trip

5 Days$2375USD

Activities
  • 4 days adventure cruising
Accommodation
  • 4 nights aboard M/V Stella Australis or MV Ventus Australis
Meals
  • 4 Dinners
  • 3 Lunches
  • 4 Breakfasts
1
Discovery and Cruising
 
 

Trip highlights


  • Visit Cape Horn National Park
  • Cruise along the Beagle Channel and Patagonian Fjords
  • Marvel at spectacular glaciers and channels
  • Discover Tierra del Fuego
  • Relax on a spacious cruise ship with a beautiful atmosphere and fine dining
  • Birdwatching and other wildlife viewing

Explore the southernmost and wildest region of the world, following legendary maritime routes discovered and explored in the 16th century. Sail comfortably through the Strait of Magellan, the Beagle Channel and visit mythical Cape Horn. Cruise along channels, bays and fjords, passing glaciers, snow-capped peaks, islands and unexplored forests of incomparable beauty to experience nature and wildlife like never before. Discover Wulaia Bay and observe Magellanic penguins on Magdalena Island. At the same time you will have an outstanding time onboard an expedition ship designed with your comfort in mind. This route from Ushuaia to Punta Arenas showcases the amazing beauty that the Patagonian region offers. Journey through the southernmost fjords of South America combining both Chilean and Argentinean Patagonia for an exhilarating adventure of a lifetime.

Trip Code: AUG

Check in at the Australis travel center at 409 San Martín Ave. in downtown Ushuaia between 10:00 and 17:00 (10 AM-5 PM) on the day of departure. Board at 18:00 (6:00PM). After a welcoming toast and introduction to the captain and crew, the ship departs for one of the most remote corners of planet Earth. During the night we traverse the Beagle Channel and cross from Argentine into Chilean territorial waters. The lights of Ushuaia disappear as we turn into the narrow Murray Channel between Navarino and Hoste islands.

Meals:  D

During the morning we cruise across Nassau Bay into the remote archipelago that includes Cape Horn National Park. Weather and sea conditions permitting, we shall go ashore on the windswept island that harbors legendary Cape Horn (Cabo de Hornos). Discovered in 1616 by a Dutch maritime expedition -- and named after the town of Hoorn in West Friesland -- Cape Horn is a sheer 425-meter (1,394-foot) high rocky promontory overlooking the turbulent waters of the Drake Passage. For many years it was the only navigation route between the Pacific and Atlantic, and was often referred to as the "End of the Earth." The park was declared a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 2005. The Chilean navy maintains a permanent lighthouse on the island, staffed by a lightkeeper and his family, as well as the tiny Stella Maris Chapel and modern Cape Horn Monument. In the afternoon we navigate the narrow Murray Channel between Navarino and Hoste islands and drop anchor at historic Wulaia Bay, one of the few places in the archipelago where the human history is just as compelling as the natural environment. Originally the site of one of the region’s largest Yámana aboriginal settlements, the bay was described by Charles Darwin and sketched by Captain FitzRoy in the 1830s during their voyages on the HMS Beagle. This area is also renowned for its mesmerizing beauty and dramatic geography. After a visit to the Australis-sponsored museum in the old radio station -- which is especially strong on the Yámana people and European missionaries in the area -- passengers have a choice of three hikes (of increasing degrees of difficulty) that ascend the heavily wooden mountain behind the bay. On all of these you will be strolling through an enchanted Magellan forest of lengas, coigües, canelos, ferns, and other endemic fauna to reach a panoramic viewpoint overlooking the bay. Before leaving Wulaia Bay, drop something into the wooden mail barrel inside the museum – letters or postcards meant to be hand delivered by future travelers – an ancient mariner tradition revived by Australis.

Meals:  B,L,D

We will navigate along the northwest arm of the Beagle Channel before disembarking at Pia Fjord. From there, we’ll take a short hike to a panoramic viewpoint from where we can enjoy spectacular views of the awe-inspiring Pia Glacier whose main tongue extends from the mountaintops down to the sea. After this memorable experience, we will continue our voyage along the Beagle Channel through the majestic Glacier Alley.

Meals:  B,L,D

Early in the morning, we will sail through the Cockburn Channel and enter Agostini Sound. From there it is possible to see the glaciers that descend from the middle of the Darwin Mountain Range -- some of them reaching the water. This morning, we will disembark and go for an easy walk around a lagoon, which was formed by the melting of the Águila Glacier. We will reach a spot right in front of that glacier with stunning views. In the afternoon, we will approach the Condor Glacier via zodiac -- and hopefully see some of the abundant Andean Condors in the area.

Meals:  B,L,D

After an overnight cruise that takes us back into the Strait of Magellan, we anchor off Magdalena Island, which lies about halfway between Tierra del Fuego and the Chilean mainland. Crowned by a distinctive lighthouse, the island used to be an essential source of supplies for navigators and explorers and is inhabited by an immense colony of Magellanic penguins. At the break of dawn, weather permitting, we go ashore and hike a path that leads through thousands of penguins to a small museum lodged inside the vintage 1902 lighthouse. Many other bird species are also found on the island. * In September and April -- when the penguins dwell elsewhere -- this excursion is replaced by a ride aboard zodiacs to Marta Island to observe South American sea lions. After a short sail south along the strait, disembarkation at Punta Arenas is scheduled for around 11:30 AM.

Meals:  B


Inclusions

  • All meals onboard
  • Free Bar (with selected beverages)
  • Comfortable cabin accommodation (category B lower deck cabin)
  • Daily land excursions as scheduled by the ships
  • Professional expedition guide and support staff
  • Whisky and hot chocolate during the excursions
  • All on board activities

  • Transport and transfers to / from Punta Arenas & Ushuaia
  • International and domestic airfares
  • Visa costs if applicable
  • Passport and vaccination charges, reciprocity fees and airport departure taxes
  • Accommodation and meals or other services not included in the itinerary
  • Laundry, postage, personal clothing, medical expenses, travel insurance, and items of a personal nature such as bar charges and satellite phone calls
  • Emergency evacuation charges
  • Fuel surcharges
  • Customary end of voyage tips

Cabins


Departure dates


Notes

1
Trip is aboard Stella Australis
2
Trip is aboard Ventus Australis
3
Mandatory Port & landing fees are not included in the cabin costs and are an additional charge

Dates don't fit?
Create a Private Trip

If you have your own group, talk to us about turning this itinerary into your own private adventure.

Priceper person from

$2375USD

Options & Supplements*
  • Mandatory Port & Landing FeesUSD$120
  • Category A cabin supplementUSD$800
  • Category AA cabin supplementUSD$1100
  • Category AAA cabin supplementUSD$1400
  • Category AA Superior cabin supplementUSD$1800
  • Category AAA Superior cabin supplementUSD$2100
*Prices listed are per person

Essential Information

Ready to book? Make sure you download and read the detailed Patagonian Explorer: Ushuaia to Punta Arenas trip notes which contains all the essential information you need to know before booking. Once you’ve booked, we will supply you with a Pre-Departure document which contains a detailed gear list and other important information to help you prepare for your adventure ahead.


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