Several of the region’s most important estancias are in the vicinity of Río Grande. Founded by the Sociedad Explotadora de Tierra del Fuego, Estancia María Behety, 17 kilometers west via gravel Ruta Complementaria C, is the site of the world’s largest shearing shed.

Also Sociedad Explotadora property, Estancia José Menéndez, 25 kilometers southwest of town via Ruta Nacional 3 and Ruta Complementaria B, is one of the island’s most historic ranches. Ruta Complementaria B continues west to a summer border post at Radman, where few foreigners ever cross the line to Lago Blanco on the Chilean side.

For potential overnighters, though, the Sea View Guest House at the Simon and Carolina Goodall family’s Estancia Viamonte (tel. 02964/430861, www.estanciaviamonte.com, US$100/165 s/d for bed and breakfast, US$150 pp with full board and activities) is the only place that can offer the opportunity to sleep in Lucas Bridges’s bedroom. Directly on Ruta Nacional 3, about 42 kilometers southeast of Río Grande, it fronts on a bird-rich beach; the house can sleep up to six people using two shared baths. There are extensive gardens, plus chances for fishing, riding, and farm activities.