Antarctica and Patagonia: Legendary Ice and Epic Fjords

• Day 1 - Buenos Aires, Argentina

  Arrive in Buenos Aires. Transfer from the airport to the Alvear Art Hotel or similar, before setting out on a guided tour of the city’s Beaux-Arts palaces and parks. Visit Recoleta—the final resting place of Argentina’s iconic first lady, Eva Perón—and enjoy a private visit to El Zanjon de Granados, one of the city’s premier museums.
  In the early evening, gather for an informal reception and drink at the hotel.

• Day 2 - Ushuaia, Argentina / Embark Ship

  Today we fly south to Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world, where we meet our ship. Ushuaia’s spectacular setting, between the jagged peaks of the Cordillera Darwin and the protected waters of the Beagle Channel, makes it an appropriately wild place to begin our journey to the White Continent and a great destination in its own right. While we are here, we visit Tierra del Fuego National Park, where we can view a beautiful forest of southern beech, very much like those that covered Antarctica millions of years ago. Lunch is served on board a private catamaran while cruising the Beagle Channel, where we are on the lookout for huge South American sea lions and birds like imperial cormorants. Residents of Ushuaia often call their small city El Fin del Mundo (The End of the World), but for us, it is just the beginning.

• Day 3/4 - At Sea / Drake Passage

  Sail to Antarctica via the Drake Passage, named after 16th-century English admiral Sir Francis Drake. Watch for dozens of species of seabirds gliding alongside our ship—including the albatross, which boasts the longest wingspan of any extant bird—and enjoy talks from our onboard naturalists about the wildlife and geology that await us on the Antarctic Peninsula.

• Day 5/9 - Exploring Antarctica

  With long hours of daylight at this time of year, we have ample opportunities to explore. Our schedule is flexible, allowing us to take advantage of the unexpected, whether we’re watching whales at play off the bow of our ship, hiking alongside penguin highways, or enjoying an evening Zodiac cruise amid porpoising penguins. While wildlife is magnificent, ice defines the Antarctic. You’ll get to know ice up close and personal - from icebergs the size of islands, bergy bits and near-vertical glaciers, to the fragile, nearly invisible layers that have just begun to freeze. One day, we might set out by kayak to encounter towering icebergs at water level; embark on a Zodiac excursion in search of seals and blue-eyed shags; or walk amid thousands of Adélie and gentoo penguins. The next, we might experience the thrill of the ship crunching through pack ice. Everywhere we go in Antarctica we’re surrounded by opportunities to capture uniquely beautiful images. Along the way your expert expedition team will enrich our experiences.

• Day 10/11 - At Sea

  Relax on board and enjoy the ship’s amenities as the coast of Antarctica disappears from view. Round the southernmost tip of South America at Cape Horn and witness the dramatic meeting of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans en route to Ushuaia, Argentina.

• Day 12/13 - Exploring the Chilean Fjords

  Sail into southern Patagonia’s vast wilderness of forested isles, mirror-like lakes, and snowcapped peaks. Myriad fjords cut between soaring granite walls and waterfalls tumble from high above. Explore the region known as Chile’s “Glacier Alley,” part of the UNESCO-recognized Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve. Cruise into the secluded Pia Fjord, admiring views of its massive glacier, and glide into Garibaldi Fjord in Alberto de Agostini National Park, where the Andes meet the sea. Get up close to the monumental wall of ice that marks the edge of Garibaldi Glacier, exploring by Zodiac or kayak. Continue to Agostini Fjord, where numerous glaciers originate from the nearby mountains, for a chance to witness thunderous glacial calving.

• Day 14 - Puerto Natales / Kirke Narrows

  Local pilots join our captain on the bridge to guide us through the winding Kirke Narrows, accessible only to small expedition ships. We then continue our discovery of the Chilean fjords where we may explore by ship or take a forest walk.

• Day 15 - Puerto Natales and Torres del Paine National Park

  Early this morning we dock in picturesque Puerto Natales before heading out to explore majestic Torres del Paine National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Set out by foot or by vehicle across the windswept, rugged landscape, which spans more than 550,000 acres and harbors an astounding variety of geological forms, from the soaring granite pillars of the “horns” and windswept grasslands to rivers, glaciers, and gem-colored lagoons. Keep an eye out for guanacos, rheas, foxes, and armadillos.

• Day 16 - Francisco Coloane Marine Park

  Today, we enter the Strait of Magellan to explore Francisco Coloane Marine Park. The park covers more than 165,000 acres of land and sea and is home to an abundance of wildlife, including humpback whales, two species of sea lions, and
  Magellanic penguins. Cruise along the coastline by Zodiac and kayak to watch for black and white Peale’s dolphins, the endangered Chilean dolphin, and Andean condors.

• Day 17 - Tierra del Fuego: Karukinka Natural Park and Ainsworth Bay

  Cruise to Tierra del Fuego and venture into the archipelago’s largest protected land area: Karukinka Natural Park. Visit this private reserve by special permission, searching for Andean foxes, guanacos, black-browed albatrosses, and more. Then sail to Ainsworth Bay, a stunning fjord surrounded by subpolar forest, keeping an eye out for elephant seals.

• Day 18 - Punta Arenas / Santiago

  Today we disembark and transfer to Punta Arenas. Fly by private charter flight to Santiago for your overnight flight home.

Please consider that our voyages are expeditionary in nature. This means, that there are no concrete itineraries, your Captain and Expedition Leader will utilise their vast experience to chart the best course for your expedition depending on the climatic and environmental conditions. Mentioned highlights and wildlife cannot be guaranteed.