At the Edge of the World: Inside Arakur Ushuaia’s Sanctuary of Nature

Cloaked by a dense beech forest and resting quietly beneath the towering, snow-capped summit of Mount Alarkén, The Arakur Ushuaia Resort & Spa reveals itself as a sanctuary of refined luxury at the very edge of the world. Rising 250 metres above sea level within the protected Cerro Alarkén Nature Reserve, the resort enjoys a privileged vantage point from which Ushuaia unfolds below, framed by the deep blues of the Beagle Channel and the dramatic silhouettes of the Chilean Andes.

This elevated position offers more than unforgettable views; it provides a sense of separation from the everyday. Arakur is both intimate and expansive, a place where silence, space and nature define the rhythm of each day. Recognised as the only hotel in Southern Patagonia to be admitted to The Leading Hotels of the World, the resort stands as a benchmark for understated luxury in one of the planet’s most remote landscapes.

Designed by Buenos Aires–based Estudio Kohan, the architecture blends seamlessly into its surroundings, combining composite steel and reinforced concrete with stone and native woods. Sustainable building principles guide every detail, allowing the structure to emerge organically from hundreds of acres of protected forest, rather than imposing itself upon it.

Despite the tranquillity that surrounds it, Arakur is also a natural gateway to adventure. Each morning, four-wheel-drive vehicles arrive beneath the hotel’s covered veranda, ready to carry guests into the vast and untamed reaches of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago. From the hotel’s very threshold, trails weave through the reserve, leading to panoramic viewpoints and forest paths where guided treks ascend toward the summit of Cerro Alarkén.

Beyond the immediate surroundings, the landscape opens into peat bogs carpeted in mosses and wetlands glowing with marsh marigolds. From here, sweeping views stretch toward the Martial and Vinciguerra glaciers, the flat Andorra Valley, Mount Olivia and the jagged profile of Cerro Cinco Hermanos. Wildlife sightings are common — beavers, woodpeckers, muskrats, rufous-collared sparrows and white-throated treerunners quietly inhabit the forests, rewarding those who move slowly and attentively.

A pioneering vision at the end of the world

True to its spirit of innovation and deep respect for nature, Arakur has recently become the setting for an ambitious and unprecedented experiment: the development of a vineyard in Ushuaia, a place long considered beyond the limits of viticulture.

Led by Esteban Abolsky, director of the Arakur Group, the experimental vineyard is located on land belonging to the historic Tolkeyén Hotel estate, nestled between the Andes and the Beagle Channel. Initiated four years ago, the project began as the graduation thesis of Abolsky’s son, Héctor, who earned his degree in industrial engineering with a feasibility study for vineyards and a winery in Ushuaia.

What started as an academic proposal has since evolved into a long-term experiment that mirrors the philosophy of Arakur itself — patient, ambitious and deeply connected to its environment. The central question remains whether vines can survive, mature and ultimately bear fruit in the extreme climate of Tierra del Fuego. While the long summer days offer extended daylight, it is still uncertain whether enough solar energy and warmth can accumulate to produce grapes with sufficient natural sugar for fermentation.

Guided by agronomist Darío González Maldonado and a local technical team, the project currently focuses on short-cycle grape varieties, particularly white grapes better adapted to high latitudes. The vines have already endured two Fuegian winters, a promising sign, though they have yet to fruit. Conclusions will only emerge over time, reinforcing the experimental and visionary nature of this endeavour at the southernmost edge of the wine world.

Interiors of warmth and elegance

Inside, Arakur welcomes guests into a dramatic lobby defined by expansive windows, glowing fireplaces and a refined use of craft leather and South American woods such as lapacho and aromatic rosewood. The atmosphere is immediately calming, encouraging visitors to shed the pace of modern life. A grand piano presides over the lobby bar, an inviting setting for lunch, dinner, a quiet cocktail or a traditional Patagonian tea after a day outdoors.

The resort offers 129 rooms and 12 suites spread across four floors. Each features floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows overlooking either the Beagle Channel to the south or the serenity of the mountains and reserve to the north. Interiors combine contemporary design with traditional Argentine materials — leather, copper, marble and wood — while advanced technology ensures discreet comfort, including home automation systems, LED lighting control, geothermal cooling, air renewal and acoustic insulation.

A spa suspended between land and sky

The resort’s most unforgettable experience lies within its spa, where water and landscape converge in quiet harmony. A 17-metre indoor lap pool, hydrotherapy circuits, sauna, steam room and Scottish shower form the heart of the wellness area. Part of the infinity pool extends outdoors, accessible through an underwater passage accompanied by soft, immersive music.

On cold, snowy evenings, the heated outdoor jacuzzis offer an almost surreal sensation: steaming water, crisp air and uninterrupted 270-degree views over Ushuaia’s lights, the Beagle Channel and the southern Andes. A modern gym, solarium, massage rooms, hairdressing services and a poolside snack bar complete the experience, while a games room provides a relaxed space for families.

Cuisine at the edge of Antarctica

Arakur’s main restaurant celebrates Fuegian cuisine through Argentine grills, Patagonian lamb, king crab, sea bass and fresh seafood from the South Atlantic, complemented by international dishes served à la carte or buffet style. Dining here is as much about the setting as the food itself, with vast windows framing Antarctic skies and ever-changing light.

From hosting Leonardo DiCaprio during the filming of The Revenant to pioneering viticulture at the southernmost limits of possibility, The Arakur Ushuaia Resort & Spa continues to redefine luxury — not as excess, but as the rare privilege of immersion in a pristine, powerful and profoundly beautiful landscape at the end of the world.