Best month to see the southern lights (aurora australis) in Ushuaia

Month-by-month viewing quality

Why these months?

Two things decide your odds in Ushuaia: darkness and activity. You need real darkness — so the bright summer months are out no matter how strong the aurora is. On top of that, geomagnetic storms run statistically stronger around the spring and autumn equinoxes (the Russell–McPherron effect), which is why June and July and May tend to edge out the dead of winter. Ushuaia's season runs southern winter — april to august.

Ushuaia, the "end of the world" at the tip of Tierra del Fuego, is the most accessible base for the AURORA AUSTRALIS — the southern lights. It sits well below the southern oval, so it needs a strong geomagnetic storm (Kp 5+), but during southern winter the long dark nights make it the best mainland shot in the Americas.

Where to stand in Ushuaia

Head out of town along the coast or up toward the Martial Glacier; you want a clear southern horizon over the Beagle Channel. Patience and a strong-storm alert are essential this far from the oval.

Tours & stays to book