Review of Arakur Ushuaia Resort & Spa – Luxury at the End of the World
Never in our wildest dreams would we have imagined that our very first 5-star hotel stay would be at the “End of the World”, at the Arakur Ushuaia Resort & Spa. The cherry on top: we were leaving for Antarctica in just a few days’ time.
After spending a two-week-long workcation in Ushuaia, we checked into the Arakur for a 2-night stay before our cruise. We made the most of our time in the hotel, using all the available facilities and enjoying their on-site restaurant. So, if you’re also looking for a little luxury in the ‘Southernmost City in the World’, then in this review we’ll walk you through our experience staying at the Arakur in Ushuaia.
If you’d like to see a tour of the Arakur Hotel, make sure to watch our Antarctica video, which we shared on our YouTube channel Kitti and Jon. For more videos from the country, check out our Argentina playlist.
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Hotel Details:
🏨Name: Arakur Ushuaia Resort & Spa (Booking Link)
⭐Rating: 5 Star
📍Location: Cerro Alarkén 1 (9410) Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina (Google Maps)
Where Is Arakur Ushuaia Resort & Spa?
Arakur is perched on a hilltop within the Cerro Alarkén Natural Reserve, to the northeast of the center of Ushuaia. The city centre is about a 15 minutes drive and the airport is about 25 minutes from the hotel.
📍Address: Cerro Alarkén 1 (9410) Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina (Google Maps)
You can get a taxi or an airport transfer to reach the hotel initially, then just use their free shuttle bus to get down to Ushuaia.
Where Can You Book Your Arakur Ushuaia Resort Stay?
Arakur Ushuaia Resort & Spa is available to book on many major platforms, so it will depend on which one you use most often:
Why Should You Stay at Arakur Ushuaia Resort & Spa?
The Exceptional Location of the Hotel
The hilltop location of Arakur Ushuaia Resort within its own private nature reserve is already pretty unique. This allowed us to enjoy stunning panoramic views of the entire city of Ushuaia, as well as the Beagle Channel and surrounding mountain peaks, including Vinciguerra and Martial Glaciers.
On top of that, Monte Olivia – the third highest peak in Tierra del Fuego – towers behind Arakur, giving the hotel an even more dramatic setting.
Some may argue that the location isn’t as convenient as being in Ushuaia Centro. In our opinion, the views you get from the hotel alone are worth this slight inconvenience and the free shuttles down to the town run regularly.
Impressive Building Design
We were impressed by both the interior and exterior of the Arakur. The design beautifully combines the use of natural materials with the latest technology, whilst also following sustainable architecture principles.
The exterior has a greenish copper covering, which cleverly blends in with the surrounding landscape. They even used rock that was extracted during the construction process. Inside, there are huge communal areas, with minimal but elegant décor, that doesn’t overpower the space. The whole interior made us feel like we were in a cosy lodge. We especially loved the huge windows throughout the hotel, which allowed us to appreciate the stunning views everywhere we went.
Rooms with Beagle Channel Views
For us, the best feature in the rooms were the huge windows offering either mountain or sea views. Now, normally we would go for a mountain view, but in Ushuaia we really wanted to look out towards the Beagle Channel and the city. And the views did not disappoint!
The rooms were also spacious and modern and, just like the communal areas, they had a minimal approach to décor, using local materials such as wood and stone. We also loved the spacious bathrooms, which had a huge bath tub and separate rooms for the shower and toilet. The rooms had everything we needed, including towels, toiletries, slippers and robes that we could use in the spa. Every evening we also had some chocolate waiting for us after we got back from dinner.
Complimentary Shuttle Service to Ushuaia Centre
The hotel offers a free shuttle into town, which departs every hour. This complimentary service is a fantastic way to reach Ushuaia Centro if you want to go for a stroll along the waterfront, check out the museums, go for a meal or board one of the tour boats that sails along the Beagle Channel.
Since we’d already been in Ushuaia for two weeks and seen most of the highlights we didn’t end up using the free shuttle. However, if you’re only in the city for a few days, it’s an easy method of transport between the hotel and attractions.
Spa Facilities & Other Amenities
Making the most of our stay at the Arakur included hanging out at their spa facilities. Normally, I don’t get too excited about a spa day. In fact, I can count on one hand how many times I’ve been to one in my lifetime.
Having said that, the one thing I was looking forward to the most about staying at the Arakur was actually their spa. More precisely, their incredible infinity pool that overlooks the whole of Ushuaia and the snow-capped mountains beyond. As far as scenic spas go, it really doesn’t get much better than that. They also have a few outdoor jacuzzies, as well as indoor swimming pools with a few beds in case you get a bit cold outside. Although, we didn’t mind being a bit chilly whilst enjoying the everchanging light in the southernmost city in the world.
If you want to burn off the incredible buffet breakfast or dinner, they also have a fitness centre with floor to ceiling windows so you can always admire the views.
Dining at La Cravia Restaurant
Speaking of food, we also loved dining at Arakur’s La Cravia restaurant. Breakfast was included in our hotel room price, which was served daily between 7AM and 11AM. The breakfast buffet had just about anything you could think of, from hot options, pastries, freshly baked breads and even alfajores. (Not afraid to admit that I had one too many of those). Make sure to pick a table next to the window so you can enjoy your morning coffee with the views.
For an additional cost, you can also have lunch and/or dinner at the restaurant. We decided to eat breakfast as late as possible and have an earlier dinner. (We’re still budget travellers after all!). La Cravia offers à la carte and buffet dining, which looked incredible. They served a variety of typical Argentine and international dishes, with a lot of wine options.
Arakur also has a Lobby Bar with a huge piano, perfect for grabbing a drink or a light snack at. They also have a Pool Bar around the pool, serving snacks and drinks.
Cerro Alarkén Nature Reserve
What’s really unique about Arakur is that the hotel has its own private nature reserve. Cerro Alarkén covers over 100 hectares and is home to various flora and fauna found in Tierra del Fuego. The trails start from the hotel and criss-cross through the reserve. Being able to spend some time outdoors without essentially leaving the property was another reason why we loved our stay.
You can just follow the marked trails on your own, or join one of their guided hikes to the summit of Cerro Alarken, the Andorra Valley or the Vinciguerra Glacier.
🏔️Read my complete guide to visiting Tierra del Fuego National Park.
Final Thoughts: Is Arakur Ushuaia Resort & Spa Worth It?
Staying at Arakur Ushuaia Resort was a real treat. If you want to stay somewhere unique with the most incredible views, then booking a night at the Arakur is totally worth it. It was nice to spend a few days relaxing, even though we still managed to go on a short walk to explore the hotel’s nature reserve. To top off our experience, we also had one of the nicest sunsets during our entire stay in Ushuaia and were in the best place to watch it from.
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