in Ushuaia?
Yes, you can use Uber in Ushuaia, which is very convenient. I requested an Uber as soon as I arrived at the Ushuaia bus terminal and it arrived within a couple of minutes.
Where to Stay in Ushuaia
The main town center is along the two streets parallel to the port. It is full of restaurants, shops, and hotels. This is a great place to stay so everything is within walking distance. If you want a better view, go higher up into the hills.
What to Do in Ushuaia
While you can easily see the attractions in Ushuaia in one day, the most impressive part is what surrounds the city. Here are the most popular activities:
- Take a Beagle Channel Cruise
- Take a tour on the double-decker bus
- Visit the Tierra del Fuego National Park (rent a car or take a tour)
- Take a ride on the Tren del Fin del Mundo
- Go hiking at Laguna Esmeralda or Laguna Turquesa
- Walk with penguins on Martillo Island
- Visit the Estancia Harberton
- Take a helicopter ride
Final Thoughts on How to Take the Bus to Ushuaia From Rio Gallegos
The idea of a 12.5-hour bus ride might seem daunting, but in reality, it wasn’t so bad. There was so much movement, and getting on and off the bus that it broke the trip up into several parts. I really didn’t mind this bus ride to Ushuaia and it passed by a lot quicker than I had expected.
If you want to travel overland to Ushuaia, this is the best way to go! I hope this post about taking the bus to Ushuaia helped to clear up any doubts you may have had about the trip. Buen viaje!
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