Río Grande is located on the Atlantic coast of Tierra del Fuego, about 220 km north of Ushuaia along National Route 3. It sits on the shores of the Río Grande river, which flows into the ocean and gives the city its name.
Rio Grande: The City
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It is the most populous city of Tierra del Fuego province, with around 70,000 inhabitants.
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Río Grande is an industrial and commercial hub, known especially for its electronics factories, which produce household appliances, cell phones, and televisions.
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The city has a Patagonian identity, combining modern industry with the traditional culture of sheep farming, fishing, and pioneer heritage.
Nature and Scenery
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Río Grande is surrounded by wide steppes, windswept plains, and rugged coastlines.
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Its landscapes contrast with Ushuaia’s mountains and forests; here the horizon is vast and open, typical of Patagonia.
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Along the coast, you can see cliffs, pebble beaches, and seabirds.
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Activities & Tourism
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Fly fishing: Río Grande is world-famous for sea-run brown trout (trucha marrón). Anglers from all over the world come between December and April, when the fishing season peaks. The Río Grande river is considered one of the best trout rivers on Earth.
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Coastal walks: The Atlantic coast is excellent for birdwatching, including Magellanic penguins, cormorants, and migratory species.
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Estancias (ranches): Nearby sheep-farming estancias offer a glimpse into the region’s pioneer past.
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Museo Virginia Choquintel: Highlights the history of Tierra del Fuego’s indigenous peoples (Selk’nam and Haush), European settlers, and local culture.
History & Culture of Rio Grande
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Originally inhabited by the Selk’nam people, the area saw European settlement in the late 19th century, mainly with sheep-farming pioneers.
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In the 20th century, the city grew as an industrial center, especially after the 1970s tax incentives that attracted factories.
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Today, Río Grande maintains a mix of indigenous heritage, pioneer traditions, and modern industry.
Climate in Rio Grande
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Río Grande has a cold, windy, and dry climate, quite different from Ushuaia.
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Winters are long and snowy, while summers are cool (rarely above 20°C / 68°F). The wind is constant throughout the year.
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How to Get Rio Grande
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By road: Around 3.5–4 hours drive north from Ushuaia on Route 3, crossing the Fuegian Andes and Paso Garibaldi.
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By plane: Río Grande has a domestic airport with flights mainly from Buenos Aires.
In summary: Río Grande is the cultural and economic capital of northern Tierra del Fuego, famous worldwide for its trout fishing, its windswept Patagonian landscapes, and its mix of indigenous, pioneer, and industrial history.
What to see in Río Grande
Estancia María Behety
Estancia María Behety is located 15 kilometers northwest of the city of Río Grande. In 1897, Don José Menéndez, known as the “King of Patagonia,” founded his second livestock enterprise in Tierra del Fuego, calling it Segunda Argentina. Later, this estancia was renamed “María Behety” in honor of his wife. In 1997, it was declared a National Historic Site.
The historical estate stands out in the vast steppe, with its picturesque architecture of family houses, sheds, machinery, and corrals. Without a doubt, however, the main attraction is the shearing shed, considered the largest in the world. Built in 1935 with a surface area of 7,800 m², it was designed for 40 shearers and 7,000 animals under one roof. Today, the guides are powered by a diesel engine, though the original steam engine is still preserved. Its neo-Gothic style includes pinnacles with weather vanes and festooned friezes.
The estancia also has 40 km of shoreline along the famous Río Grande, a world-class fishing spot for brown trout, some of which can weigh over 10 kilos and reach more than 1 meter in length. Two luxury fishing lodges invite anglers to enjoy a complete experience.
Finally, a 9-hole par-three golf course located in the estancia’s square provides leisure for both locals and tourists who wish to enjoy a day of golf.
San Sebastián Bay
San Sebastián Bay welcomes visitors who wish to enjoy the coastline and its birdlife. It is located approximately 80 km north of the city of Río Grande, along National Route Nº 3, and is home to one of the largest concentrations of seabirds, including the Hudsonian godwit and the red knot.
The Costa Atlántica Reserve covers the coastal strip that stretches from Cabo Nombre, north of San Sebastián Bay, to the mouth of the Ewan River to the south, extending approximately 220 kilometers. This area is part of the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network, the highest distinction awarded to migratory bird stopover sites, and is also a wetland of international importance defined by the Ramsar Convention.
The bay is the most important sector of the reserve. It is a Pleistocene fluvial valley now flooded, wide and semicircular, with shallow waters and a vast intertidal mudflat exposed at low tide. These features make it an ideal nesting and resting site for birds. Its views of the sea, beaches, rock formations, and wildlife make San Sebastián Bay an ideal spot for walking and relaxing by the coast.
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Salesian Mission
The Salesian Mission of Our Lady of Candelaria is a must-see when visiting Río Grande. Its history is tied to the European settlement of the region and the contact with the Selk’nam people, the original inhabitants of the area. Today, visitors can explore its historic grounds and travel back in time through its architecture, heritage, and legacy.
The foundation of the Salesian Mission dates back to 1893, when Monsignor Fagnano and Father Beauvoir established the first settlement to evangelize the natives and shelter them, as they were victims of conflicts between ranchers and gold prospectors.
The current location, near Cabo Domingo, corresponds to the third settlement. Historic buildings remain standing, such as the chapel (built in 1898), the mission house that housed the Selk’nam, the workshop of the Sisters of Mary Help of Christians where native women were taught household tasks, and the Historic Cemetery by the sea.
These facilities have been declared a National Historic Monument and can be visited with local guides or, at certain times of the year, on tours organized by the Municipality of Río Grande.
Historical and Natural Sciences Museum
Within the Salesian Mission is the Monseñor Fagnano Historical and Natural Sciences Museum. Here, visitors can see a replica of the traditional huts used by the Selk’nam, as well as old farming machinery, carts, and wagons.
The museum also has a natural sciences collection that includes a variety of taxidermied species such as the imposing condor, eagles, ducks, owls, and an American mink. Another section is dedicated to history and anthropology, displaying native artifacts such as arrowheads, utensils, and tools. Old typewriters, radios, cameras, and personal belongings of the mission members are also on display, offering visitors a true journey into the past.
Cabo San Pablo
Cabo San Pablo is one of the great attractions of the island. Located 80 kilometers from the city of Río Grande, this area is famous for its history of expeditions and shipwrecks. Today, visitors can explore its trails, enjoy panoramic views from the lookout, and photograph the wreck of the emblematic Desdémona ship.
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