Martial Glacier

September 21, 2020
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Martial Glacier: Visiting a Ushuaia Wintry Center

Martial Glacier is a glacier located in the Andes mountain range near the city of Ushuaia, in Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. The glacier is named after the French explorer, Louis-Ferdinand Martial, who visited the area in the late 19th century.

Martial Glacier is an important tourist attraction in the region and can be accessed by a chairlift that takes visitors to the top of the mountain. From there, visitors can hike to the glacier and explore its ice caves and tunnels. The area around the glacier is also popular for skiing and snowboarding in the winter months.

However, like many glaciers around the world, Martial Glacier is at risk of melting due to climate change. The retreat of the glacier has already had an impact on the surrounding ecosystem, including the loss of habitat for some native species. As such, visitors are encouraged to be mindful of their environmental impact and to take steps to reduce their carbon footprint.

The winter center Glaciar Martial is another attraction in the city of Ushuaia and has activities throughout the year. It is the closest winter center to the city of Ushuaia and from it, you have a privileged view of the city.

How to get

To reach the Martial Glacier you can take a bus that leaves from the city center which takes about 15 minutes. Another worthwhile option is to take a taxi in Ushuaia to save time. I made this last option and the value was 25 Argentine pesos for the way up to the base of the Martial Glacier.

How to visit

The Martial Glacier can be visited throughout. In winter you can ski or take some ski lessons, in addition to being in contact with the snow that is abundant in the region. During the summer a great option is to trek around the region.

There is also a cable car to go up to the observation deck in the city of Ushuaia. In winter, the climb and descent cannot be done on foot, only by cable car. In the summer you can choose how you will go up and down.

I visited the Martial Glacier during the winter and I realized that it is a place that has minimal structure if you want to practice skiing. There is a small area where you can rent your equipment and take some lessons with the instructor. Although the Martial Glacier is not a ski center like Cerro Castor, it works very well if you intend to learn a little and do not want to pay the higher prices that Cerro Castor charges.

Even if you don’t intend to ski, it is great to take the cable car to get a privileged view of the city of Ushuaia. The cable car takes about 15 minutes to reach the top of the Martial Glacier and it is very cold up there.

Martial Glacier

I couldn’t stay up there for a long time because of the cold and I got off the cable car to the base of the Martial Glacier. At this time I had the option of waiting for a taxi to arrive at the Martial Glacier (there is no taxi rank on the site) or walking away on the road that has about 4.5 km. I chose the second option to see a little more of the region and I believe it was the right choice.

There are also other options for winter centers in Ushuaia that offer several different walks, from ice trekking to dog sledding. Each winter center has a distinctive feature and a summary of each can be found on the page of the Ushuaia Tourism Office.

Useful information

Entry Fees: Free

Martial Glacier is a glacier located in the Andes mountain range near the city of Ushuaia, in Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. Here are some useful pieces of information about The Glacier:

Location: Martial Glacier is located about 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) west of the city of Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world. It is part of the Andes mountain range and lies within the Tierra del Fuego National Park.
Access: Visitors can reach the glacier by taking the Martial Glacier chairlift from the base of the mountain. The chairlift takes about 15 minutes to reach the top, where visitors can enjoy panoramic views of the Beagle Channel and the surrounding mountains.
Activities: Once at the top of the chairlift, visitors can hike to the glacier and explore its ice caves and tunnels. In the winter, the area is popular for skiing and snowboarding.
Climate: The weather around Martial Glacier can be unpredictable, with temperatures ranging from -10°C to 10°C (14°F to 50°F) throughout the year. The area receives heavy snowfall in the winter months, from June to August, which makes it an ideal destination for winter sports.
Conservation: Martial Glacier is one of many glaciers around the world that is at risk of melting due to climate change. The retreat of the glacier has already had an impact on the surrounding ecosystem, including the loss of habitat for some native species. Visitors are encouraged to be mindful of their environmental impact and to take steps to reduce their carbon footprint.