Helicopter Flight Over the Great Lakes of Tierra del Fuego: Andes Lagoons & Glaciers

Ushuaia•easy

Difficulty

easy

Duration

1.5 hours

Fitness Level

Minimal fitness required; must be able to board a helicopter and sit for the duration without assistance

Overview

Hover above the Great Lakes and glacial lagoons of Tierra del Fuego on a 90-minute helicopter flight from Ushuaia. See Andes peaks, coastal bays and the former prison site from a perspective that compresses geology and history into one cinematic loop.

Helicopter Flight Over the Great Lakes of Tierra del Fuego: Andes Lagoons & Glaciers

Other

Air Tour

Wildlife

Select participants and date

Date

Thu, Oct 30

Travelers

The rotor thumps once, twice, then the world on the tarmac blurs. Within minutes the Old Ushuaia Airport shrinks into a cluster of roofs and the Beagle Channel’s cold ribbon moves beneath you like a dare. The helicopter climbs along the flank of the Fuegian Andes and the landscape reassembles itself: curving lakes with coasts that look hand-carved, dark lenga forests pressing close to the water, and high mountain lagoons fed by glaciers that still carry winter’s white in summer.

Adventure Photos

Helicopter Flight Over the Great Lakes of Tierra del Fuego: Andes Lagoons & Glaciers photo 1

Adventure Tips

Dress in layers

Wind and temperatures change quickly at altitude—bring a warm midlayer and windproof outer shell.

Pick early morning slots

Morning flights usually have calmer winds and clearer visibility for glacier and lake views.

Secure camera gear

Use wrist straps and a fast shutter speed (1/500s or faster) to avoid rotor-induced blur and protect gear from downdraft.

Mind the weight limit

Operator limit is 120 kg per passenger—notify provider in advance if near this limit to avoid booking issues.

Local Insights

Wildlife

Andean condor (occasionally seen soaring over ridgelines)
Guanaco herds on sheltered valley slopes

History

Ushuaia grew from a late-19th-century penal colony; the former prison complex is visible from the air and marks the town’s unusual founding.

Conservation

Helicopter operations follow local regulations to minimize wildlife disturbance; avoid littering and opt for operators that support local conservation efforts.