Patagonia & Chilean Fjords - Southbound

• Day 1 - Valparaiso; Embarkation Day

  Emabarkation 07/11/2018 from 15H00 to 16H00. Departure 07/11/2018 at 17H00.

  Located about 100 kilometres south of Santiago, the legendary Valparaiso is the second largest city in Chile. It is also a splendid city, full of history: two qualities justifying its nickname “gem of the Pacific” and its status as a UNESCO World Heritage site. You can stroll along the steep streets, on foot or by cable car, and explore the many admirable sites like the delicate Iglesia de la Matriz, Sotomayor square, Bellavista hill, or Sebastiana house where the author Pablo Neruda lived. At every turning, you’ll get a refreshing view of the sea.

• Day 2 - At Sea

  Sailing south towards Castro.

• Day 3 - Castro

  At the heart of the Lake District, your ship will slip through the calm waters of an archipelago of 40 islands. Chiloe is a lush green island, home to 16 wooden churches that are listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites. Remarkable for their architecture, they are inspired by naval construction techniques. You can also admire the Palafitos, brightlycoloured wooden houses in stilts which seem to float on the water at high tide. Indeed, before reaching Castro, it is likely that you will have witnessed a truly authentic aquatic ballet, where seals and porpoises swim noseto- nose with our ship.

• Day 4 - Puerto Montt

  A picturesque stopover in southern Chile, the colourful city of Puerto Montt is the capital of the Lakes District.ﾠ Here, youﾒll discover reminders of its colonial past at the Plaza de Armas and neoclassical cathedral. The Manuel Montt lookout offers stunning views of the bayﾒs sapphire beauty. Close to the town, the peaceful banks of Lake Llanquihue are conducive for a relaxing walk and the quaint, traditional villages of Puerto Varas and Frutillar are well worth a visit.

• Day 5 - At Sea

  Sailing through south.

• Day 6 - Tortel

  A picturesque, colourful fishing village, Tortel boasts a splendid location in the heart of southern Patagonia, halfway between Puerto Montt and Cape Horn. From the little streets made up of small walkways, you’ll love the grand panorama of rounded mountains, dense forest, the clear waters of the Pacific. If you walk out onto one the many wooden pontoons, you can admire the views as you stand suspended a few metres above the water. The village is scattered with sculptures made by local artists, an excellent introduction to this friendly community

• Day 7/9 - At Sea

  Sailing south through Chile's spectacular fjords.

• Day 10 - Puerto Natales

  Located in the heart of Chilean Patagonia, capital of the Última Esperanza province, the village of Puerto Natales will win you over with its brightly coloured houses nestling in the shade of the Andes. A walk along the coastal Pedro-Montt avenue, gives splendid views of the Almirante Montt gulf, a stretch of crystalline water that links Puerto Natales to the Pacific. The Museo Historico documents urban and rural life and the indigenous history of the environment. Puerto Natales is also the closest town to the spectacular Torres del Paine National Park, a 181,000-hectare reserve protected by UNESCO.

• Day 11/13 - Cape Horn / Beagle Channel

  It's at the meeting point between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans that you enter Chilean Patagonia where you head for the Tierra del Fuego archipelago and its famous Cape Horn. From the top of its impressive 425-metre-high cliff, South Americaﾒs southernmost tip has, for many centuries, seen merchant ships from the world over passing by. Because of its legendary storms and rough seas, getting around the Cape has gone down in history as a challenge for all seafarers. Prepare yourself for a memorable experience, whatever the weather conditions!

• Day 14 - Ushuaia; Disembarkation

  Capital of Argentina's Tierra del Fuego province, Ushuaia lies in a bay opening into the Beagle Channel at the country's southernmost tip. Its colourful houses are framed against towering mountains, snow-capped in winter and summer alike. Downtown, the End of the World Museum showcases Tierra del Fuego's natural and indigenous history. A ride on the heritage railway is an exciting excursion into the Tierra del Fuego National Park, while a cruise on Ushuaia Bay is the perfect way to spot sea lions and Magellanic penguins.

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.